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gardens & polka dots

gardens & polka dots

Tag Archives: Serendipity

My Nest

21 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Gardens, Interesting, Polka Dots

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Creating, Foraging, Garden Blog, Little Found Treasures, Nest, Out & About, polka dots, Seredipity Garden Designs, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Design

Last year I visited the fabulous Sydney Flower Market at Flemington. Oh, I love this place and I sure am due for another visit very soon. I bought lovely bunches of flowers which adorned my home for the following week/s, helped a friend choose flowers for her wedding and found myself the cutest little nest made from dried Dodda Vine.

Nest

Dodda Vine also has charming common names such as devil’s guts, devil’s hair, devil’s ringlet, hailweed, hairweed, hellbine, pull-down, strangleweed and witch’s hair. Anything with a common name containing devil, hell or weed makes you stop in your tracks. It comes from the Genus Cuscuta and is a parasite which means it attaches itself to another plant and literally sucks the life out of it draining the host plant of nutrients making it weak, vulnerable and eventually rendering it lifeless. I read a forum in which the author of the post wrote that she had received Dodda Vine on a bunch of flowers (not uncommon) and that it had started to produce roots. STOP! I had fresh Dodda Vine too but I didn’t see any roots being produced, thank goodness. If this is you don’t throw your Donna Vine in the bin, get yourself busy making nests, wreaths and all things doddery before it dries.

Anyway, back to my nest. It is the cutest thing and I originally bought it as an Easter decoration. I planned to put spotted chocolate eggs in it and use it as a table center peice for the Easter period. This didn’t happen because I was unable to find Fairtrade spotted chocolate eggs (better luck this year). I did however find the cutest little family of Fairtrade bunnies that happily made their home in the nest before being consumed.

Easter Nest

I have also used my nest for Autumn and Winter decorating but my favourite has been using it during spring and summer. Summer is without a doubt my favourite season, I love the smells of summer, from sunscreen and salt on a beach towel, to seafood on the beach with a glass of Riesling. I love warm evenings under the stars and diving into the salty water at the beach. I just can’t get enough of it. Over the years I have collected little bits of nature and this year has been no different, a shell here, a beautifully formed leaf there. But this year instead of my little found treasures, also called Polka Dots, being randomly placed around my home and eventually making their way to the garden, I have put them in my nest. So, cute!

Nest and Drift Wood

I have collected my finds on different adventures I have had during Spring and Summer and each piece reminds me of a place I visited and enjoyed or a beautiful day. There are leaves, gum nuts, Kangaroo Paw, feathers, drift wood, shells, dried pods and underneath a teeny tiny scattering of sand. It’s easy to do and I am sure some of you do forage when your out and about. Keeping your eyes peeled for little Polka Dot treasures encourages us to be mindful and present because if you’re distracted and rushing your eyes might just miss something worth capturing.

Nest On The Old Radio

Inside The Nest

Gum Nut in Nest

Nest Foliage

Nest With Draping Foliage

Feather In Nest

I foraged my little Polka Dots from the ground and I cut the Kangaroo Paw from my garden. I didn’t break branches, steal flowers or damage bushland in order to create this beautiful nest. It’s amazing what you can find when you walk with mindfulness.

Until next time.

Carmel

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A Visit To Mayfield Garden

15 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Gardens, Polka Dots

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Cool Climate Garden, garden design, Gardening Blog, Landscapes, Largest Garden, Mayfield Garden, Open Gardens, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs

One of the nicest ways to spend a weekend is to pack a bag, grab your respective other, in my case Dave, head on up to the Blue Mountains and pick up your newly married friends on the way. What ensues is a laughter filled weekend which includes a gorgeous timber cabin, home cooked meals, red wine, market wanderings, a few cheeky purchases and a stroll around an open garden.

Imagine the Most Beautifully Scented Rose You Have Ever Smelt And I Promise You This Rose Would Match It

Imagine the most beautifully scented rose you have ever smelt and I promise you this rose would match it

In this case the open garden is Mayfield Garden, located near Oberon in the Central West Tablelands of New South Wales on the western side of the Blue Mountains. Mayfield Garden is one of the ‘largest privately owned cool climate gardens in the world’. Purchased in 1984 by the Hawkins family, the garden has evolved to represent a grand English garden in the Australian climate. Nestled within a working farm, the extensive garden is made up of garden rooms that are joined by meandering paths and large expanses of lush green lawn. While the garden is very much a work in progress with areas still under construction and plants yet to fill out to their mature potential, there are some wonderful spaces within the garden. For example, you can wander through the Birch trees, explore the Pine trees, smell the divine roses and listen to water cascade over the many water features and water falls.

The Water Garden

The Water Garden

To say this garden is big is an understatement, it’s huge and requires around three hours to see it all. We took 2.5 hours with the only stops reserved for smelling roses and taking pictures and I was happy with that.

The House

The house

It was a joy to wander through the garden, map in hand but still not know what to expect at each destination. Within minutes of entering the garden you realise that this garden is more than just a hobby, it is a passion, filled with bold statements and attention to detail. For example, the aviary is an almighty bird enclosure containing its own mini garden. The chicken coop – well it’s more like five star chicken heaven thank you. Those chickens must be the happiest chickens on the Central West Tablelands – if not, dare I say it, the earth!

A Chicken Coop For The Happiest Chickens On Earth

A chicken coop for the happiest chickens on earth

Chicken Heaven

Chicken heaven

The highlight of Mayfield Garden for me was the grass roofed ‘Studio’. A gorgeous timber cabin up on a hill away from the main house with Birch trees planted on one side and sweeping lawn on the other. We imagined what sorts of arty endeavours might take place in the studio from painting and sculpture to stone masonry and artists retreat, who knows. What we did fancy though was ourselves perched on the veranda with a cold glass of anything we like looking out over the sun kissed countryside.

The Highlight Of The Garden - The Grass Roofed Studio

The highlight of the garden, the grass roofed studio

The Studio - The Roof Is A Field Of Green

The studio, the roof is a field of green

Exquisite Timber Work On The Front Door Of The Studio

Exquisite timber work on the front door of the studio

If you also had the opportunity to visit Mayfield Garden you may have been disappointed with the number of roped off ‘No Entry’ areas within the garden. I understand the need to keep prying eyes away from the family house that is reasonable and expected. But to advertise a garden maze and parterre then have no access I must admit was disappointing. I have mentioned that the garden is a work in progress and the maze planting still has a bit of growth to go before enclosing the occupant within, however the child within fancied a wander through the maze and she wasn’t allowed anywhere near it. The Parterre was also roped off too. Maybe it was because there wasn’t a skerrick of plant to be seen within its borders, who knows. Hopefully by the next open garden the Parterre will be richly planted, the maze will be amazing and visitors can explore both.

The Maze - No Entry

The Maze from the outside

Behind The Pleached Hedge - The Parterre. No Entry!

Behind the pleached hedge is the Parterre.

Aside from these disappointments, I did enjoy my wander around Mayfield Garden. I look forward to revisiting one day and seeing how the garden has matured and whether the grand ideas of Mr Hawkins have come to fruition. But only if I can get lost in childhood excitement within the maze.

The Walled Potager

The Walled Potager

Inside The Walled Potager, Espaliered Edible Fig

Inside the walled potager, espaliered edible fig

Inside The Walled Potager, The Garden Beds

Inside the walled potager, the garden beds

Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip Tree

Liriodendron tulipifera, Tulip Tree

A Landscape Of Green And Maroon

A landscape of green and maroon

Divine Climbing Roses

Divine climbing roses

Tiny Pine Cones

Tiny pine cones

The Crocket Lawn, With Not A Blade Of Grass Out Of Place

The crocket lawn, with not a blade of grass out of place
Water Cascade. Built By The Romans? No, But It's Built To Last

Cascade. Built by the romans? No, but it’s built to last

The View From The Top Of The Water Cascade

The view from the top of the cascade

Beautiful Detail On The Pergola

Beautiful detail on the pergola

The Beginnings Of A Pleached Hedge

The beginnings of a pleached hedge

The Bridge - It's a Very Large Bridge

The bridge, it’s a very large bridge built with Blue Stone

The Red Bridge In The Water Garden

The red bridge in the Water Garden

I hope you enjoyed your tour through Mayfield Garden, perhaps one day you’ll get the chance to visit and see it in all it’s grandeur.

Mayfield Garden, 350 Mayfield Road Oberon, is open in Autumn 2014 on these dates; April 26th & 27th. May 3rd & 4th.

Until next time.

Carmel

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Natural Swimming Pools – Swimming Chemical Free!

04 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Gardens, Polka Dots

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Chemical Free Swimming Pools, Lazing By The Pool, Natural Swimming Pools, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs, Summer, Swimming, Swimming Pools

This blog post first appeared on Cohabitaire {Lifestyle Inspire by Nature} in June 2013. As the warm smimming weather gets closer and closer for us in the southern hemispher I thought it a perfect opportunity to share with you the joy that is natural swimming pools, yes chemical free.

Natural Swimming Pool 6

During my teenage years and earlier I followed the blue-tiled line lap after lap after lap, kilometre, after kilometre. I loved swimming, it was one of the things I was actually good at when I was teenager. I soaked up every word my coach said to help me improve, I soaked up the boundless energy I had and I soaked up the chlorine into the pores of my skin…

I remember sitting in class after morning training sessions and all I could smell was the chlorine leaching out of my skin, yuk! And double yuk in a humid climate. Even after a few laps now I still get a hint of that same chlorine smell, although now it is a little less chemical and a little more nostalgic.

Natural Swimming Pool 2

If I was out and about and there was a swimming pool, that’s where you’d find me, submerged and loving it. The pool would have been either chlorinated or salt-chlorinated, but it didn’t matter, I was in the water, happy, excising and out in the great outdoors.

Natural Swimming Pool 4

Fast forward a couple of decades and who would have thought that these swimming pools in all of their kidney bean and rectangular shapes could one day be fresh water swimming pools (and germ free)? But don’t let the title fool you, a natural swimming pool doesn’t have to be natural looking with boulders, water plants and mud bottom, it can be a luxurious design element in your garden complete with timber or stone capping.

Natural Swimming Pool 3

The need for humanity to get back to nature, recycle and live more chemical free lives has inspired new thinking in the way we design, build and manage backyard swimming pools. It also contributes significantly to the decrease in the production / sourcing of chemicals and the use of them around our homes. This new way of thinking can only get better and it is by asking the questions of the professionals that you’ll see and help to create change. You can have a natural swimming pool designed from scratch or you can convert your existing pool to chemical free.

Natural Swimming Pool 3

By using a natural filtration system the need for chemicals to clean the water has been eliminated. No more sore red eyes or dry, stinky chlorine skin from swimming in chemicals. Now it really will be taking a dip to freshen up!

Natural Swimming Pool 5

Enjoy this summer of swimming and remember when there is water nearby always keep children in view.

Until next time,

Carmel

Images from DesignRulz and Phillip Johnson

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Winter Garden Wonderland

21 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Gardens, Polka Dots

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Gardening, Gardening Blog, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs, Snow Covered Gardens, Winter Gardens

We are literally in the throes of winter here in the southern hemisphere. Its cold out and most often cold indoors too in our homes built for hot summers and glaring sunshine.

I have to admit that winter isn’t my favourite time of year but as I get older I have begun to appreciate it more and look for the wonder in it. There is a point in summer where I look forward to the winter chill, wrapping a woollen scarf around my neck and popping a cute little hat on my head before venturing outdoor. And living in Sydney provides me easy access to far cooler climates, the Blue Mountains, Mudgee, Canberra, Southern Highlands to name but a few.

I am yet to see snowfall in Australia but I have seen it when living and travelling overseas.

Here are some gorgeous snow covered gardens and winter plant pictures. I hope they bring a smile to your face, warm your spirit and help you to see the beauty that winter really does bring to our neighbourhoods (even if it doesn’t snow where you are!).

Versailles in Winter

Versailles in Winter

Japanese Snow Covered Garden

Japanese Snow Covered Garden

Paris in Winter

Paris in Winter

Outdoor Public Space Covered in Snow

Outdoor Public Space Covered in Snow

Winter Berries

Winter Berries

The Snow Can't Keep These Little Guys Down (Leucojum - Snowflake Bulb)

The Snow Can’t Keep These Little Guys Down (Leucojum – Snowflake Bulb)

The Winter Walk at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire.

The Winter Walk at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire.

Until next time.

Carmel

Top On Day // Itamae Rider  // Paris Perfect //

Open Spaces Fengshui //  Guardian // MNN // East Of England

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The Flower Markets

29 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Polka Dots

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Blooms, Flower Markets, flowers, Markets, Roses, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs, Sydney Flower Markets

Continue reading →

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Ethical Easter

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Polka Dots

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Tags

Child-Free Labour, Chocolate, Easter, Ethical Chocolate, Fairtrade, Fairtrade Chocolate, I Love Chocolate, Rainforest Alliance, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs, UTZ Certification

It’s about chocolate.

I love chocolate, but it has to be 'happy' chocolate.

I love chocolate, but it has to be ‘happy’ chocolate.

I love chocolate!

That sums it up really, I could leave it there but I won’t because ‘I love Chocolate’ comes with a few problems.

In one week we will be exchanging chocolate in all its glorious forms: eggs, bunnies, shells (my favourite), Bilbies, Wombats (its true) and of course my childhood favourite Humpty Dumpty. I used to love the sound Humpty Dumpty made when I shook it, the crick, crack of the goodies inside the cardboard wall holding the egg was a whole lot of ‘I love chocolate’! Anyway the list goes on and on and on. But when you are choosing your chocolates which ever shape or size you choose do you ever consider where the chocolate comes from?

decorated eggs

Beautifully decorated eggs.

There has been some coverage in the press in recent years (although you have to look pretty hard) informing consumers about ethically sourced produce in third world food production. The following three certifiers provide an assurance that the product has been made with child-labour free:

For example there is ‘Fairtrade’:

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

There is also ‘UTZ Certification’:

When you buy UTZ Certified coffee, cocoa or tea you are helping build a better future.

UTZ Certified stands for sustainable farming and better opportunities for farmers, their families and our planet. The UTZ program enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improve working conditions and take better care of their children and the environment.

Through the UTZ-program farmers grow better crops, generate more income and create better opportunities while safeguarding the environment and securing the earth’s natural resources. Now and in the future

And finally ‘Rainforest Alliance’:

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour.

 Although Fairtrade and a few other certifying bodies are working on delivering a better deal for farmers, there are still far too many areas in the world where children are being forced to work long hours in appalling conditions for little money. Think about it, if a child is working long hours chances are they won’t have the energy to do school work or they won’t be attending school at all.

child with cocoa

If you think this is Ok, you need to think again.

‘Happy’ chocolate, as I like to call it, is certified ‘Fairtrade’ or ‘UTZ Certified’ or ‘Rainforest Alliance’. This means that the company (whomever they are), large or small, has decided that the chain of production for their product or products will not involve child labour. Product or products you ask… well, one company can provide just one product in their endless range that is certified child-labour free. So, just because a company produces one certified product, this does not mean that all of their products are certified child-labour free – you have to check that the product is marked with a certifier’s logo on the packaging.

children love easter eggs

Wow, this says it loud and clear. Makes you think doesn’t it?

For the last few years I have been making a delicious rocky road for Easter and while I always made sure I was purchasing Fairtrade eggs and other goodies, the chocolate I purchased to make the rockyroad was not certified child-labour free. This year however is different, it will be certified child-labour free all the way.

During my research to find ethically sourced cooking chocolate (which is proving to be quite difficult) I discovered that since February 19th 2013 all Nestle chocolate confectionary products available for purchase in Australia will be UTZ certified*. Congratulations to Nestle for making that important and ethical decision to support third word development and food production. However… (Oh dear!) I find the term ‘confectionary products’ a little ambiguous. I want to know whether this includes their range of cooking chocolate and drinking chocolate? I am awaiting Nestle’s response to this query, which I hope to receive in the next few days so that ‘Serendipty’s’ rocky road production can begin.

'Happy' cooking chocolate might cost more but it will be worth it.

‘Happy’ cooking chocolate might cost more but it will be worth it.

Here are a few interesting links to help inform and guide you in your chocolate purchasing. But remember, don’t just choose ethically sourced chocolate at Easter, choose it whenever you are purchasing chocolate products.

Good Chocolate Guide

What is the cost of real chocolate?

Our Guilty Pleasure; Exploitative Child Labour in the Chocolate Industry

* Success! Australian Government to Support Ethical Suppliers

Let all of the chocolate companies know that child labour is not acceptable anywhere and do it by puchasing ethicaly. Tell your favourite chocolate brand that enough is enough and look for the following logos on chocolate and other products:

Fairtrade Rain Forest Alliance UTZ Certified

Until next time, have a happy, safe and child-labour free Easter,

Carmel 

 

p.s. The good news is that I did receive a response from Nestle. Unfortunately is was via a voice message so I don’t have a written response. However, it is as I expected, their cooking chocolate is not ethically produced nor will it be in the near future. Apparently there isn’t a demand for it! So there you go!!

On a positive note I did make my rocky road. I used blocks of Fairtrade eating chocolate, bought vegan marshmallows and other bits and pieces and put it all together. Because of the chocolate I used it was super sweet and with the added cost of the marshmellow, expensive. Oh well!

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The Colours of Autumn

15 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Gardens

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Autumn, Botanic Gardens, Deciduous, Fall, Gardens, landscape, seasons, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs

We are two weeks into Autumn and I miss Summer (although there is a heat wave in Melbourne and Sydney’s weather is just delightful – the summer dresses are still out and about). Summer seemed to come and go so quickly. I enjoyed every warm, bright sunshiney morning and every cool sea breeze filled afternoon.

But the summer lover in me does admit, autumn is a beautiful time of year. The landscape, for those on the coastal fringes, is changing. It is becoming less harsh with gentle sunlight and the trees are preparing to shed their leaves. It’s already started in Sydney, with a line of Liquidambers in a street close to me turning crimson on their leaf tips.

Foliage colour at the height of autumn.

Foliage colour at the height of autumn.

As much as the cooler seasons are my least favourite part of the year, I still get a thrill out of seeing the colours of the autumn leaves in our neighbourhood. We are fortunate in Sydney that there are some species of deciduous tree that put on a wondeful autumn show, particularly the Chinese Tallow – Sapium sabiferum, which is often used as a street tree.

I grew up in northern New South Wales and although it can get very cold at night in areas away from the coast, the day time temperatures can remain in the low 20’s. This isn’t very helpful for producing autumn colour. So my eyes sparkled during my first autumn in Sydney when the landscape started to change from green to crimson.

I was fortunate to spend a year working as an Au Pair in Europe during my early 20’s and I fondly remember taking the little boy (who is not so little now and exploring the world on his own) to the nearby park, Clingendael, during autumn. We played for hours in the fallen golden leaves. It was so lovely and the snap shots that I have in my mind of those days playing with him bring a smile to my face.

You don't need to be a kid to enjoy playing fallen leaves.

Clingendael, Den Hague Holland. You don’t need to be a kid to enjoy playing in fallen leaves. Yes, that’s my bike – it is Holland after all.

There are regions close to Sydney that showcase a wonderful array of autumn colour. Two in particular that I am familiar with are the northern Blue Mountains (approx 2hrs west ofSydney) where Dave and I go in May each year to visit the very cold Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens and Mudgee (approx 4hrs from Sydney).

Firery colours of deciduous trees at Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens.

Firey colours of deciduous trees at Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens.

I visited Mudgee over the Anzac Day long weekend one year and it was beautiful. I have since heard that the days surrounding Anzac Day are in fact the best time to see the autumn colour there. You will find tree-lined streets in firey shades of crimson, red and orange and just around the corner a cellar door will be calling your name. That reminds me Dave and I are due for some wine fun in Mudgee!

As we progress further into autumn, garden centres will be filling their beds with deciduous trees. If you are considering planting a deciduous tree in your garden, now is the perfect time to purchase one. You will be able to see the magnificent show of colour that the trees produce during autumn and choose the one that suits the look and feel of your garden.

It’s also a great time to plan an autumn escape. This autumn I’ll be heading to Canberra and I expect that I’ll see an array of autumn colours there too.

Until next time

Carmel

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Macarons and Native Bees

01 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Gardens, Polka Dots

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Tags

Afternoon Tea, Australian Native Bees, garden design, Hens Night, Macarons, Reed Bee Bundles, Reed Bees, Resin Bees, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs, Solitary Bees

What a great weekend I just had! Day # 1 was a polka dot filled day spent celebrating the upcoming wedding of a friend, with gorgeous company and wonderfully bright coloured macaroons at a Hen’s Tea. Yes, a Hen’s Tea, afternoon tea with gooey, nutty cheeses, sparkling wine, sweets, treats and tea in proper tea cups. Did you know you can hire tea cups and saucers for such an occasion? Some of us are lucky enough to own beautiful tea cups and saucers but if you don’t, there’s someone out there that will share theirs with you.

Brightly coloured Macarons and other goodies

Brightly coloured Macarons and other goodies

Day # 2 was spent at a solitary bee workshop where Dave and I learnt about Australian native solitary bees that live in the Sydney area, where they like to live and how we can provide those spaces for them in our own garden.

It was a great workshop. Dave and I were almost the youngest there, believe me that doesn’t happen much these days. But more surprising was the amount of people present who have a stingless bee hive in their garden. Yay!

We got to have a rear look into the hive of the Stingless bees.

We got to have a rare look into the hive of the Stingless bees.

The workshop was run by Wild Things NSW, with guest speaker Megan Halcroft. In April Megan will receive her award for a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy for her dissertation “Investigations into the Biology, Behaviour and Phylogeny of a Potential Crop Pollinator: the Australian Stingless Bee, Austroplebia australis”. She said she knows all there is to know about Austroplebia australis species but, like the workshop attendees, is learning about solitary bees and how to encourage them into her garden. She has made many bee homes for various species of native bee and has them placed around her garden. The result is an increased number of bees making her garden their home.

That is exactly what we want for our own garden, more visitors and not just the human kind. More bees, butterflies, birds, lizards and frogs. Unfortunately the frogs are unlikely to visit me because I don’t have a body of water in mygarden, I just don’t have the opportunity for that, although… maybe I should work on that.

During the workshop we learnt some interesting facts like:

  • Most Australian native bees are solitary (or semi social) and live in burrows in the ground or in wood
  • All Australian native bees are pollinators
  • The nectar from flowers that the bees visit is a source of carbohydrates for the busy little workers
  • Some bees have little baskets where they pack and store the pollen until they return to the hive
  • Mass planting species is a great way to attact bees to your garden
  • Australian native bees will not be effected by the Mite, should it make its way to Australia
Reed Bee Bundle

Reed Bee Bundle

We were then shown how to make homes for native solitary bees: a Reed bee bundle and a Resin bee drilled wood block.

To make the bundle you will need to collect branches from plants such as Hydrangea, Bamboo, Lantana or grape vine (this is not an exhaustive list). These are suitable because they have a pith centre – a soft centre within the bark that will allow the bees to easily burrow. Cut the branch into even lengths, about 15cm long. Next get some soft wire, something like Bonsai wire, bundle the branch lengths together and secure them togther with the wire. Make sure you have enough wire around the bundle to make it into a hook so that you can hook the bundle onto a tree branch. It’s as easy as that! Megan has more detailed instructions on her website, which can be found here.

The pith in the centre of the branches. Before hanging the bundle in your garden use the end of your secteurs to burrow out a tiny bit of the pith. This will give the bees a little head start.

I could go on to explain how to make the drilled wood block but I’ll be sensible and give you the link to Megan’s ‘how to’ page.

To encourage Resin bees to your garden click here.

Don’t worry if your fabulous, made with love, bee homes don’t attract any bees immediately – it may take a couple of years. You have to remember that the bees probably have a nice little home already and they will move into yours when the time comes to upgrade. Don’t move the hive to find the bees let the bees find it. We all know the saying, ‘if you build it they will come’, it’s the same for the bees, provide for them and they will move in and pollinate.

For more information visit the following websites, they are a wonderful source of information, pictures and publications.

http://www.beesbusiness.com.au/

www.aussiebee.com.au

Until next time, happy bee keeping.

Carmel

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Dreaming Of An Outdoor Shower

15 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Gardens, Polka Dots

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Beachside, garden design, Outdoor Showers, Rustic Design, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs

I dream of having an outdoor shower in my garden. Who doesn’t? Originally I thought one would only be suited to a beachside home. You know the type – a tropical oasis, large leaf plants, splashes of bright colour and the sound of waves floating on the sea breeze. That tends to be the images one conjures up when thinking about an outdoor shower.

But why limit outdoor showers to rinsing off the salt and sand after a trip to the beach. We can have them anywhere!

Rustic Outdoor Shower, with one comes with a bathtub.

Rustic Outdoor Shower, this one comes with a bathtub. Yay!

This renewed desire for an outdoor shower came about after I visited a client’s garden. Together we are turning their unused garden into a beachside haven. I was doing my first site visit and taking a tour around the garden and there it was, an outdoor shower, looking a little forgotten about. At the moment it is nothing fancy, in fact you could walk past it and not know it is there. But you wait, it will be a wonderful destination in the garden once the creative juices start flowing and the possibilities unleashed.

I love the colour of the wall and the large stone paver surrounded by pebbles.

This got me thinking about what makes a great outdoor shower. It’s one thing to have water pouring out of a shower head, it’s another thing to make it a destination in your garden that you, your family and your visitors can enjoy.

I love this shower with its curved wall and hanging bucket, it creates interest. Mediterranean holiday anyone?

Here are three things I would consider when planning an outdoor shower.

–While you may still have trouble picturing an outdoor shower anywhere but in a tropical paradise don’t go turning a teeny tiny spot in your cottage garden into a large leaf beachside oasis. It won’t work. It will stand out for all the wrong reasons. Allow the shower space to compliment what you already have. Consider what is already in your garden and enhance it. Consider the plants, materials and the colours.

A outdoor shower with a view.

A outdoor shower with a view.

–There are endless amounts of shower heads and taps available to incorporate into your outdoor shower. From contemporary to traditional there is one to suit the look and feel that you are after. Take a little time to browse and find something you will be truely happy soaking under.

Be creative, anything is possible

Be creative, anything is possible

— The finishing touch to your outdoor shower should be the towel hooks. You can’t have a shower without somewhere to put your towel, whether you have come from the beach or the paddock. Add one as a feature or have them for practical purposes only which ever you decide on don’t forget to consider the look and feel of the space. The addition of hooks will add to the destination and provide somewhere for the user to put their towel other than on the ground.

These towel hooks have been made a feature.

These towel hooks are a feature of this outdoor shower.

I hope I have inspired you with some of these images. If you would like to see more outdoor showers you can visit my Pinterest board ‘Outdoor Showers’ here where you will find lots more wonderful images.

There are still more things to consider when designing and installing an outdoor shower such as water use and availability, drainage and aspect, to name just a few. Always consult a professional before undertaking design and construction of a new outdoor space, there may be more things you need to know than you are aware of.

Until next time.

Carmel

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‘It’s been a while!’

25 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by gardensandpolkadots in Gardens, Polka Dots

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2013, Gardening, Indoor Plants, polka dots, Root Ball, Serendipity, Serendipity Garden Designs, Water Restrictions, Watering

Oh my, it’s been a while!

I hope that your days have been filled with Polka Dots and Garden happiness. Mine have… from surprise birthday parties with friends I adore, to over night stays in my favourite country pub, celebrating my 2nd wedding aniversary with my best friend and companion and finishing the year with a family feast – well not all of my family, not even half really, just a few! Peppered in and amongst those glorious times were far more Polka Dots, far more I am sure than you’d care to read about.

 Bubbles''''''''
 

And now, I find myself as you do too in January 2013. A little surprised that it appeared so quickly. But happy just the same and ready to get on with it. With all of its highs and lows, surprises and dare I say it disappointments, I am ready!

But what about your garden?

While you are quenching your thirst and hiding in shadows don’t forget about your garden, be it in the ground, in a pot or in many pots during these (gorgeous) hot summer days.

Daisy love

If your garden relies on a little help from the hose give it a big soaking when it needs. By big soaking I mean let the water really sink into the soil, down into the root ball and into the surrounding soil. You’de be surprised how far a plants roots will travel. Your garden will love it and you’ll be able to sit back with cool glass in hand and watch your garden flourish.

If your garden is an assortment of pots these will need more regular watering. Pots will dry out quicker than a garden bed especially with these hot dry winds we have been experiencing.

And if you have indoor plants don’t forget about them, they like a good drink too. Take your pot plant outside, imagine filling the pot with water and allow the water to get into every space within the soil then allow the water to drain out the bottom of the pot. Don’t let the roots sit in still water, generally, your plant wont like it. Yes, there are exceptions to this rule but we’ll keep it simple for now.

Rose bud and Lavender

There is no one rule for watering indoor or outdoor plants. You need to look for signs that your plants need watering. Look to see if the foliage is drooping, feel the soil by sticking your finger into the soil and if you have pots try to lift them to see if they are light and need water or heavy and have sufficient. It’s all about understanding what each plant requires and how best to monitor it and it can take a little practice to get it right.

But be careful when you water because in many areas there continues to be Water Restictions and where Water Restictions have been lifted there are now Water Wise Rules that I have list below:

  • All hoses must now have a trigger nozzle
  • To avoid the heat of the day, watering is allowed before 10am and after 4pm
  • No hosing of hard surfaces such as paths and driveways. Washing vehicles is allowed.
  • Fire hoses may be used for fire fighting activites only.

This list was obtained from NSW Government website here.

Heirloom tomatoes

So, on that note I wish you happy summer days.

Good luck with your summer watering.

Until next time.

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