Community Gardens weeks 41, 42.

The pace is picking up people!

Summer is just around the corner, and we want this garden finished and open asap.

Plants are leaping out of the ground thanks to warm weather, plenty of rain (at long last) and some fertiliser.

Some major construction is happening, making the garden transform weekly. So exciting!!!

Let's look at last week...

Another large amount of garden edging done. Thanks Paul!

The slope is slowly being transformed. I really hated where the mother-in-laws tongues were, so decided they needed to be moved and got the great idea to fill in the slope with block planting.

Clever me :)

But first, Shane helped by adding a few barrow loads of sand.

 These things apparently like dry feet, so the sandy soil should be great for them. Though, from what I've witnessed, they grow everywhere- from the sludgy creek they were originally dumped into, to the neglected pathway before the bridge.

This sad example was a pot-bound Lilly Pilly I found at Big W. I planted two of these on the slope, above what will be the pergola/seating area. If they grow, they will make excellent screen shrubs.

Some sunflower seeds are starting to grow. Can't wait to see these giants in bloom.

Another view of the mother-in-laws tongues. I like the blocks of agapanthus, then a line of moses plants, another block of liriope, more moses plants, then these. 

A newly repaired statue. I am planning to plant a shrub cove around this soon to add effect. Just need to find suitable plants.

The first stage of a concrete slab base is down! Then, the rain followed. We got it covered but not before the rain left spots everywhere. Lucky it is going to be hidden soon.

Did I say that concreting is hard work!!

If you look closely, I've planted several mother-in-laws tongue cuttings in the geranium planters. Hopefully, they will take root and let me landscape with more free plants.

Pavers painted ready for our chess board! Watch this space :)

And please don't throw or break anymore people!

The start of many, many white palings for our cute picket fence...

And some more.

So far, around 150 have been painted, with more being done by the amazing Poppa Ian Wilkins :)

Now, to this week. 

I wasn't happy with the cottage garden looking lost in the bottom garden. My mission today was to put them somewhere more suitable. So, armed with a fork and poo, I turned over the front garden bed after some weeding, added poo, then transported load after load of plants. I also soaked a peat brick to help keep the moisture in when transplanting.

I have mentioned in the past that I get dizzy.

Well, today, as I was digging, I toppled over the stone edge. Just like that.

Did it hurt?

Yes. Yes it did.

And still does.

Gardening battle scars :)

After a good watering in, I'm pretty happy with the results. If I keep the water up, this garden should flourish in no time.

It was worth the pain and bruised/scratched leg.

This is one of many flowering agapanthus! Yay :)

Shane did a brilliant job cutting posts and digging post holes. Legend!

Paul and hubby adding to the concrete base. Now, it's nearly laying pavers time!!!

The cottage garden has been replaced with 6 Captain Cook bottlebrush shrubs. They don't grow too high, and can be pruned into shape.

I'm happy with the garden bed swap.

Here, the posts holes have been filled, and hubby has started doing overtime by building the hand rail.

And it's done! 

This transforms the garden completely. I can easily imagine this painted, a picket fence along the bottom, and a flourishing garden.

Big steps forward :)

Last week, during a late afternoon watering trip, I noticed 2 beautiful girls arrive and get their formal photo's taken by their proud families...in our gardens! This blessed me so, so much. I hope this sort of thing continues. Makes me smile to see people already enjoying a non-finished garden.

And that is your lot for now. Stay tuned.Exciting happenings ahead.

Until then, thanks for reading :)

My Health Challenge: Let's Start Again

I have fallen off the wagon people. Extreme fatigue slammed me last week. So much so, that Monday was such a struggle. I couldn't even remember if I'd eaten or not. Things kinda went downhill from there.

For those unfamiliar with my journey, read here. Adjusting to changes I have no control over and hit without warning is a bit confronting. And definitely challenging.

Normal as I know it has gone. My normal was waking after an 8 hour sleep and going for a bike ride or walk. Now, even if I do manage an 8 hour sleep, I'm utterly sapped and drained even before the day begins.

Normal was being super organised, preparing ahead and having a great memory. Now, I'm lucky to remember my name some days. And as for organised...I'm trying!

Yes, I have a toddler. Yes, I have a big family and often cook for 6, but mostly 5 ever hungry humans. 

Yes, I've just finished 4 university trimesters in a row. That meant no break over Christmas.

Yes, I live with international teenage students on a fairly regular basis. That brings challenges as well as rewards.

Yes, I have 32 thousand kilo's of washing to do each week.

Pre-hormonal upheaval, I had the mental clarity and energy to cope.

So, what does that mean for me now?

It means, start again. It means, be realistic. It means, be kind to myself.

I am still going to chart my journey. However, it will be weekly from here on. I will record my measurements each week too. 

The above is the food prep I forced myself to do yesterday.

Sliced celery and red onions.

Grated beetroot, zucchini and carrot.

A protein pancake, a cup of frozen berries and a 1/4 cup yogurt drizzled with 1 tp of rice malt syrup for my breakfast this morning. I admit, it was great to just open the fridge and grab it.

I also boiled 6 eggs, ready for snacks.

No excuses!

Now, it's measurement time...!!!

Here goes...

Waist: 79cm

Hips: 98.5cm

Arms:30cm

Thigh: 66cm.

As for exercise, I am off to Pilates for an hour today. I have cancelled training until next week, however, am picking up 2 sessions a week for the next month. There should be some results coming! I'm already much stronger than before, and actually did 5 real push-ups last week! Miracle right there :)

Ok, lovely people, let's check back in next Wednesday!

Until then, thanks for reading :)

Community garden update: violent vandalism

Ok, time to put the jokes aside and get serious people.

I've personally had enough! 

We have repaired a barrier fence designed to protect people, and animals, from the freeway, only to have it not only ripped open (with bolt cutters) where we've repaired it. It's also had new sections opened up too. Really mature people. Really mature.

Trees have been illegally lopped. 

Kids have already added their tags (names) and added graffiti to the bridge. Silly girls, you signed your whole names. Looks like it may be time to notify local schools if this continues.

And now, not one, but three violent attacks have occurred on our garden art work/ sculpture.

The first 2 attacks appeared to be done by an individual with possibly a hammer. We think a youth may be responsible based on the damage. Hubby repaired it, only to get an early morning text saying damage had been done yet again.

Wasn't prepared for what we encountered.

Take a look at the pictures below for details...

This picture was taken after the second attack. The head was the prime target. Hubby noticed a bit of the hand had chipped too. The internal steel structure had been bent. This suggests a youth (not child) if we are to judge by the amount of force used. But whoever did it, they hit it over 40 times!

Today, after repair, this is what we found. 

By all accounts, we were shocked by the first 2 attacks. But what is disturbing about this is the level of rage used. And it appears the reinforcements called in to help.

May I say, this is quite heavy- and some very determined individuals levered this out of the ground.

The arm has nearly been twisted off, and the sculpture has been moved out of his original position. Notice the planks of wood-they were covered in concrete from the blows.

A brick had also been used, and looked like it had been repeatedly struck into the face.

This would not have been a five minute attack either.

Whoever is doing this is quite violent and potentially angry. Tagging, or graffiti is 'normal' rebellion. Repeated acts of extreme violence and property damage suggest an individual who needs help.

This isn't normal behavior. 

Parents, keep an eye on your kids! Please. The police have been notified and are investigating as I type. We want this to be a kid friendly area. Until we know who this is, please don't let them play here at night unsupervised.

This only serves to make us all the more determined to keep going. The culture here WILL change. And we WILL make a place that is a safe, secure, relaxing refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life; a place where families are welcome and all ages can enjoy.

Community Gardens weeks 39,40

It feels like I haven't updated for months! This has been such a crazy season. I finished my uni semester a few weeks back, and hubby just finished his last Friday. When we haven't been busy building a garden and a family, we've had our heads bogged down in copious hours of study. 

Thank goodness the study is over for now.

We have also been busy attending to the gardens not just on Thursdays. With Christmas looming, we are both keen to get as much done as is possible. The goal is having the gardens ready for summer.

Take a look at the pictures-they show clearly how much progress has occurred...

Yet another early morning Bunning's trip gathering supplies.

A few palings seemed to have gone for a walk, so hubby replaced them and is completing the last of the new fence.

Miss 2 is happy to take the stage (a tree stump!) and sing her lungs out while her mum and dad work :)

The planters filled with flowers! The ferns I had planned just didn't work, but they weren't wasted.

Here they are, simple ferns hiding an ugly tree stump.

I love that the pathway is now edged with flowering planter boxes.

This kookaburra is a daily sight at the gardens now. 

Simple portulaca's adding a splash of colour.

I took some cuttings from geraniums and planted them out. Thrilled to say they have struck already :)

Look at the gorgeous colour! A perfect compliment to the marigolds.

I imagine what this will look like in a years time-so lush and beautiful. 

It's garden edging time! Here, Paul is clearing the edge prior to concreting.

Shane and Paul mixing the concrete.

Here, Mick is laying pavers around the bench seat.

Hubby started off leveling the edge...

And Paul did an amazing job finishing it off.

Another view of the garden. The edging makes such a difference!

Work so far...exciting!

Nearly there. How good does it look!

As part of his uni work, hubby constructed a garden sculpture. This figure inspires people to sit and just be.

The amazing Poppa Ian Wilkins has been hard at it making palings for our picket fence. Here is about 130, neatly stacked. I've been informed, he's already done a huge amount more!

The bath tubs now have sunflower seeds. Always exciting to see the first ones germinate :)

Another week, another garden bed to edge.

Shane did a brilliant job of building up the slope ready for planting. I forgive him for dropping the shovel on my just healed toe and turning it purple!!!

Paul at it again, leveling the garden edge like a pro.

It was a hot, windy day, and as you can see, we desperately need rain. But at least the garden edging looks great.

A newly built up and planted out bed. In went the 20 free liriope plants, edged with transplanted Moses plants and with a frangipani cutting in the middle.

Another view of the new bed. Not much to see, but it will look so good when it grows a bit more and is edged with a picket fence.

The boys have already started edging the bromeliad bed. 

I'm so thrilled that over half of my transplanted agapanthus are producing flower bulbs.

Sad to say some vandals attacked, not once but twice. 

Even though it has taken forever, my first rain lilies have flowered! I only hope the white ones the boys trampled grow too.

There you have it, the last couple of weeks. So much progress! 

Can't wait to show you more soon :)