This coming Sunday I have 2 people coming to tour the gardens. One is the lady who gave me some bamboo roots and Ti cuttings a couple of weeks ago, the other is her friend. In return for the bamboo she will be getting Hapuu Ferns and white torch ginger.
So the last few days have been prep time to make a good show. Raking up bamboo leaves, weeding borders, trimming forest trails and clearing the area on the other side of the bridge. For a few minutes on Sunday I will present my best side of the garden.
Today I moved a large pink torch ginger root that had encroached on the pathway. Must have weighed 40 lbs. Dragged it through the garden and over the bridge and set it in the ground. Looks like it has been there years :)
Trimmed over-hanging leaves and growth on the forest paths. Still have to go and pick up the debris and then weed wack the grass. Tomorrow is weed wacking day, lawnmower over the driveway grass and move piles of bamboo leaves before the chickens spread them back across the yard.
Had to water hanging pots yesterday. Last two days have been moderate southerly winds, high humidity and no rain. Really dries things out fast. Sweat just breathing.
Nice to finally get across the bridge and walk the forest trails. Moved all the tree limbs and bamboo poles back into place along the edge of the trails. It was like Pick-up-sticks after the pigs moved them around. Starting to see my "dead hedge" taking shape along the outside of the fence line. Throwing in some old 4 x 4 posts, rusty fence wire, infact anything I can find to keep those buggers out.
Sent an email to the Horticulturist at The Gardens asking if she would assign me the project of rescuing, potting and caring for their collection of Amorphophallus plants. Currently the bulbs have been planted at the base of the greenhouse supports and have been in the ground long enough to bloom and then go dormant. The garden visitors do not get to see these unusual plants. I want to put them in pots and then have them moved out into the gardens when they awake from dormancy next year. I also questioned why they have tubs of water lilies blooming in the employee workshop area and none in the ornamental lily pond. Makes no sense to me. I will now await her response and see if my ideas are taken in the constructive spirit in which they are intended. Or will she take offence that I'm trying to tell her how to do her job.
Next visit to The Gardens is Friday so I'm hoping we will talk story then.
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