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My garden was started
fifteen years ago in a 1.2 acre paddock surrounding the house
on a dairy and horse training property at Cobden.
An elderly male friend of my aunt who grew roses for exhibition wanted somebody to take over the care of his rose collection after he died. I agreed to plant them in a corner of my garden and thus the interest in gardening grew.
It took three days with two trucks carting topsoil to build up the corner of the paddock where the house was built. We planted shelter trees before the house was built. It took three years to build the house so the trees were well established when the house was completed.
I didn't plan to have much garden as I have never had a garden to speak of, just a few trees and lawn around the old home.
I had assistance for much of the heavy work in the garden, particularly with soil removal for the pond and the placement of rocks around the pond and creating the waterfall from my husband Bill, and two sons, John 23, and Kenneth 22.
The design of the garden was a joint effort between John and myself.
The stones used in the garden and the pond came from our Stony Rises farm which is a twenty minute drive away. We had to drive the truck, tractor and front end loader to get the large rocks used in the pond and waterfall.
The front area of the garden was extended five years ago to put in the pond and surroundings.
The garden features curved raised beds closely planted with over 250 roses and 50 to 60 varieties of conifers, lots of perennials, annuals, bulbs and irises.
The pond is planted with masses of Louisiana and Japanese irises, lobelias and grasses line the edge. Water lilies and other water plants are growing in the pond. Over a hundred goldfish live in the pond and try to escape the exploits of the crane.
I have an unlimited supply of stable manure from Bill's horses to use as fertilizer and mulch material and also a very good supply of water from the dam.
I top dress with stable manure all the time, it makes such a difference.
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