holy smokes batman, there's a tree out my window!

This was the glorious view that greeted me this morning out the bathroom window whilst I was brushing my teeth. Yup, that is a tree planted in our new big side yard area which we have been ever so slowly but surely creating since we moved in to the ramshackle farmhouse back in October.

Quick update for those uninitiated: this area used to be just paddock, with sheep rubbing up against the house and peering in at me in the bathroom and study. This paddock area also had 14 cypress trees in it, 39 stumps in total, the old oil heater tank, a fallen down treehouse, an old bricked glasshouse, random bits of fencing, some fairly primitive plumbing systems with open drains and so. much. rubbish. We estimate that we have pulled out at least a couple of tonnes of scrap metal, general rubbish, plastic and glass out of this area. Not to mention the root systems of the 14 cypress trees and the rocks. Oh the rocks. My arms and back ached from moving wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of rocks every weekend.

But enough about what it used to be, after the root/rubbish/rock removal (and the almighty fence construction) we were left with a pretty patch of dirt which we hoed last weekend and then sowed this weekend. Much to Mr M's dismay we still spent most of Saturday picking up rocks in a final sweep of the area and didn't get sowing until dusk, lucky the tractor has some serious headlight action!

Hopefully with a bit of light rain, sunshine and some TLC the new lawn will be germinated and out of the ground in a few weeks. Lovely big lawn! We recently got some trees to go in the new yard, Mr M worked at a tree farm up the road from his parents house as a teenager so his old bosses sorted us out with a lemon tree (to go with our existing orange tree they gave us for our engagement), a magnolia little gem, a silver birch, a Manchurian pear (Mr M is obsessed with these trees) and a Chinese pistachio tree.

Mr M's brother and his girlfriend came to stay at Brindabella this weekend, so we quickly put them to work on the business end of a shovel to plant the new trees in the new side yard. Brrr it was cold and windy with misty rain too, feeling winter setting in. We have a magnolia on the other side of the house but it is looking very sad and about to die. We are planning to put a little garden bed around this one. (Please excuse the tanks and back of the laundry and carport that stick out like sore thumbs - bring on the garden to hide it!)

We wanted a feature tree in this new yard, a big beautiful autumn tree that would provide glorious colour as well as shade. Originally I wanted a rubinia but whilst doing our tree shopping at the tree farm we were convinced that the Chinese pistachio was for us. I like the fact that it was somewhat unusual, so our garden wouldn't feel too 'standard' and it's soft leaves and orange colour had me, so home it came with us and in the ground it went.

Lily watched over it all as usual, and the 'site manager' Tessa got only dirtier and dirtier in the wet ground. Oh puppy, so dirty! Bathtime for Tessa.

 

We planted our new lemon tree in what I am dubbing 'citrus corner', right next to the clothesline and the rear entry driveway gate. Our orange tree has been planted for a few weeks now and the clever Mr M put a tap right nearby so I can water them easily. I am hoping this summer we will have some fruit but maybe I am being optimistic? At least I can now cross another thing off the farmhouse goals huge to-do list!

 

 

We planted the silver birch back towards the rear driveway as we thought people could park under it if we needed extra space on a hot summers barbeque day (got to think about these things!) The Manchurian pear was planted down the front near the main entry gateway (which will eventually house a cattlegrid hopefully) and a bit closer to the fence in the hope of creating a garden bed around it.

 

All the new trees planted in the side yard (plus Pippa just hanging about hunting for grubs in the soil!)

Throw in the Chinese pistachio, the lemon tree, the magnolia, the crabapple which we planted awhile ago and one existing camellia that's looking a little sad on one side (hoping it will fill out a bit after a prune) and the side yard is finally taking shape.

 

Hurruh!!!

 

P.S. Playing along this week with the bloganista sista herself Lou from Sunny + Scout who is now hosting point+shoot. Go Lou go!

 

P.P.S. Apologies for the ginourmous garden post - am pretty excited by it all though!