GARDEN SAFARI DAY 2

This was the first and most impressive garden yesterday.  It was a bare paddock 20 years ago and even the palm trees had been grown from seed.  

As we were leaving we spotted their dog being very patient.

We did go to some more gardens but the promised rain came so no more photos.  

GARDEN SAFARI

We had a most enjoyable day out today on a Garden Safari.  Today was on a bus and tomorrow and Sunday will be under our own steam in different areas.  The forecast was for rain showers but we were lucky although I doubt if we will be tomorrow.
 

We had a quick stop at the beach.

SPRING COLOUR

Not the best photos taken in a hurry but some spring colour in our garden.

A ROSE

I have mentioned previously that the majority of roses  in Doug's garden came from one his daughter had in a previous garden.  We don't know the name of the rose but below is a cutting Doug took last summer.  He planted it out in the garden a couple of months ago.

The flower is almost as large as the little plant. 

WIND

Yesterday the wind was particularly strong and cold.  It is just as well that the painting being done is inside.  Doug and I couldn't do any outside jobs.  When the painter left in the afternoon we went to buy some more paint and, as we drove away, we noticed that the Protea in the front garden had been blown over.  

It was not actually broken so I trimmed it back a lot and Doug and I lifted it up and tied it well to the stake that was there.  We will just have to wait and see whether it lives or not.  I did end up with a lovely vase of flowers.

On Wednesday I ordered some seedlings from Awapuni who send their plants wrapped in bundles - each bundle having between four and 9 seedlings. 

This is what I ordered,

Coreopsis - Amulet	COREAMU	1x 9 Seedlings/bundle	$4.99
Cornflower - Dwarf Mixed	CORNFLO	1x 9 Seedlings/bundle	$4.99
Echium - Cottage Charm	ECHIUM	1x 9 Seedlings/bundle	$4.99
Lavender - Munstead	LAVMUNST	1x 9 Seedlings/bundle	$4.99
Lupin - Gallery Mixed	LUPMIX	1x 4 Seedlings/bundle	$4.99
Petunia - Duo Burgundy	PETDB	2x 9 Seedlings/bundle	$5.00
Petunia - Mini Picobella Rose	PETMINRO	2x 4 Seedlings/bundle	$5.00
Zinnia - Tall	ZINTAL	1x 9 Seedlings/bundle	$4.99
French Mesclun	LETMESCF	1x 9 Seedlings/bundle	$4.99
Lupin - Blue	LUPBL	1x 4 Seedlings/bundle	$4.99

They arrived this morning and we have started to plant some out.

2 or three bundles have now been planted and the rest are in water ready for tomorrow as the wind is still quite strong and we are going out later.

GIBBS FARM 2

After having our picnic lunch we continued on our way around these wonderful sculptures and animals.

We noticed that there was a second giraffe next to the large corrugated iron one and assumed it was also made out of iron but on reviewing the photos we noticed that its head had moved so it is, obviously a third giraffe.

GIBBS FARM

Last Thursday we made our second visit to Gibbs Farm.  Looking back later we were surprised to see that it was 5 years since our last visit.

We went with a friend and were lucky with the weather which was fine and not too hot.  It is a lovely setting and we arrived at about 10.20 a.m. and set off to walk around the farm park.  

As you can see it is a large area.  It took us an hour walking until we came across a bench beckoning us to sit and have our lunch looking down at this view.

More to come.