Lemon and succulent cuttings in pots at back door. Lets see if the lemons survive the winter frosts and stay healthy in pots!
July 2010
Lemons have made it through thus far without losing leaves, and looking quite happy. Even picked a few lemons off one of them! And this is after several recent nasty frosts.The succulents around them are flourishing, including some newer plantings, and some have been put into hanging baskets above.
Above, is looking right from the backdoor, with pizza oven flanked by trellis just visible. At left, is looking left from back door, across towards the bbq.This is a messy but happily green oasis, with lemons conveniently placed beyond back door for Chris's special fertilising! Plans are underway for a more thorough rethink of this area, to open it up more to winter sun and creating more useable, shadable summer entertaining space. For the time being though, steady as she goes ...
August 2010
Despite great growth, the succulent at right shows some probable frost damage, with dead blackened leaves at rim of basket.
Some succulents are showing signs of possible frost damage. These have been growing vigorously, so were perhaps already a little weak from that. Recent frosts were not the first of the winter, but as we've moved past the winter solstice, early sun will be reaching this area, and it's this (on frozen leaves) that is most dangerous. Have initially moved pots with affected plants to front of house, where they receive later sun only. Will monitor health, and also consider repotting.
More happily in this area, Chris has got busy with his new angle-grinder (Take 2, having returned the first, defective, one) and put up some cover over the pizza oven. This will protect the oven a little from rain damage, and has been sloped gently toward back where it will direct a little extra rainfall onto the planted areas behind (currently two new apples to be espaliered against trellis). Great to start using the corrugated iron left behind after the previous house on the block burned down.
Can't bear to pick the remaining lemons yet...
Can't bear to pick the remaining lemons yet...
September 2010
Planning for this area is coming along in fits and starts. Having watched it through winter, getting more winter sun and holding more winter warmth is one goal. That could be done by reducing the shadecloth-covered area behind the house so that the low sun penetrates into more of the rear area, and using reflective and heat-absorbing materials selectively in the rear. The lemons have done quite well, and creating a somewhat protected and warmer area here might help them along and make an OK environment for some other more-tender plants. Also need a safe, dry area for BBQ and pizza oven wood.
From previous summer experience, the summer goal would be to build in more seating/socialising areas and protect more of them from summer heat. At present, on hot days when there are visitors, the temptation is to huddle in the 'walkway' area - full of 'storage' (dumped bikes, barrows, buckets, tools etc) and ugly service stuff (taps, hot waters tanks, electricity sockets) - because at least its cooler.
From observation from inside the house, it's also important to maintain some nice sightlines, especially when standing at the sink to do dishes - looking down on birds attracted to the pond, and beyond through the trees - and including keeping it open between the house and dog run.
With these things in mind, the general idea is to use permanent roofing for about a metre's width along the full width of the house, but use deciduous vines trained up the pergola posts to provide the more extensive, denser shade during summer over the whole pergola area. The slightly higher level of the rear area could then be extended towards the house about a metre and the rise edged in stone or brick, perhaps with a narrow run of plants along it (rather than the quite wide 'bed' between the two areas now). The larger pond could be retained but moved a bit and fitted more closely round a pergola post so that it doesn't block as much sitting/standing area. The far 'wall' could be built in with brick, besser brick or stone, and some planting areas and bench seating built into it. Then the 'alcoves' each side of the pizza oven could be used in more careful way for work space and storage (including of wood) for when the pizza oven is in use.
The three metal benches reclaimed from Tara's during her Permablitz could be easily worked into this plan.
November 2010
Tackled some overdue tidying up - weeding mainly - and Chris mowed what isn't meant to be a lawn but had become one! Cut back the resprouting banksia roses we're trying to get rid of. Worm farm coming along nicely.
December 2010
The Christmas week was its usual time for pottering and odd jobs - most of them long delayed. Some general clearing up continued round the back, but no big works until new plans are made. However, did reorganise storage, including getting this great clearance sale bargain ($1!) out of the shed and to the back of the house, where it can store tools, work gloves, supplies etc. Particularly keen to get fertilisers and potentially harmful or poisonous materials into a less kid-accessible spot. The back of the house now, of course, also houses the two new taps (one either end) connected to the tank system, as well as the pump.
We keep forgetting to use our outdoor areas - one challenge for any new design work will be to make it a more automatic inclusion in family activities - but the first really lovely warm day, falling in that tranquil post-Christmas week, was the excuse for a barbecue for tea.
Lettuces from the gardens created the tossed salad, homegrown cabbage the coleslaw, and fresh herbs the finishings for just about everything. Here's Lydia and I enjoying the finished product! Of course the barbie was also fuelled by gathered wood - another product of the block, albeit one that doesn't have much deliberate cultivation or management ...
Sitting here for a few nights (another barbie tea a few days later with friends) and the mind starts turning to new plans. Tbe adjoining eastern side of the house has always seemed the obvious spot to whack a deck, but lack of meaningful connection to the house itself created doubts as to how much it would actually be used. But how about a distinct area, not a continuation of this workaday 'backyard' behind the house, albeit nearby and easily reached?
How about solving a few problems at once, namely (1) lack of a usable, accessable deck/outdoor area to extend the indoor spaces of the house, (2) clear signs that sooner rather than later we'll need to replace ceiling/roof of the 'study' along east side of house, as it's basically a glorified lean-to, with an unlocatable but damaging leak into the roof cavity, (3) poor heating/cooling of main lounge room given its orientation and lack of windows, and (4) the surely-against-code access to bathroom currently being direct into the kitchen.
First thought was to shift guestroom/study to be flush with the front of the house (where there's currently a small, recessed 'balcony'), creating an access area behind it, with bathroom, lounge and guestroom/study all opening off it, and perhaps rebuilding it at a slightly lower level and considering putting high windows to allow some winter morning light and warmth into the loungeroom.
Or perhaps even more ambitiously, here's the germ of an idea - rebuild/shift the study/guest room, separating it from the main house and fanning it out, with a deck connecting them. That would create greater opportunities for east windows into the lounge and direct deck access from kitchen/lounge, while the small but clear split between main house and guestroom/lounge would enhance privacy for any guests, and be psychologically quite appropriate for a study as a retreat. The resulting deck would be relatively protected, so might even be appropriate for outdoor sleeping for guests or on hot nights. I love the proportions and feel of my current study, and it works very well with its dual roles, but there's no doubt that could be recreated, while the chance to purpose-design some elements (such as bookshelving) would be welcome. Hopefully some elements (windows, curtaining and external blinds are an obvious start) could be reused to help with costs.
Anyway, Steve and Serajane, who heard some of this fantasy develop over their barbie tea, were adamant this was a scheme to run past Dayd, who turned their initial deck plans into such a fantastic refit. And Chris pointed out that the timing could be surprisingly good, in that we could spend 6 months in planning and design and then leave someone else to worry about the time-consuming end of planning permits, sourcing materials etc while we're away, with something ready to run once we get back.
April 2011
Nothing to report! Everything is overgrown and happily neglected with all the summer and autumn rain. Lemon trees have lemons on them. Even picked some hard but edible and sweet peaches from the potted peach in the dog run (to be planted out into orchard shortly. along with the apricot alongside it).
July 2011: 'Annual Report'
Mainly just ongoing maintenance in this area. A little reorganising of storage, and lots of vague plans. But no major developments yet. However, great to have lemon trees producing quite well and having weathered another year - hopefully will get through winter unscathed.
2011/2012 Maintenance
General weeding/pruning as needed to keep area reasonably tidy. Succulents in pots and baskets may need to be moved into more sheltered spots if showing any frost damage and/or damaged parts cut out. Cutting of succulents could be taken and struck (planter on front step is good for this) and potted up if wanting to get more. Lemons get worm-farm liquid diluted as fertiliser, and keep an eye on general health. Lemons need regular watering in hot weather, especially autumn when fruit is developing. Succulents need occasional watering in summer.
