Gerolstein in September ...

20 September. Sort of spring. The fields are not so soggy, and outdoor 'spring cleaning' has begun...

Down the back paddock the boys have been cutting up the remainder of the fallen trees: next winter's supply of firewood ...

Wendy's vegetable garden has been largely expanded to no less than a dozen planters ...

From this

To this

The waterways round here have not been well maintained, so in conjunction with Environment Canterbury we got cleaning ...

And where, you might ask, was I while all this activity was going on?  Why, where the boss always is!

And meanwhile, back in the front garden the tardy and sluggish signs of spring are showing just a tiny bit more. The magnolia has a few scraggy flowers (maybe it is saying 'Feed Me?), the rampant wisteria is sprouting multifold buds, the kowhai trees are in flower ...

Alas, no bellbirds nowadays. The peafowl and the paradise ducks and the pesky plovers have scared them all away ..

The azaleas are getting into full gear ..

The rose bushes are a mass of maroon sprouts ...

These huge sprawling trees -- whatever they are called -- just get bigger and yellower every year

The patio is covered with self-sown pansies of colours I am sure I never planted in the hanging baskets (very weeding intensive!). So why are the hanging baskets not giving forth? 

But my delight is my Charity bluebells (bulbs 10 for $10 and a good cause), planted by ME, mollycoddled and watched over by ME ..until finally the first flower has come forth ... what JOY!

I must swot up the life-cycle of the bluebell. Does the bulb proliferate? May I have a dell of bluebells next year ..

The Boofie Memorial is clad in wisteria

And .. hi Lily! hi Lilies! Hi lo!!

I shall have to ask the Guardian of the Garden what comes next ...

But, first. I need a rest. All that work (by others) is tiring ...  How that? Well, you try opening your wallet umpteen times a day! Absolutely exhausting!