11 July 2012

"Let us go then you and I..." *

Oh dear. No posts since the end of May. Well, yes, Allen's been sick with a nasty bronchial infection. And then we've had more than six weeks of twice-weekly visits to the doctor for dressings on Allen's foot, where the removal of a small skin cancer left a deep hole that a skin graft didn't succeed in closing. Both those issues seem now to be on the mend, though not finished. Then there've been several visitors, including grandson Sam during his school holidays, my daughter and grand-daughter for a weekend and a very dear old friend for our traditional winter get-together to share glasses of wine while watching stages of Le Tour de France. (She flew home this morning. But will Cadel win again this year? Fingers crossed please.) None of that really excuses what has really been (yet more) laziness on my part, but...... 

I have been busy in the garden – more than ably assisted by a trusty handyman who is the person responsible for recent massive weed eradication (which was underway when I last posted), then heavy mulching of many garden areas and various other useful tasks. For my part I've been repotting bromeliads to make a nice little 'brom walk' between house and studio. I'm very pleased with the results. These plants were all gifts from our children or from one of the couples in our aphasia group, who have a massive collection. They all did well last year and so I've separated pups and replanted in the recommended friable mixture, with lots of gravel at the bottom of each pot for good drainage. By next year I hope to again double the number of plants.


You might remember in my last post I mentioned that my neighbour had come round and cut back a dozen or so lilly pillies growing on a hillside above our house. These small native evergreens had grown into tall little trees whose foliage was overhanging the carport and making a mess in the rainwater gutters.

Well all that area has now been well mulched, and the beautiful new growth on the lilly pilly trunks is coming in, the glossy little leaves all red or red-tinged – this new growth being one of the most pleasing features of these plants. Soon there'll again be enough cover to attract the whip birds that often patrol this patch of garden.


On the western side of the house the frangipani (or plumeria) that shade us from the heat of the summer's setting sun have just about finished dropping their leaves for the wintertime. But as beautiful as these trees are when clothed in their big summertime leaves and fragrant flowers, there's something just as lovely about the naked winter boughs, especially when seen on a cold and misty afternoon such as this one.



And speaking of mist, what magic it works on the various greens and blue-greens that seem to dominate at this time of year. Here on my front terraces, everything (rosemary, gardenias, lime tree, palms down near the pool and even the old washing copper that Walle drinks from) has taken on a different hue in the light of an unusually foggy late afternoon. I'm reminded of scenes from deserted temple gardens in northern Vietnam where we once spent a holiday during a cold, wet month much like this one.

None of this worries Walle, of course, who happily goes about his doggy business in any weather whatsoever. ("Now where did I bury that bone?") I got tired of having to wipe down his soggy legs and comb the grass seeds out of his shaggy coat, and so at his recent haircut I had him trimmed right back, much to the horror of the lovely and patient lady groomer who no doubt thinks labradoodles deserve more appreciative and long-suffering owners!

Walle himself doesn't mind, however. He's happily practising his sphinx pose, hoping for a slot on the next Christmas card. But I think I'll have to let him grow back a more shapely mane before then, as befits the breed.

Well this has been a grab-bag of goodies. But if it helps me get back the habit of reflecting on and sharing some of what makes life worth living up here in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, then I hope my friends will indulge me a little.


(* "Let us go then you and I / When the evening is spread out against the sky / Like a patient etherized upon a table..." No particular relevance to this post, but I found the opening lines of this poem well evoke the misty late afternoon light and mood that was around when I took most of these garden photos. Go here to read all of The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock.)

10 comments:

Red said...

No wonder you haven't had time to post. You've been extremely busy. health problems can certainly slow everybody down.

The Blog Fodder said...

We both follow Snowbrush's blog, I noticed.
You have your hands full caring for your husband. I hope you get those 10 years and that they are good ones. My mother-in-law cared for Dad for over 10 years. They put him in a level four or five home 9/11 2000 because Mom's health was at risk. He died Jan 2006, not knowing his daughter preceeded him. Ella's ashes are in the foot of her Dad's coffin as she wished.
Beautiful pictures. The area in which you live is beautiful. I have never visited Australia but it is on our list of places we must go to. I have a niece in Rothwell Queensland as one excuse.

Chartreuse said...

Ah, well Snowbrush is probably where we 'met'. That explains it. I do hope you get to visit Australia. Even if you were to come in our winter, you would find it mild by comparison, I'm sure. I've no idea where Rothwell is, but I'd be happy to meet you and Tanya one day. Meanwhile, I shall keep up with your goings-on here.

Anonymous said...

Oh Chartreuse, I loved all of the beautiful photos of your wonderful gardens and terrace. I think of Australia as dry and barren, sort of like our Mohave desert, full of life and flowers but you have to look far and in between.

This is absolutely heaven. Thank heavens you have this beauty around you. These twice weekly appts can really take so much out of you. You are a wonder. This is one way you are doing that thing they tell us to do, but now how--taking care of yourself. Good work girl!

One of my all time favorite poems. A delight to see you blogging today. I am over my illness after almost two months and beginning to catch up on my blog pals today. Enjoy those flowers. My favorite is the last photo...did you say what it it called? delight! And Walle is a dream. Hugs and good caring, gin

Chartreuse said...

Gin, that last flower is a grevillea - one of hundreds of this beautiful native species of bushes. (And some grow to be trees.) The flowers are full of nectar and attract all kinds of birds.
So glad you're feeling better.

Selma said...

I sympathise re. the skin graft. I had an accident last year that required a graft and still have a deep gouge in my leg. Not much fun at all.

On a lighter note I do so love hearing about your garden. It is glorious!

Anonymous said...

I have made the grevillea my screen saver and placed an electronic sticky note under it with its name and description so I won't forget and can read it to Bill. A lovely garden indeed Selma!

Hope Allen's foot is healing. And that you have a restful week.

Chartreuse said...

Thanks, Gin. I tried sending you some photos of grevilleas and other Australian native plants from my garden, but they wouldn't go to your mail. Send me an email soon so I can check I had the right address.

Karen L R said...

such beautiful photos...a lovely place to live...

Chartreuse said...

Thank you for visiting here, Karen. I so enjoy sharing your own 'bit of earth'. It always gives me hope.

About me

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Journalist, editor, teacher, publishing manager, education consultant….but that’s all in the past. Even further back, I could add waitress, Five-and-Dime salesgirl and my favourite title: Girl Friday! All mixed in with wife, mother, caregiver and grandmother. But nowadays, based on time spent: gardener, cook, reader, writer and whatever!