Right I’ve renamed this year my Year Of The Garden, ’10
lol!
My garden’s been nominated four times!! to SGA by other members of my local garden club.
They emailed me the form to fill in and fax back. They watched the GA segment and were full of praise about it, and said some lovely encouraging words to help me make up my mind.

I replied no problems , I will go ahead with that because if I can use a small space to grow what I have, then anyone can. I’m happy to share it and show what I do to grow foods that taste as they are meant to, then recycling to worms and chooks, rebuilding the soils without damaging the environment. Not using chemicals or non organic ferts, and using natural control for pests ect, to my best ability.

I don’t actually think I’m doing anything that grand to warrant all this attention, just grow a few veges and whack in a mini orchard, fill with manures. Get fit filling the beds with composts and turning soils. Thats it really. The maintainence part is squishing catterpillars , keeping chooks out of vege beds and running about like a madwoman catching cabbage moths with a butterfly net. Ok that last bit is out of the ordinary lol.

I’m chuffed :D

Happy Potter said:

I don’t actually think I’m doing anything that grand to warrant all this attention,

you are, because you are actually doing it!

bluegreen said:

Happy Potter said:

I don’t actually think I’m doing anything that grand to warrant all this attention,

you are, because you are actually doing it!

Well I never thought of it like that. If I wasn’t gardening I’d be reading, sewing or cooking more.
Or cleaning bloody windows! lol.
I reckon I spend one day, 8 hours, a week gardening. No matter what that is.

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

Happy Potter said:

I don’t actually think I’m doing anything that grand to warrant all this attention,

you are, because you are actually doing it!

Well I never thought of it like that. If I wasn’t gardening I’d be reading, sewing or cooking more.
Or cleaning bloody windows! lol.
I reckon I spend one day, 8 hours, a week gardening. No matter what that is.

that is called maintenance my dear and without that you dont have a nice garden/showpiece !! and you should be proud also.

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

Happy Potter said:

I don’t actually think I’m doing anything that grand to warrant all this attention,

you are, because you are actually doing it!

You’re an inspiration HP and we all know it on here. For me, it’s not just your gardening that I admire, it’s your outlook on life and your personality along with lots of other stuff. I think the praise that has fallen on you is well deserved.

Well I never thought of it like that. If I wasn’t gardening I’d be reading, sewing or cooking more.
Or cleaning bloody windows! lol.
I reckon I spend one day, 8 hours, a week gardening. No matter what that is.

Awww thanks for beautiful words Pom, Thee.

It really doesn’t feel from my side that I’m doing anything special. It’s the good soils doing the work , and the worm farms munching away out there.
Lot’s of plans too for the garden this coming growing season. Hopefully each year I will do it better. Like get decent tomatoes lol.

LOL, my tommies where not too bad, but room for improvement LOL

Woohoo, the SGA team are coming to visit me and my garden by mid July :D

I filled in the forms and faxed re my garden being suitable and accessible and they got back to me immediately!

Oh more news lol!
SGA asked me to send some pics of my garden, so I assembled some into an email and sent.

reply was :
“You should have heard all the ‘oohs’ and ‘aaahs’ in the office! What wonderful pics! I’ve opened a folder for them and we may be able to use some of them to promote the open day.

You must grow a lot of crocuses to harvest any saffron!

Regards, E”

I’m so chuffed :D

And I replied to the lady that I only started with 6 saffron bulbs and they increased and flowered en masse in their 2nd year.

We’re all chuffed, we love hearing about the work in your garden. Thank you kindly for sharing :)

pain master said:

We’re all chuffed, we love hearing about the work in your garden. Thank you kindly for sharing :)

thank you PM :D

Happy Potter said:

Oh more news lol!
SGA asked me to send some pics of my garden, so I assembled some into an email and sent.

reply was :
“You should have heard all the ‘oohs’ and ‘aaahs’ in the office! What wonderful pics! I’ve opened a folder for them and we may be able to use some of them to promote the open day.

You must grow a lot of crocuses to harvest any saffron!

Regards, E”

I’m so chuffed :D

And I replied to the lady that I only started with 6 saffron bulbs and they increased and flowered en masse in their 2nd year.

What a lovely ego boost. I’m not in the least surprised that you got praised by SGA.

Woohoo! my gardens in the Leader newspaper and they called it “ Small Garden Of Eden” :)

Some facts aren’t correct.. I haven’t tasted a pear off my pipsqueak mini pear yet, it’s still too young, and my garden is wayyyyyyy more than 12 square meters ( thats just the mini orchard area) , but otherwise its a good article :D
I like the photo too.
Page 8 of Werribee and Hoppers Crossing Leader newspaper.

http://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my gardens in the Leader newspaper and they called it “ Small Garden Of Eden” :)

Some facts aren’t correct.. I haven’t tasted a pear off my pipsqueak mini pear yet, it’s still too young, and my garden is wayyyyyyy more than 12 square meters ( thats just the mini orchard area) , but otherwise its a good article :D
I like the photo too.
Page 8 of Werribee and Hoppers Crossing Leader newspaper.

http://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Oh, great photo!!

Lovely article HP, you should be so proud of your achievements :)

Thank you Bon. I’m so chuffed :D

Happy Potter said:

Thank you Bon. I’m so chuffed :D

good for you Coz :)

on page 8 I only see a story about Ford.

pain master said:

on page 8 I only see a story about Ford.

Yes the link is a bit wonky. It seems to break when I copy and paste it. I’ve emailed you the link direct.

which edition of the leader do I need to look for?

pain master said:

which edition of the leader do I need to look for?

Werribee /Hoppers Crossing

wow, my site goes Waverly to Whitehorse… no Werribee. :(

pain master said:

wow, my site goes Waverly to Whitehorse… no Werribee. :(

Oh bugga! LOL
try this one….
http://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/letters/letterwithtoc.ashx?issue=68852010070600000000001001&userid={ee888d1f-1024-4ab0-a4cf-faa9fa240179}

Ahhh, the Wyndham edition???

pain master said:

Ahhh, the Wyndham edition???

OH YEAH!!,, sorry I forgot the town has changed bloody name!!! LOL

Oh and PM, the email I sent you is from a different email addy..so it may be in your junk folder.

Lovely stuff, great photo and good feel story. Pity about the 12sqm fact…

pain master said:

Lovely stuff, great photo and good feel story. Pity about the 12sqm fact…

Yes.. I reckon I’ll get calls as to how I fit all that in lol!

Oh yep as I thought, I have had emails asking me if my garden is really only 12 square meters in size!

And I got an email off a fellow who wants to know if I can be a part of a group is working with Parks Vic to resurrect the old orchard at Werribee Park. WHOA!
Me prune ?? HAHAHAHA!!
I didn’t even know there was an old orchard there..

But I could definately use the opportunity to learn from others on how to prune. And I could definately help re what fruit trees need to be fed to fruit, so I’m in. :D

Happy Potter said:

Oh yep as I thought, I have had emails asking me if my garden is really only 12 square meters in size!

And I got an email off a fellow who wants to know if I can be a part of a group is working with Parks Vic to resurrect the old orchard at Werribee Park. WHOA!
Me prune ?? HAHAHAHA!!
I didn’t even know there was an old orchard there..

But I could definately use the opportunity to learn from others on how to prune. And I could definately help re what fruit trees need to be fed to fruit, so I’m in. :D

a whole new world is opening for you HP :)

bluegreen said:

Happy Potter said:

Oh yep as I thought, I have had emails asking me if my garden is really only 12 square meters in size!

And I got an email off a fellow who wants to know if I can be a part of a group is working with Parks Vic to resurrect the old orchard at Werribee Park. WHOA!
Me prune ?? HAHAHAHA!!
I didn’t even know there was an old orchard there..

But I could definately use the opportunity to learn from others on how to prune. And I could definately help re what fruit trees need to be fed to fruit, so I’m in. :D

a whole new world is opening for you HP :)

It’s cool BG :) I love being part of anything that entails gardening. And I have a whole new appreciation for soil..

I had to laugh at the opening lines of the fellow’s email, he said he’d been meaning to contact me about the old orchard ,via the garden club, after seeing me on TV and in the papers!
lol!

Happy Potter said:

It’s cool BG :) I love being part of anything that entails gardening. And I have a whole new appreciation for soil..

I had to laugh at the opening lines of the fellow’s email, he said he’d been meaning to contact me about the old orchard ,via the garden club, after seeing me on TV and in the papers!
lol!

sounds like serendipity :)

bluegreen said:

Happy Potter said:

It’s cool BG :) I love being part of anything that entails gardening. And I have a whole new appreciation for soil..

I had to laugh at the opening lines of the fellow’s email, he said he’d been meaning to contact me about the old orchard ,via the garden club, after seeing me on TV and in the papers!
lol!

sounds like serendipity :)

Doesn’t it just.. :)

Happy Potter said:

But I could definately use the opportunity to learn from others on how to prune. And I could definately help re what fruit trees need to be fed to fruit, so I’m in. :D

Fantastic!

pain master said:

Happy Potter said:

But I could definately use the opportunity to learn from others on how to prune. And I could definately help re what fruit trees need to be fed to fruit, so I’m in. :D

Fantastic!

Thanks PM. Even fantasticer now!

I’ve been invited to the orchard on sunday to learn how to prune fruit trees, and the following saturday they are doing grafting. I’m told they will show me everything and where to source good rootstock!
Other dates following for revision and go over what I’ve learnt so that I can confidently prune, and graft. Wow! I’ve always wanted to lean how to graft trees!!

Today a small garden. Tomorrow a jungle!!! LOL :D :D

Happy Potter said:

pain master said:

Happy Potter said:

But I could definately use the opportunity to learn from others on how to prune. And I could definately help re what fruit trees need to be fed to fruit, so I’m in. :D

Fantastic!

Thanks PM. Even fantasticer now!

I’ve been invited to the orchard on sunday to learn how to prune fruit trees, and the following saturday they are doing grafting. I’m told they will show me everything and where to source good rootstock!
Other dates following for revision and go over what I’ve learnt so that I can confidently prune, and graft. Wow! I’ve always wanted to lean how to graft trees!!

Today a small garden. Tomorrow a jungle!!! LOL :D :D

the creation of a Monster.

the creation of a Monster.

——————————-
LMAO!

Happy Potter said:

the creation of a Monster.

——————————-
LMAO!

Happy Potter? No no no, Happy Frankenstein!

Happy Potter said:

pain master said:

Happy Potter said:

But I could definately use the opportunity to learn from others on how to prune. And I could definately help re what fruit trees need to be fed to fruit, so I’m in. :D

Fantastic!

Thanks PM. Even fantasticer now!

I’ve been invited to the orchard on sunday to learn how to prune fruit trees, and the following saturday they are doing grafting. I’m told they will show me everything and where to source good rootstock!
Other dates following for revision and go over what I’ve learnt so that I can confidently prune, and graft. Wow! I’ve always wanted to lean how to graft trees!!

Today a small garden. Tomorrow a jungle!!! LOL :D :D

Lucky thing.

I got a call from SGA, they are coming out on the 24 th to visit my garden :)

Thats a busy week for me. The day before I have a surgeons appointment, the day after is our wedding anniversary and Mr HPs booked us for a big do out with all the family, and on the Monday eldest daughter has her gallbladder surgery at the Alfred in the city.. be there at 6 am.

Gunna be some running.

Happy Potter said:

I got a call from SGA, they are coming out on the 24 th to visit my garden :)

Thats a busy week for me. The day before I have a surgeons appointment, the day after is our wedding anniversary and Mr HPs booked us for a big do out with all the family, and on the Monday eldest daughter has her gallbladder surgery at the Alfred in the city.. be there at 6 am.

Gunna be some running.

OK! You can’t avoid the busy week so get some rest prior to it’s start. Take it from one who has been there. Super woman still loses her powers when the body has had enough.

sga coming to visit my place today at 1.30 pm. I better get my frazzled self ship shape!

Oh Wow!!.. the horticulturalist lady was over the moon happy with my garden. She said she was delighted that my garden was nominated and could see why it’s popular. I had the biggest grin :D
She asked me a million questions about what I do in my garden. About recycling and re using, the worm farms, the chooks, the orchard ,watering, the works. The water tubs under the guttering holes are full, and I told how we jam the holes with blu tack when they overflow. She though that a brilliant idea, lol. As the hose traps for earwigs. I picked up a piece and tapped it on the path and the bugs just poured out. The lady was madly scribbling things down on her writing pad.
She especially loved the fernery. It looks great at the moment, even tho’ it’s mid winter.

She took photos of everyyyything… me and Max in the fernery, me and Max in the vege beds.. in the mini orchard , us surrounded by chooks, me and Max peering into the pond tub sitting near full with only rubber bungs to seal drain holes.
This time Max made sure he wasn’t left out of any of the proceedings! lol.

And, a funny thing happened in the front garden when I went to grab out a bunch of gum leaves caught in a conifer.. I reached in and there was this big puff of white smoke just billowed out…what the heck?? It was like the shrub had been dusted with a whole packet of flour. It’s pollen from the male flowers the lady told me. I’d never seen that before! The horse poop mulch out there has helped make the conifers very healthy, apparently :)

sounds fantastic HP, who would have thought that such a start to the day would continue onto such a bright note? Oh wait a minute, we did!!!

pain master said:

sounds fantastic HP, who would have thought that such a start to the day would continue onto such a bright note? Oh wait a minute, we did!!!

That yous did :)

I am so grateful to yous and the terrific little community we have in here :D You all know how our gardening lives can be punctuated by life’s happenings and dramas. We can waffle on and on, or be completely silent, and yous still understand.

Oh Wow!!.. the horticulturalist lady was over the moon happy with my garden. She said she was delighted that my garden was nominated and could see why it’s popular. I had the biggest grin :D
——————————-
with earwigs pouring out the hoses and dust clouds coming off the conifers it sounds magical
hey – btw – why did you think of the Happy Potter tag ? LOL.

pepe said:

Oh Wow!!.. the horticulturalist lady was over the moon happy with my garden. She said she was delighted that my garden was nominated and could see why it’s popular. I had the biggest grin :D
——————————-
with earwigs pouring out the hoses and dust clouds coming off the conifers it sounds magical
hey – btw – why did you think of the Happy Potter tag ? LOL.

Did I miss something in my haste to climb the LHS?

pepe said:

Oh Wow!!.. the horticulturalist lady was over the moon happy with my garden. She said she was delighted that my garden was nominated and could see why it’s popular. I had the biggest grin :D
——————————-
with earwigs pouring out the hoses and dust clouds coming off the conifers it sounds magical
hey – btw – why did you think of the Happy Potter tag ? LOL.

lol!

My grandson helped me with the name..I said help hey me eh, trying to think of a cool name for gardening to do with pot plants, pottering, potter, planter. (I was cozk when I joined) then he said harry potter!!.. I said Oi, I’m not a boy!..and I’m happier than he, so happy potter it was :)

Happy Potter said:

pepe said:

Oh Wow!!.. the horticulturalist lady was over the moon happy with my garden. She said she was delighted that my garden was nominated and could see why it’s popular. I had the biggest grin :D
——————————-
with earwigs pouring out the hoses and dust clouds coming off the conifers it sounds magical
hey – btw – why did you think of the Happy Potter tag ? LOL.

lol!

My grandson helped me with the name..I said help hey me eh, trying to think of a cool name for gardening to do with pot plants, pottering, potter, planter. (I was cozk when I joined) then he said harry potter!!.. I said Oi, I’m not a boy!..and I’m happier than he, so happy potter it was :)

applauds

Going back to “View full Thread”…think I missed something here…

Well done Happy Potter! A real horticulturist to boot!… That was a very good read about her visit….(see I told ya, the day could only get better lol!!)

Dinetta said:

Going back to “View full Thread”…think I missed something here…

I had a lovely day with a horticulturalist looking over my garden, and telling me what would happen if it were picked for the Open Day in Oct.

Happy Potter said:

Dinetta said:

Going back to “View full Thread”…think I missed something here…

I had a lovely day with a horticulturalist looking over my garden, and telling me what would happen if it were picked for the Open Day in Oct.

That would be generous of you, allowing your garden to participate in an Open Day…

Dinetta said:

Well done Happy Potter! A real horticulturist to boot!… That was a very good read about her visit….(see I told ya, the day could only get better lol!!)

Thanks D :) It sure did.

It was a learning experience too. She stepped right back when I ruffled the conifer to release the trapped gum leaves, and I went “WHAT THE HECK??”, thinking it was about to spontaneously combust, or something..she laughed loudly, said it was pollen..

But I think she got the bigger fright when this big fish stuck it’s nose out of the green pond. OMG what was that? lol! (still treating white spot with malachite green) It’s just a goldfish. That ones Grubbleguts, he’s always hungry.

And, she was trying to get a photo of one of the chooks standing on the path looking at us, but every time she crouched down for the pic it turned away. So I whistled and all 7 chooks came running over lol! Got a great pic she said. :D

Happy Potter said:

It was a learning experience too. She stepped right back when I ruffled the conifer to release the trapped gum leaves, and I went “WHAT THE HECK??”, thinking it was about to spontaneously combust, or something..she laughed loudly, said it was pollen..

Once upon a time, I was with a fellow horticulturist and we were discussing a Conifer that was absolutely chocker full of pollen, and a hail storm approached. As the large hail stones starting hitting this tree, the pollen would explode into the air. Quite a spectacular sight to see all this fine yellow dust explode into the sky each time these lumps of ice fell down.

pain master said:

Happy Potter said:

It was a learning experience too. She stepped right back when I ruffled the conifer to release the trapped gum leaves, and I went “WHAT THE HECK??”, thinking it was about to spontaneously combust, or something..she laughed loudly, said it was pollen..

Once upon a time, I was with a fellow horticulturist and we were discussing a Conifer that was absolutely chocker full of pollen, and a hail storm approached. As the large hail stones starting hitting this tree, the pollen would explode into the air. Quite a spectacular sight to see all this fine yellow dust explode into the sky each time these lumps of ice fell down.

I was amazed. It was just like you describe, only this was white. My arm looked like it had been sprinkled with stardust. Theres 3 of this type conifer and I went to eack and jiggled a leaf and dust exploded out. Never seen it before.

Happy Potter said:

Oh Wow!!.. the horticulturalist lady was over the moon happy with my garden. She said she was delighted that my garden was nominated and could see why it’s popular. I had the biggest grin :D

as if any of us ever doubted it would be otherwise :)

I was asked by the hort lady what am I planning to grow this summer. I had excluded spuds as there’s more that I want to try and space is at a premuim. But I’m thinking I might grow them again because I know I can.. and corn again too.
This season I’m going to try roma tomatoes, love them. Also, I still have a few seeds from the BBY heritage tomato packet, so I might start up a couple of the yellow oxhearts into the lightbox. And hope that this time mice don’t get to them first!

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

Yay! Congrats HP :) Wish I could come and see it!

bon008 said:

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

Yay! Congrats HP :) Wish I could come and see it!

Thanks Bon , I wish that too. But you have seen it in the tons of pics I’ve posted over years anyway. It’s not big, nor flash, nor has any rare plants or outstanding features.. ‘tis just a garden. But one that grows stuff well :)

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

now why am I not surprised?

:D

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

what does sga stand for? and congrats in advance of when I find out what sga stands for.

pain master said:

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

what does sga stand for? and congrats in advance of when I find out what sga stands for.

Sustainable Gardening Australia

pain master said:

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

what does sga stand for? and congrats in advance of when I find out what sga stands for.

Thanks. Sustainable Gardening Australia :)
http://www.sgaonline.org.au/

bluegreen said:

pain master said:

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

what does sga stand for? and congrats in advance of when I find out what sga stands for.

Sustainable Gardening Australia

then definite congrats, nice work HP :)

bluegreen said:

pain master said:

Happy Potter said:

Woohoo! my garden has been selected for inclusion to the sga open day, in Oct. :D

what does sga stand for? and congrats in advance of when I find out what sga stands for.

Sustainable Gardening Australia

consider that page bookmarked.

pain master said:

bluegreen said:

pain master said:

what does sga stand for? and congrats in advance of when I find out what sga stands for.

Sustainable Gardening Australia

consider that page bookmarked.

Go to fact sheets, yummy yards, love it. I refer to it often.

Congrats HP :) I went ot the site link and it is a facinating site which i will paruse again.

Hooray!!
Finally my shed mosaic gets some recognition! LOL!
It was missing in all the other media outlets.. it didn’t feature in the newspaper articles and only a 2 second glimpse on GA, but it was the main thing I did want people to see! And here’s a great pic.

:D :D :D

http://sgaonline.cart.net.au/store/coraleegarden.html

Happy Potter said:

Hooray!!
Finally my shed mosaic gets some recognition! LOL!
It was missing in all the other media outlets.. it didn’t feature in the newspaper articles and only a 2 second glimpse on GA, but it was the main thing I did want people to see! And here’s a great pic.

:D :D :D

http://sgaonline.cart.net.au/store/coraleegarden.html

Finally! I thought they could have lingered on it a bit longer in the GA segment as well…it looks kinda like the gingerbread house…

Happy Potter said:

Hooray!!
Finally my shed mosaic gets some recognition! LOL!
It was missing in all the other media outlets.. it didn’t feature in the newspaper articles and only a 2 second glimpse on GA, but it was the main thing I did want people to see! And here’s a great pic.

:D :D :D

http://sgaonline.cart.net.au/store/coraleegarden.html

great write up too :)

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

Hooray!!
Finally my shed mosaic gets some recognition! LOL!
It was missing in all the other media outlets.. it didn’t feature in the newspaper articles and only a 2 second glimpse on GA, but it was the main thing I did want people to see! And here’s a great pic.

:D :D :D

http://sgaonline.cart.net.au/store/coraleegarden.html

Finally! I thought they could have lingered on it a bit longer in the GA segment as well…it looks kinda like the gingerbread house…

Hehe love the gingerbread bit.. it does look a bit like that!

The write up made me blush!

They are visiting all the gardens again shortly.

pasted:
“I am proposing to re-visit you and your garden on the weekend of 18-19 September to catch up and address any issues that may have arisen. I’d like to sort out anything now so everything runs smoothly on the 10th of October”

I’m getting so excited :D

Happy Potter said:

Hooray!!
Finally my shed mosaic gets some recognition! LOL!
It was missing in all the other media outlets.. it didn’t feature in the newspaper articles and only a 2 second glimpse on GA, but it was the main thing I did want people to see! And here’s a great pic.

:D :D :D

http://sgaonline.cart.net.au/store/coraleegarden.html

Lovely write up too. A busy day on the 10th.

Happy Potter said:

Hooray!!
Finally my shed mosaic gets some recognition! LOL!
It was missing in all the other media outlets.. it didn’t feature in the newspaper articles and only a 2 second glimpse on GA, but it was the main thing I did want people to see! And here’s a great pic.

:D :D :D

http://sgaonline.cart.net.au/store/coraleegarden.html

Oh well done! And only $5.00 for the shed, I’ll buy two, thanks!