Hungry Little Caterpillars

Something is eating my gardenias!!! Super sad and annoyed face! I guess they're snails, but I haven't actually been able to find them. They must munch away under the cover of darkness and then disappear during the day. I really don't want to put any chemicals on them, but I'll have to do something quick. These are hungry little caterpillars!

The Native Gardenias at the Door

Nothing like a bit of greenery to jazz up an entry door! I'm loving these native gardenias - the leaves are so glossy and green and I can't wait until Spring when (apparently, if I'm good) they will bloom with fragrant white flowers and edible (but non-pleasant tasting) fruit. So excited!

I didn't get a chance to plant them properly, see post before. It was an epic weekend and by the end of it I was exhausted. I only had the time and the energy to clean up the pots, which had been sitting in the shed, and sit the gardenias (still in their market pots) straight in them. We have another big weekend this weekend so it might be a while before they are potted properly.  I don't think they'll mind, the front balcony is part sun part shade.

I've decided too I need more plants inside. I'm thinking some spathiphyllums would be nice. We already have a few orchids and succulents in the bathrooms.

Standby for greenery!

Little Gems!

The magnolias are in! I couldn't wait until that entire garden bed (on the left) was prepped. The magnolias were in pots that were pretty small and the wind kept blowing them over so I bit the bullet and planted them in.

The soil has lots of clay and it would have taken hours to dig out the entire garden bed and last weekend, I just didn't have hours to spare. Just digging that small section took a good part of the afternoon.

As I expected, I LOOOOVE them!! I mean REALLY love them. Magnolias and gardenias are my absolute favourite and to have them both in the one place warms my little horticultural heart. I can't wait until Spring when they both bloom. I imagine walking down that path and breathing in that hedonistic, fragrant smell. *Squeal*.

Today I dragged my friend Cara to the markets to get something for a couple of spare pots I have out the back and would like to put on either side of the front door. She feigned interest and excitement  as best she could and breathed a (not very well hidden) sigh of relief when I decided on native gardenias. Yes, NATIVE gardenias. Never heard of them before!  I REALLY want to put them in the pots now, but tomorrow I have a full day at a christening and then dinner with friends. I'm just hoping I might have an hour to spare somewhere in between to plan these new beauties.

My little garden is coming along slowly, but nicely. I'm very grateful.

Magnolia Longings

Look at these beauties! They're magnolia little gems and these ones are about 2 metres tall so probably 5 or 6 years old. I found a new magnolia supplier and he is C-H-E-A-P!! These were about $60 each cheaper than even the markets. Huzzah!

I can't plant them yet unfortunately, the garden beds aren't ready so I have to happy with just looking at them forlornly…

The Backyard Campfire

Last night the focus moved from the front yard to the backyard where we sat around a crackling fire in on a freezing Winter's night. Jansen had some leftover timber from a job site and we had a pile of leftover bricks in the backyard, so a firepit was definitely in order.

I think Josh did a pretty good job of building the fire pit. It's a pretty good circle and good depth. There's no grass in the back yard as you can see, it's just as bad as the front yard. I'm loving this so much I would like to incorporate it in the backyard permanently. We're so slow with work on the yard anyway, it will probably be a fixture for a while.

We toasted marshmallows with my brother and spun a few yarns. It was sooo cold, but the fire was so hot it burnt my legs through my jeans. It was only leftover pine skirtings, but it burnt pretty well and lasted a surprising amount of time for soft wood.

Someone forgot to tell Bella that dogs shouldn't eat marshmallows.