Christmas in July

It's hard to believe that a year has past since this event last year. We set up shop at the Queanbeyan Conference centre this year which gave us lots more room. This market conjures up the picture of a traditional market – all locals, fruit and vegetables, the Country Women’s Association with tea, delicious scones with masses of cream and sandwiches, stalls of handmade goods run by groups of women along with antiques and vintage wares. We had Christmas carols playing and then Counterfeit Cash singing Jonny Cash songs. He was great. It was a VERY busy day. Here are a few images of the day.

                                        

Gardening at Wren's Nest

The garden at Wren’s Nest has caused us much grief over the years.

At the moment, we are at last, tackling the front garden – properly. We have played around with paths and curved garden beds in the past but I think we have a design which will work this time. Some curves, a lot of straight lines, a lot of symmetry and 2 garden rooms.

We have several  major concerns.
• a very long stretch of ground along the front of the house which, because of its length, looks really narrow – but isn’t really. You look at this from the southern end.
• It is so dry where we live – well up until this year. But I know the dry will return.
• Wind.
• And even after living here for 8 ½ years, we still find it difficult to think on a large scale – mass plantings, big everything. Small delicate just doesn’t seem to work in the Australian countryside with it’s huge vistas and skies.
• And lastly, creating a garden which will not take night and day to maintain.

Our Aim. (We'r not expecting too much are we???)
• To create a garden which enhances the house inside and out.
• Is beautiful to look at and be in.
• Has flowers for looking at and cutting for inside.
• A garden which encourages bird life.

We are basing our ideas on 3 great Australian and 1 UK landscape architects/ designers/gardeners . The ideas of Paul Bangay (symmetry – defined hedged areas) www.paulbangay.com. We love picture # 5 in the town Garden photos. David Glenn (sustainable drought resistant plants and gardens) www.lambley.com.au . The photos of the dry garden are beautiful. Michael Bligh – who we received some advise from a long time ago. www.michaelbligh.com.au . Dan Pearson from the UK. I loved his TV shows. www.danpearsonstudio.com

So – we will see what happens and I will document the progress here. If we can pull together even half these ideas we will be a very happy couple.