21 sleeps to go

Have been busy gardening whenever I have the time. I've dug out about half the leaves and soil in front of the back fence so there's a trench to stop it rotting. That's because the garden's on a slope and I don't have anything so sophisticated and sensible as terracing. I've put the leaves in the side of the compost that's ready for the garden. When I've put the rest of the leaves there I'll spread the whole lot on the garden and then transfer the big pile to the other side so the top is on the bottom and the bottom is on top.

In other gardening tasks I think I am learning a bit of restraint, managing with some difficulty to avoid short back and sides haircuts.  I'm still liberating paths and cutting back overhanging branches. Yesterday I did move a couple of smallish plants but I'm basically finished the re-arranging - probably ...

The garden's filling out, appreciating the deluges of rain we've had lately. So the gaps are still there but not so stark and awful as they were a few weeks ago.

I have decided to try to put photos of as many plants as possible in the pages on the home page of the blog. It's quite time consuming, and trying to organize them neatly is a bit like sitting on a bucking bronco. Not that I've ever done that, or ever intend to do it.


Best news of all:  I didn't know if the nesting boxes were occupied. Then V. took this brilliant photo of  furry cosy sleeping bodies.


this photo got lost in cyberspace - will be re-inserted when re-photographed.


Just now a Red Wattlebird stopped by to eat nectar from the Gastrolobium celsianum that has climbed up into the tea trees. I managed to photograph it through the window. The red Gastrolobium flowers are the same colour and shape as the distinctive red wattles on the bird's neck.  According to Wikipedia, a wattle is a fleshy dewlap - a longitudinal flap of skin that hangs beneath the lower jaw or neck of many vertebrates. A bit like a rooster.



Comments

  1. You're being so productive, Catmint! I love possums, too, and feed them fruit at nights. Whatever anyone says, it doesn't bother me they race about on the roof. The more life the better, isn't it? We must do all we can to nurture it.

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  2. I know the feeling,Catmint,but you seem so much more organised than I was - having time to sort photos on your blog - that is organised! Love the photos of your possum and the red wattle bird, is the bird about the same size as our thrush?

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  3. Awww even though we only can see it back. But it is so cute cuddling in your nestbox. Looks like everything going as planned!

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  4. Catmint, I love that red wattlebird with the flowers - colour-co ordinating the plants with the wildlife is so chic! You must have been so excited to be there at just the right time to see it.

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  5. I'm so looking forward to visiting your garden!

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  6. Hi Faisal, I agree - I don't share the common hatred of possums.

    Hi Pauline, I don't feel particularly organized, but i feel OK about it now - will just do what I can.. I think wattle birds might be similar size to thrushes - bigger than finches and smaller than eagles ... to be vaguely precise.

    Dear Diana, so far so good - thanks for visit and comment.

    Hi Diana, yes the sleeping furries are possums - ringtailed I think.

    Hi Lyn, the wattlebird was just outside the window and I photgraphed it through the window. I was fascinated to see how it matched the flowers it was eating from.

    Hi Phoebe - thanks - I am looking forward to your visit too.

    cheers, catmint

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  7. The red wattlebird is so cool! Never seen one and I'm guessing that it is because they don't live here but maybe only indigenous to Australia? Very neat anyhow. So glad the garden is filling out. I'm very excited for you and your garden tour. I'd love to be able to tour your garden!

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  8. My preferred shot is th sleeping pOssum. But th Wattlebirds in the Gastrolobium is very well colour-coordinated.
    Nice images.
    Nice Garden that has these plants and animals and birds.

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  9. dear Tina, yes the wattlebird is indigenous to Australia. Thank you for your comment.

    Dear Denis, thank you for complimenting my garden, I do want it to be a resource for wildlife in a suburban environment that seems to be growing in concrete and other hard surfaces.

    cheers, catmint

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  10. Hello catmint! Glad to hear your plants are responding well to the rain. But a few of plants dislike the rain. I am keeping my fingers crossed for them to bounce back once the sun in back. Happy reading and gardening :-D

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