UPDATES!!!!

Hey everyone!! Sorry I know it's been ages but I haven't fallen in the pond never to be seen again... (that might be next week!) I have just been SUPER busy at the garden!!

We have been deep cleaning at the botan... doing lots of weeding in all the nooks and cranies and generally doing some overhaulin'. Our last group of volunteers left at the end of september and we aren't due to have any more groups for the rest of the year. After Kate told me Sam and I were on our own at the garden for the next 3 months I had a mild panic then several cups of tea and well, we just kinda got on with it. Anja has been helping us out over the last few weeks because there are still hardly any turtles coming up and so that has also been a big help and the boys at LVV, Osmond and Busby, helped us out this week with the big truck carrying away all our garden debris, leaves, grass cuttings and the pruned branches and that was a HUGE help!

It's busy but it's surprising just how much work you can get through when you are a little up against it. Sam and I weedwhacked the entire phase 1 and the childrens garden in 2 days this week and Anja and Kat (new trails intern) raked up all the grass after us. When the boys arrived on wednesday to take away our debris from the week so far the pile in the carpark was as tall as me!

Some of our house-keeping has been to get into each arbour and spend the whole day improving that one arbour before moving on. We have been planting, rebuilding rock borders, weeding, raking up leaves, pruning and shaping the shrubs and trees and re-painting the benches. We have done all 5 of the sensory arbour over the last 2 weeks and they are looking very loved.

Next week we are moving onto the entrance to the garden around the gate, the Lookout garden and yes... the pond... that means muggins here getting in the pond and pulling out all the Floating water Hyacinth that has taken over.... uuurrrghhhh.... it's the worst job to have to do at the garden but it does look so much better when it's done so I'm gonna suck it up and get on with it... (I reserve the right, however, to complain constantly and be grumpy for the whole time my body is in that slime-fest though!!)

I will get some nice shots of the garden and how it's all coming along for you next week.

Much love from the garden on the golden rock...xxx