Living Earth Supplies

A lovely walk at High Beeches. I grew up with huge Rhododendrons in our garden that we climbed in (see last picture). Not quite as fond of Azaleas but extraordinary to see them so huge and such bright colours. Missed all but a few sprigs of Lily of the Valley, one of my mother’s favourite things

And while we are away things continue to happen at Bowfield. Alice is gathering the apple harvest. A very good one this year. Lots to do when I get home!!

Gorgeous gardens

On a more cheerful note a quick and very thrilling visit this afternoon to and a few purchases put aside for our return from Tasmania. Plenty more goodies to research before I return

Another tough summer for our table grapes. Have done a massive summer prune and big spray to try and get on top of the disease :(

Last but not least from Melbourne. ‘Samantha’ as featured in Dream Gardens, designed by Fiona Brockhoff. Michael McCoy there signing copies of his books. Such detail in pruning and canopy lifting through the garden. The pool with its weathered deck and copper and timber fence sat lightly in the midst of the front garden. A very beautiful, calm, soothing and cool space on a pretty hot Melbourne day

‘Karkalla’ what an amazing experience to visit this special garden. The first three pictures are on the walk there, next seven showing a snippet of the garden. Veggies, fruit trees, cut flowers, bee and insect food, water wise gardening, incredible views, succulents, washing line with best outlook I have ever seen, rock walls, so many places to rest, enjoy and contemplate.

Dropped in to the Alexander McQueen exhibition at NGV in between planty visits. An extraordinary designer and a fascinating exhibition.

The beginning of a very planty weekend in Melbourne, so important to visit with an equally planty friend who knew all the local haunts and highlights

Sending merry, flowery Christmas wishes to one and all Xx

Some flowery moments from the garden this week

We have a bit of a thing in our family for Hydrangea quercifolia, the Oak leaved Hydrangea. This the biggest flower I have ever seen. It would have to be more than 30 cm long. Congratulations to my very clever niece Lucy

Allium giganteum you gorgeous thing. The photo doesn’t do it justice. About 120 cm high and the purple seems almost luminous. Flowers for us after Allium Purple Rain and before Allium sphaerocephalon.

Who knew!! Posted • “Tamara, Garden Goddess” 70 x 50 cm oil on canvas

Thank you to the beautiful Tamara for being brave and agreeing to let me paint her portrait - isn’t she beautiful…?
This work will be off to the Portrait competition - can’t wait to see all the fabulous paintings hanging together in this beautiful new space….

It has been the most gorgeous flowery week, every single bloom grown here in our Mudgee Valley

Some quick snaps

I cut my first ever Peony bloom yesterday and here is it displayed in one of their gorgeous vases. It is an Itoh called Julia Rose. 📷

I try not to have favourites amongst our crab apples but when Malus ioensis plena arrives towards the end of October, when all the others are nearly done, and is so beautiful….

…. And that’s a wrap. Part two of our tour of Mudgee Open Gardens today

Phew and that’s a wrap. Thank you so much to all the wonderful visitors who came to visit the gardens and support Rotary Mudgee. We finished off our huge weekend with a tour of some of the Mudgee Open Gardens today. Such fun to see the other gardens with Rotary Volunteers and fellow gardeners. Lots of treasures in every garden. Part one, another post to follow.

Arranging flowers this morning, one of my favourite things. Almost ready to welcome for lunch today.
Then two more sleeps to Open Gardens Mudgee organized by Rotary Mudgee. See Gardensofmudgee.org.au for updated details of which gardens are open.
Gorgeous flowers from my very clever friend Anna .farm

Only four more sleeps to the Gardens of Mudgee weekend! It has been a tad damp so check the Gardens of Mudgee website for any updates. We are looking forward to meeting fellow gardeners here at Bowfield. See you soon

Wakehurst, even with everything so dry it is still gorgeous. A treat to have a few hours there this week.

Watch out the rabbits are about. Or maybe it is hares? Either way look out for the chew marks on your young trees. They love my crabapples and anything In the Prunus group. I split the tree guards and staple them around the tree which seems to stop them.

Lots happening and all with good (canine) help. Dahlias still giving with some seedlings only flowering now for the first time. Winter veg is in and ready for a second planting soonish. More to harvest and more to process