All quiet on the Western Avenue front

News has reached us about the outcome of the recent "Gardening on the edge" festival in which our garden "The Shambles", and five others, was open for the Queens Birthday weekend.
Apparently 1700 people attended of whom more than 1100 visited our garden so that after costs $15,000 was raised for various local organizations and charities.
We are most pleased that the Montville rural Fire brigade received $1500 and the Blackall range Care Group $5000.
The garden was almost completely unscathed by so many visiting feet and had quite a lot of colour and interest on show. Now nearly a fortnight later the weather is cool to cold and showery. Plant growth and flowering has really slowed down and our deciduous trees have finally declared autumn/winter. Confused Jonquils are flowering and many ever reliable hady perennials are carrying on with blousy flowers regardless.
The visit by about thirty members of the International tropical Foliage and Garden Society was very friendly and enjoyable but I'm sure that they felt as though they were visting East Sussex rather than East Timor! We thank them for a gift of a special Anthurium and a bottle of wine.
Picture: Iochroma cyaneum
We are glad to have our privacy back. It's very important for us and for our poor old garden, and our dog, to be able to relax for a while.
Our next visitors will be from Heritage Roses in Australia on 26th July to help bash our errant old fashioned roses into shape, while attempting to prune and feed them for the visit , on 5th October of the National tour of Heritage Roses in Australia, "Rainforest to Roses"

we'll get out of your way now , get back into slippers and dressing gown, Gate Locked
michael Simpson

Typical Montville weather.

A short drive from Brisbane ,Montville seems to have a totally different weather forecast. It is raining and foggy again here today and cooler too. Just when we thought winter wasn't happening.
The rain is a god send for my cuttings and means I don't have to water them with the watering can for a few days.I love propagating plants and it is always rewarding to see how quickly you can grow new plants in the right conditions. When I see the retail cost of plants, it has to be something really special or a complete impulse buy for me to spend the money.
In my garden there is also the matter of making space for cuttings as my potting area is already full and is not in the best place for the winter months. I can see that my cuttings will be taking over all available pathway space for the time being.I just need more land!
In my search for sun I am planning to move my vegetable box to the back of the house below the back verandah. This spot originally supported a very large vegetable and herb garden before the pool was put in. Other plans include working on the area where the Bauhinia Tree was removed and planting up the understory at the rear of the property.
The fact is that even if nothing happens in my garden I still love it. It is constantly changing and growing and provides us with endless topics of conversation.
I think if you are lucky enough to have a partner who shares a love of gardening you will never be short of discussion. You can talk about the health and growth of plants ,garden design
ideas ,the past developments of your garden and the future of your garden for ever.
I wonder what the non gardeners talk about?