Will try to keep a blog going but don't get much time.
Main changes to the yard since the last blog are the Bamboo poles along the driveway for hanging baskets and a few more water lily tubs, also along the front driveway. The large bamboo at the back of the house was overhanging the water tank and collapsing to the ground after hurricane Iselle and a couple of strong windstorms over the past two years so it had to be cut back. Its was a six month project but is finally about finished. Also the copse of Waiwi trees next to the bamboo has been taken down so the back yard is now looking more like a garden. Lots of space to transfer plants to if the chickens will leave them alone.
So at the back of the house we now have the memorial garden, the Kennel Garden, the Copse Garden, the Wetlands Garden, the back 50 and the ponds garden. All separate areas separated by paths or/and fences. Just have to keep up with maintenance.
New pathways have been cleared through the forest to make the different planted areas of the forest accessible from different directions. So now a can go on walkabout without having to backtrack.
Light rain and warm and longer days over the last couple of weeks have made everything grow so lots of trimming to do. Pond weed covers the surfaces of the larger ponds and has to be skimmed almost weekly.
A new pond is going in at the edge of the driveway. It is a black plastic formed pond that a client got from Home Depot about 10 years ago. It was too much work for her so she gave us the pond, a water lily and a catfish. The last couple of days have been spent building up a raised garden about 6 feet by 4 feet to contain the pond. A lot of work. Just have to find soil to fill in around the pond. I think mother nature will fill it if it keeps raining like it is now.
Epi blooms have been plagued by rats this year. On the day the bloom opens the rats chew into the bloom stem, almost detaching it. It is more an ugly nuisance as the bloom still opens and looks great.
Bamboo growing season is starting. The running bamboo is going nuts, have to keep kicking off the new canes to contain it. The clumpers are just starting to show new growth. Giganteus and Nastus Elastus have good new shoots as does one Oldhamii. Its really too early yet to see serious growth.
Main goal this year is to catch up with path maintenance and clear some of the forest areas that were planted in earlier years and have become overgrown. The plants are already there and are maturing they just have to be exposed to be enjoyed.
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