Cooler Days... Let's Hope!

Well, after the dreadful heatwave last week, and over the weekend of Australia reaching over 40C, we're all breathing a sigh of relief to have a few days of under 30C.

But I know it's not going to be very long until it heads towards that dreadful heat again.

Well, while I was on holidays at the coast, I had some neighbours care for my garden, and they did a great job! I finally have new lawn coming through - finally! And now, all I have to do is keep the damned cat from a few doors down away from it - from crapping all over it!

And this where Cayenne Peppers come into play. A good friend of mine told me about this need little trick to play on cats. You see you sprinkle this piping hot peppers where you don't want a cat, and they come over and burn their feet, butt and nose and never come back. I know, I know, you're gonna say: 'But this mean!' However, a cat's pee and poop destroys your lawn and kills your plants.

So, this is my last resort in keeping them out. I tried 'Scat' and I tried vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Neither of those worked. So, the Cayenne Peppers is going to work this time around. It's a spice, it's non-toxic and birds won't go near it - they can smell it's too hot for them.

Also, my garden is going so well! The Hydrangea is almost ready for planting into its new pot, but I think it's best to put it over at the back fence, instead of the side fence - seeing the leaves are getting burnt already. 
I have so many herbs, I don't know what to do about them all! And the Agapanthus are thriving! However, I don't have any flowers on any of my Franigpanis... now that's curious... and weird. 

Well, until my next post - which may well be in the New Year - I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. Take care and I hope you get into your garden, no matter how dry it gets here in Australia. 

End of the Year

It's been a few months since my last post, but I haven't forgotten about you.

I've been busily trying to keep cats out of my garden. Yep, they've been shitting in my yard, and turning it into their own personal kitty litter. The problem has been that I haven't been able to figure out which cat has been doing it - not until the past few weeks. I did talk to the neighbour who owned the cat and told them to keep their cat inside and away from my house. 

Well, as we all know, that's easier said than done... and when I came home from the coast the other day, there were big lumps of cat crap in the yard; which I had to clean up. 

It looks like I'll have to get out the big guns of my deterrent.... yep, I'll be going to the Spice Mart and buying Cayenne Peppers to sprinkle around the lawn to keep the cat out. This not only burns their paws, but it burns their butts too. I'm trying to grow lawn, not cat shit.

Anyway, while I was away, I got another neighbour to look after my yard, and he and his girlfriend did a great job. There were some good storms and so the containers filled up with rain water and I could use some of it with the green house plants when I opened it up. And did the herbs grow? You bet they did! I've got a lot of Oregano. The Basil has really come on and so has the Mint! 
The Hydrangea is looking wonderful! It's going to be repotted before New Years Eve; and the water will be kept up to it so it does take to the new pot I'll be getting over the next week or so. 

I've yet to mow the lawn this Summer, but we just haven't had enough rain - storms yes, but good solid rain, not as yet. The bush fires really did a number on the country. And to think our government really didn't think about it when they stopped back burning our national parks. I hate to be political about this, but it's been done for centuries by the indigenous people and suddenly we stop it for some stupid reason, and our country goes up in flames. 

Oh well, that's how things go, right? 

Anyway, the Lime Tree has been attacked by the caterpillars and I've been spraying it with some good white oil and then I have been looking at the Agapanthus too... they've been going well. My Frangipanis have yet to flower - but then, there hasn't been enough rain for them to flower as yet. Give it time, they'll get in and flower. So, how's your garden going? All good and beautiful? I hope so.