Preparing garden for "swanky party" Sunday 6 - Friday 11 September 2026

Well, with all of the Winter rain the cellar was full of water again, and the weeds are getting out of control

I had planned to stay for up to 5 days to wrangle the garden into some sort of shape

Given that Justin was leaving for circuit in Shepparton on Sunday afternoon, I decided to also leave for Inglewood on Sunday afternoon

Stopped at the Calder Raceway Service Station to fill up with petrol, and was  surprised to see 2 large kangaroos bounding across the concourse left to right.  It was about 5pm in the afternoon, and a nice sunny day, but no where near sunset - so I wouldn't have expected to see any at this time 

Anyway, got to Inglewood in darkness 

Monday, and after breakfast and puzzles etc - on with my coveralls, and out into the garden to get started

Was pleased to see some of the daffodils that I had bought at the Garden Show were in flower 

And the poppies have also started to bud - I will be very interested to see what colours they are 

And I saw that Shane had finally replaced the dead juniper bush - but with a much smaller one 

But first I had to plant the plants that I had brought up from Melbourne 

Some seaside daisies that were growing in the wrong spot

A grevillea and jacaranda that had self seeded   

And I had also dug up another passionfruit from our Melbourne garden - and so planted that and also cuttings from it - as I had read that it is relatively easy to get them to strike.  Fingers crossed

Given that it had rained a little bit overnight - I took advantage of the softer path - and pulled out the weeds (forgot to take an after shot)

Also cleared here out the front 

More weeds/plants to remove near the rotunda

And lot of little Hoop pines - I sent Bianca at Bridgewater Nursery a text to see if she wanted some, but she said not this time.  Then I contacted Matt at Rippon Lea to see if the National Trust wanted some - and yes they do.  Given that after this I went to Queenscliff/Ocean Grove/Shepparton - I thought I would wait til next time to dig them up  

I also took this photo to show Matt what the parent tree looked like

The plumber came - to see the sump pump - basically said that the cord was too long, and that the float then got caught up and so didn't float and activate the engine.  They tested it a few times, and so it will hopefully work

Next up was taking a few photos of the veranda lace work.  The Bendigo engineer which the builder had suggested - still hadn't got back to me - so I thought I would contact someone else.  And he wanted me to send him these photos to see what i was talking about  

 

Went out the back and was pleased to see a lot of quince flowers - maybe we'll even have some fruit this year 

And while I was out the back, I got distracted by the vegie patch - it was terribly overgrown - lots of long grass clumps, plus sucker plum trees from the plum on the other side of the path.  We really should just pull that plum tree out - as it doesn't even produce any plums

While pulling out weeds in the vegie boxes I was also very pleased to find that missing piece from the hammock - so now we can use it again 

This time I didn't really take a before photo - but took an after one.  You can see the cut plum branches/trunks at the bottom right, and a few little piles of weeds (most of them are out of frame)   

The days melted away - I was basically just in the garden - weeding/trimming etc.  On the Monday it was quite warm, but the rest of the days were cooler  

Initially I couldn't remember why I had taken the below photo - but now looking at it - I can remember - it because of that creeper enveloping the lavender - so I cut off the creeper (no after shot)  

Here is a before shot at the front - quite overgrown with weeds (and yes, I did clear them)  

So, I had made sure that the ute was full of weeds/branches so that I could take it to the Transfer Station - which is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays 8am - 12 noon. I got there around 11.40am

And had to chuck everything off - of course wearing gloves - as there were some rose cuttings and I didn't want to get stabbed by a thorn

I also played around with the idea of filling up the ute again - and bringing the weeds back to Melbourne and disposing of them at the Stonnington Transfer Station - but thought that was a bit silly - so piled the rest under under the big palm on the Kingower side of the garden

Another lovely tulip came up

And I trimmed the Kingower side path - below is a before shot

 

And 2 x after shots taken from each end - the second photo is a bit hard to tell that it is an after shot - because the trimmings are still on the ground

I also asked Pauline if she could recommend anyone to clean the house for us between visits - as the house gets dusty etc, and we don't want to come and do housework.  Anyway, yes, she was able to recommend someone - and she came over and met with me  - she was keen and so was I - so Hopefully it will work out.  I explained how we wanted the place dusted/vacuumed etc - before the Arts Trail and I also said that I would clean out the dining room fireplace as it was very dirty (didn't expect her to do this)

Carolyn arrived after 6pm on Wednesday, we had a simple dinner, and then I had to chair my CWA Club meeting via Zoom  

Given that Carolyn had to leave by 3pm on Thursday - we got into the garden nice and early on Thursday morning  

I decided that I wanted to clear out the garden bed on the right hand side of the front path - as it was pretty overgrown by the Cape Honeysuckle.  

Below is a root I pulled out 

But I wanted to save these bulbs - so had to dig them out somewhat carefully

And below shows that I have taken out those bulbs and pretty much cleared the ground into a square (cuttings /bulbs still on the ground though)

 

And here it is cleared but with from memory 32 bulbs re-planted and watered in.

In fact, I watered all the new plants/cuttings every night - which took close enough to an hour each time  

So, here is the cleared section out the front - and Carolyn planted those bulbs plus other cuttings - as it looks very bare. 

And the other side - she also planted more bulbs/cuttings here

And I just took this photo - because I thought it looked quite nice.  There are still weeds in it (I did clear out some clumps - but definitely not all - Carolyn is of the opinion that people won't even notice - they will just see green....(we'll see)

So, she left around 3pm, and I went to Connie's in Bridgewater as I had asked  her if she had any cuttings/plants in the wrong spot

And she gave me heaps - also some lovely lemons

Whilst we were cutting off sprigs - Connie's  neighbour Kev struck up a chat with us over the fence and invited us over for more cuttings and he also cut me a bunch of flowers - some lovely orchids and some astromeria flowers - I had no idea what they were called - used google lens to identify them  

I also admired the fruit tree net frames which her husband Michael had made - basically you just put the netting over the top and peg it down

She also asked me if we would like this 2 man fishing canoe - it's surplus to needs - and the answer is yes!  Fraser will love it - and I really enjoyed the kayaking that we did in Ningaloo.  I would plan to keep it in Melbourne, as we have the nice wooden canoe that Nick gave us here in Inglewood 

And here is my booty from Connie - a big bag of lemons, the numerous cuttings, and the flowers

And of course I had to plant (and water ) those cuttings tonight

I was exhausted by the time I had finished this - and had already thought that I would get myself a takeaway dinner - but I also wanted a G&T

So I had the brilliant idea of making he G&T in my coffee cup - and took it to the takeaway to sip on while I waited

Went to the Inglewood Takeaway shop and bought a hamburger with the lot, and then Allan also gave me a free donut - I chose the pink iced one.  Both were absolutely delicious! In fact I went back the next day and told him so - and also dropped off a Loddon Arts Trail poster to put in the window 

Friday, and I had a few chores that I wanted to get done.  As I said earlier - I wanted to clean out the dining room fireplace

It was pretty bad

Before

After

  

And I also watered the plants, cleaned out the kitchen etc 

And then back to Melbourne for about 10 minutes, and onto Queenscliff via Ocean Grove to see CW Stoneking (we bought his record)

Back at last with Justin - Friday 4 - Sunday 6th September 2026

Well, at least I'm catching up now - did 3 x quick posts already today

Justin and I left Melbourne on Friday night around 6.15pm - after he had had a quick guitar practice with Chris - before their open mike at the Gershwin room on the following Tuesday night

Anyway, the traffic was pretty good - bit rainy though

Got to Inglewood around 8.30pm, and had a late leftover dinner

Saturday and a decadently lazy morning - breakfast in bed - all the usual

I then suggested that we go and visit Terry and have a mid morning coffee, as we hadn't seen him for ages. 

It was a dull, rainy day, and at the last Inglewood house on the left I told Justin to slow down as there was a mob of large kangaroos that looked like they were headed toward the road - which they were.  It was about 10.30 in the morning - but they all jumped the fence and bounded across-maybe 10 of them - (haven't seen that before at that time)

Anyway, had a lovely catchup with Terry, and we met one of his chickens - called Miss Lisa - I'm flattered

Left Terry's and went to IGA for some dinner supplies.  I was going to do more gardening - but it was a pretty miserable day - quite rainy (but sometimes sunny) - and very windy - so i stayed inside all day

I should also add that someone left us a painting of our house (found it last night) - it was face to the wall in the front outside doorway - there was no note, so we have no idea who it is from

That said, it was the 1st Saturday of the month - so there was a fire drum and a get together from 6pm on the Village Green. Justin didn't feel like going, but I said I would, but wouldn't stay too long - and therefore come back to have dinner with Justin

I drove up to Kingower around 5 to 6 it was looking pretty miserable, I realised half way there, that I hadn't brought a chair, but also realised that given that my windscreen wipers were on, that we probably wouldn't be sitting around in the rain

Got to the Village Green around 6.05pm - no one there - I thought I would just turn around and go home, but then I noticed the fire drum - with smoke - but not many flames - given the rain

So I got out, and poured myself a modest glass of wine, took a selfie, and called Terry to ask where everyone was

I thought I'd wait about 10 minutes and leave, but then Terry came over and said it was going to be in St Marys instead - and we left behind a note

Got to St Mary's and Arlene, David and June were there - who each gave me an extra long hug, and asked how Justin was.  I figured that they knew, which they confirmed, and I said I didn't really want to talk about it ....

However they kept bringing it up - questions about the cancer/treatment etc, and I kept changing the subject to something else - oh well. At least it was just us 

I had set my alarm to leave for 7pm, and so left pretty soon thereafter.  In the past, it had taken me at least 10 minutes to extricate myself - which I had allowed for in the timings with Justin

So I was home around 7.20pm - didn't drive fast because of the rain, dark, and potential kangaroos - didn't see any this time though

Had some fresh tortelini and pasta sauce for dinner - not bad when you don't feel like cooking

Sunday, and the weather was fine- so I did do some more gardening

Took some photos of rose cuttings that had struck  - for Clare - as she hadn't heard of this before

More flowers have emerged

Grape hyacinths

More tulips

Did more cutting back ie the sage 

And also noticed that 2 of the sprayers have fallen/been broken off - will need to do a proper audit of them - and get Shane to replace them

There were a lot of high weeds in the grass - not happy - Shane leaves it for too long.  I pulled some of these out, and filled the bin again

 

Saw potentially the same lizard again that I saw a while back - looks a bit skinny

I emptied out the cellar again - grr

And Justin hung up those 2 x paintings that I had wanted hung for a while

And then back to Melbourne and a delicious celebratory Father's Day dinner for Justin made by the kids