a green weekend

How was your weekend my friends? Mine was particularly hot, sweaty and very very dirty!! Why oh why we always seem to choose the hottest part of summer to tackle the garden I do not know. We ripped out the "ugly" side of the garden full of random things, lots of branches of timber and all sorts of plants whose names I do not know, yet have had no problem with running riot across my garden.

We ripped and pulled and dug and dug and dug. The lovely pile above is the small remnants in what didn't make it in the trip to the tip. If only I had captured it in its full glory.

We then arose super early on Sunday morning to head out to the markets. The super early bit was to escape the heat, but unfortunately it was still pretty damn hot and sticky anyway (mental note, next garden, tackle it in winter). The markets were an interesting place. Full of oh so cheap plants, but I think the people watching really tops the cake. It certainly did make for a very interesting Sunday morning. So a few hours later with an overflowing trailer and the station wagon packed to the max the markets had been worthwhile once again.

So the garden is now half done, its looking much better, but I am guessing next weekend I will be just as hot and dirty all over again!

going home

I have spoken before here, here and here about how I love "going home" to my parents gardens. Home is down in Sydney, out about an hour from the city itself in a gorgeously secluded pocket of bush and acreage. Going home at spring is simply the best. Mum & Dads beautiful gardens and lawns are alive and driving towards their acreage you can spot their gardens in the distance. Its simply too beautiful, and nothing else makes me feel quite so at home.

Mum not only grows my most favourite David Austen roses, but also has a lovely collection of crystal vases to suit. I see it as my pleasure to bring the two together and fill my parents home with little pockets of flowers when I am in town. Mum never seems to find the time to bring her garden indoors, so I really hope she doesn't mind that the first thing I do when I get home is steal her best scissors and head outdoors.

This little collection of David Austen's found a new home upon the mantelpiece. With the afternoon sun reflecting through the crystal, and the most amazing fragrance to suit, they were simply too beautiful for words.

back in the studio

hello hello! we are back in the studio again after our little trip down to South Australia. I had a lovely birthday exploring the Adelaide hills, cheese tasting, chocolate tasting and indulging in some high tea. We also had a fabulous time at the wedding we attended, we haven't danced that much in such a long time!

Whilst down South way I feel in love with this bush above. Apparently its called a Snow Ball Bush or Tree. I would love to know more about this gorgeous creature and if it will grow up here in Queensland? Apparently its a bit of a "Grandma plant" but that quite suits my nanna tendencies.... Sitting next to my Hydrangeas I think it would be right at home?

hello little hydrangeas

How was your weekend friends? We tried our best to have a whole day off work - unfortunately it didn't quite happen... We just cant seem to keep ourselves out of the studio...!

We did however manage to save a few hours for ourselves and stocked up on our summer vegetable seedlings for the vegie garden. I also managed to score some hydrangea plants. Oh they are such my favourites. I am all a little skeptical as to how well they will grow in our warm sunny Brisbane. But I will give them all the love and water I can and hope for the best that they will survive in the shady corner of our garden.

Happy monday - hope your having a lovely day,

xox

in bloom

One of the first things we did to the outside of our house after we had bought it was to have a big jungle clean up, and by jungle, I mean a succulent jungle full of aloe vera and mother in laws tongue. Someone had previously been succulent crazy and they had multiplied by the hundreds.

Over an extensive weekend we slashed back the garden and mulched the succulents to make way for a new tropical garden. There was this one big scraggly looking bush tucked down the side of our house. Planted in a garden bed of gravel, it was the most strange location for this big ugly sad looking bush, we wanted it gone and we wanted it gone quick, but my mum was adamant it must stay.

And now I see why. The scraggly big bush has turned out to bear the sweetest pink camellia flowers which are now dotted around our home in crystal bud vases. Mum was right, it looks like the gravel garden and the scraggly bush are here to stay after all.

where has the week gone?

Dear friends, where has this week gone? Its thursday already. Goodness, our poor blog has been a bit unloved this week. We hope it hasn't taken it personally.

Its been a busy busy week here this week, lots of appointments with gorgeous couples getting married, lots of renovation work happening in our studio - we now have half a floor and some doors. It is also wonderful to have handles on our windows after all these months of trying to shut them without any mechanism to do so!

Our new press is arriving next wednesday, and we are so exited about this. Although of course, this does mean that all the half finished renovation jobs will need to be finished before the new press arrives. Argh, nothing like some pressure to get things rolling. We have affectionately named our new press Herbie, We cant wait to share photos of his beautiful industrialness with you soon.

In other news, after all the rains that have fallen here in Queensland over the last few weeks, the veggie patch has thrived. Our tomato bushes are now covered in fruit. I think we may be eating bruschetta for quite a few weeks yet. Now if only the passion fruits would kick into action as my Dad and I are having a competition about who can grow the most fruit first. I am terribly disappointed that he is winning thus far. All I can say is that in his new found retirement he must just have far too much time to go sing to his plants and give them the love they deserve!

I think I need some finches

Sweet possums how was your weekend? I had a glorious time shopping with my most sweetest friend for bridesmaid dresses. I simply adore the midnight navy she has chosen, so striking and elegant. Maybe it will become my new favourite colour... after white of course...

Onto totally random news, I have been thinking about our garden of late. This is the year of our yet to be started massive outdoor renovation. Recently while we were in Tasmania out the front of one of our many antique shops we found, I fell in love with an avery full of the sweetest little finches. Inside the avery, three of the little muffins were all cuddled up together on a perk having a little sleep. It was simply so gorgeous, I wish I had been able to take a photo to show you. It has reminded me how much I adore little birds, such the sweet little things.

Watching these finches remind me of my mum. Growing up we had a family holiday farm down at the Snowy Mountains in NSW. I remember my mum spotting the cutest little finches down at the farm, in the midst of the winter snow. It would have been such a striking view, but of course, at the time as a child I am sure I was far more excited about the snow then the birds. But it is funny how much we grow up to be just like our mothers. Lucky she is a gorgeously fabulous woman - so there is still hope for me yet.

So now, I am wondering, that maybe as part of our massive outdoor renovation I could convince my husband that we need a finch avery in the backyard. What do you think? It would have to be white with black trimming, full of queenslander style, surrounded by palms and bamboo. Oh and match the house of course. That's not asking for too much is it?

Image via Flickr

after the rains

Finally the rains have stopped pouring down here in Brisbane and I finally had a chance to head outside and get some sunshine. Well almost sunshine, there is a touch of blue sky up there somewhere. Ruby finally got a chance to head outside and do her business. How a dog can hold on for a day and a half astounds me, but she was adamant, she would not get her paws wet... I told you she was precious.

After all the rain, it was so lovely to see that our watermelon seeds have sprouted. Have I ever told you how much I love watermelon? Every breakfast I have a fresh watermelon and pineapple juice, and oh how I cannot wait to have our own watermelons taking over the garden. Isn't it such a miracle that a bunch of seeds can sit dormant in a paper packet for so long, and then once they are planted and receive literally bucket loads of water they sprout into life. The wonder of nature I suppose. Such little things intrigue me...

On to other news, last night I had such a wonderful time catching up with old friends and making new ones at the ABCD Brisbane get together. Organised by the gorgeous Steph and Kim, it was such a lovely evening. How lucky we are to live in such a creative community - wonderful things are happening here in Brisbane, it is oh so very exciting to be part of it all.

Have a gorgeous weekend my friends. Tonight I have my nearest and dearest friend travelling up to stay with us for a weekend of bridesmaid dress shopping for her wedding in August. So exciting, oh how I love gorgeous dresses!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well my friends.

xox

a summer garden

It has only just dawned on me that November has arrived, summer is almost here and I hadn't even noticed. I feel giddy with excitement, so much so that late on Friday night I decided that we must have a summer garden, and we must do it on the weekend.

Now our previous front garden had been untouched since last August. One and a quarter years worth of weeds and grass had taken over and it really wasnt a pretty sight. Now I had been able to overlook this wee problem for the last six months whilst our house had that boarded up abandoned look after the small incident with the car that crashed through our house situation.

Now thankfully months and months later renovation work is complete, we have a new garage and the house has started to be painted a lovely stone white colour. Things are starting to come together and the weeds just arent a part of the new plan.

So saturday afternoon saw us outside ripping out weeds and grass and dead old plants with avengence. It was blowing a gale, a storm was rolling in and it wasnt really ideal gardening weather - but I was determined - it had to go!

One and a half full wheelie bins later, a wee incident with a small snake which had made its home in the weeds, and bunnings entire collection of white Dahlia bulbs later, im feeling optimistic - This summer I will have a garden. Please God, just make it grow!

Image via Flickr