A busy 4 months at Bird Cottage - but the berries are in!

December is half way through and Christmas is almost upon us !!!!   I can't believe it! I don't know about the rest of you but this years has just flown by. And once again it seems I've been too busy doing 'stuff' to get on here and tell you what's been happening!

It's been a busy few months at Bird Cottage since things have started to warm up. As spring sprung I couldn't wait to get out into the garden and start planning and planting.

One of my first jobs was to paint the ugly grey fence that runs across the back of the property. It actually wasn't ugly, I just wanted to get out my air spray gun and splash some colour about the place. And what colour did I choose; well....it's kinda ...mmmm...grey!!!! (but a classy grey I hope!)

The view from the back deck it quite lovely. Very open with a picturesque little blue cottage in the background. That cottage is surrounded with deciduous trees but as I sit here typing now the view I see is very different with the Liquidambar trees in full leaf. The little cottage is almost obscured. We've had a lot of summer storms and rain lately and last week we woke to see a family of kangaroos huddled under the trees for protection. This is the third time we've seen them so they are obviously 'locals'!

Unfortunately our view was spoiled somewhat but the dead gum tree in the background....right in the middle of the lawn.

 I'm sorry...but that HAD to go!

We also had a Liquidambar of our own. Lovely as they are planted in the correct position, ours was planted about 3m from the side of our house and right up against the fence we share with our neighbours. It also has a very precarious lean....right towards our house. So, as you saw in my last post,  along came Isaac our lumberjack and the trees have gone and we have our firewood for next year.

With the tree out of the way I was able to get on with painting the fences. I used an electric air spray gun which makes the job much easier. Choosing an exterior 'Solarguard' style paint in a colour called 'Monument' I got to work. The paint needed to be thinned down slightly with water so that it will pass through the spray gun nozzle. Once you get the right consistency your up and running.

Using a spray gun is fantastic when you need to cover large spaces, it makes it quite an easy job. The are inexpensive and available from most hardware stores. Just remember if your spraying in your own garden to be careful of the overspray as it will get all over your house or paving; or your neighbours!

Using a darker colour on the fence helps it to recede and when you plant in front of it, it becomes almost invisible compared to lighter coloured fences and the plants take centre stage.  Well....that's what I was told by a fencing guy years ago......my story and I'm sticking to it! 

After painting the fence I will string galvanised cables along it's length as support wires for my 'berry patch'. In front of the fence posts have planted Thornless Blackerries, Raspberries, Red Currents and Kiwiberries. (who'd have even thought there was such a thing as a 'kiwiberry'???)

The poor berries have been struggling a bit since they went in. The weather has been crazy for a Highlands spring and summer; we've had days up around 40 degrees C and four season in a day with sun, rain and hail...the the sun comes out again.  The humidity has been horrible and so unusual for the Highlands.  Hopefully if the berries make it through this summer they will have bedded well and will take off next year!

And to protect the berries from the whipper-snipper and lawn mower I've made some surrounds from treated pine 50mm sleepers which I'll pain in the same colour as the fence. 

These also allow me to build up the soil level with some compost and garden soil mix as our soil here is very 'clayey' and not free draining. Raising the levels of your garden beds and adding organic matter is very important for for adequate drainage .....you don't want your plants getting soggy roots! 

So things are starting to happen here at Bird Cottage. We have manage to get quite a bit done since moving here last August, but there are a million and one things yet to do. Now the Liquidambar along the side has gone I think this area will be my next job. It's surprising how much space there actually is out there and I think it will make a nice little courtyard; protected from the wind but getting lots of sunshine in the winter. You can see the top of the water tank I installed last month ( I'm very proud of my tank!!!) just above the horrible green corrugated fence. That's coming down tomorrow!

We have also inherited a lovely fountain from a friend so I'm thinking that this space will be perfect for it. The dining room looks out over this spot so a nice feature is required....and some planting to block out the neighbours water tank and shopping container....mmm....yes...they have a shipping container in their side garden.

Well it's been a long, hot and tiring day. Time for a G & T I think! My months annual leave is finished and I'm back to work on Thursday....and then...it's Christmas.

Our first Christmas here at Bird Cottage. Wishing you all a wonderful and safe Christmas and all the best for a fantastic New Year in 2015.

                                  Until then, happy gardening. 
                    See you next time with the latest update from
                                            Bird Cottage.