July 2022

It began with Jenny having one of those moments when she looked at the garden and declared it was getting on her nerves.  It coincided with a decision that we needed to downsize the large middle bed garden you have heard us bemoan in the past.

Our process involved much arguing about how this was to be achieved, even Martin put in his two cents worth concerning creating large pathways the divide up the bed, which, of course, we duly ignored.  After much discussion, and with a good healthy dose of humility, we found ourselves agreeing with Martin.  We would divide the bed up into three pathways that converged in a circular area in the middle.  Mentions were made concerning moving a rather large domed feature that was obviously in the wrong place but we ignored that for now.  We had an idea and we were going to run with it.

First up moving the plants that were in the way of our grand scheme.  A gardening friend of Jenny’s from long ago once joked that she moved her plants around so much that they were developing feet.  And not much has changed.  We marked out the paths, cleared the way, remarkably finding places to put the now homeless plants (wonders will never cease) and lined the pathways.

We decided to lay pine bark on the pathways, easy to get, soft on the feet and everything else just seemed too hard.  There was some debate over how much we needed, Mum and I are not the best at this kind of things but luckily Martin came to our rescue, he is a Doctor of Economics after all, and there must be something useful for us to get out of it.  Unfortunately, when I heard about the price of the pine bark, I became a bit overexcited and ordered a bit more, after all in for a penny, in for a pound, and we could throw it onto the other beds if we had too much.

6 cubic metres is quite a lot as it turns out.

Lucky for us, Mum called in the child labour.  No, not that kind.  We have three strapping young boys who are tall, strong and capable if you can bribe them appropriately – in this case $10 did it.  And they love their Granny Jenny.  Who wouldn’t when you are given Subway, T-bone steaks, McDonald’s and baked meals upon request?  And don’t mention the sweets.  Though you have to get them at the right time.  One of said Grandson’s constantly asks her if she needs help but disappears into the Lounge Room eating his McDonald’s and lighting the fire because he’s cold before she even has a chance to answer.  Still, it’s the thought that counts.

Despite initial doubts, we got the pine bark moved and that’s what counts here.  Paths in and we finally turned our attention to the dilemma we were all delaying – do we move the large dome structure that is in the wrong place?  It always has been in the wrong place, plonked in because Jenny saw one and wanted one in her garden.  Unfortunately, this means that the garden has areas that are distinctly crowded.  It would have been easier to just not do it, but after putting in all the effort of creating the paths, we knew we had to do the right thing by the garden.  Some jobs you just know are going to be pain and suffering.  At least that what Jenny and I thought.  Good news is, while we were out at a second-hand clothing market we arrived home to find that Martin had done all the hard graft. Joy!

It was a bit of a difficult one as we were taking a square structure and placing it, not only on a circle, but where there were only three paths arranged in a reasonably even manner.  Mum and I were at a loss but Martin came up with the idea of placing the dome into a triangle.  I had my doubts but I am pleased to say they were unnecessary. 

More bribery of the grandsons and it was in place!  Hurrah!  It is an interesting structure, now in the right place with a purpose, as it almost acts like a visual illusion as you walk around it.  The triangle shape with a circular dome set down into it tricks the viewer as you trace its perimeter, some angles it looks like the circle is jutting out, other angles have it centred, our own version of Escher drawing!

I cannot lie.  It was a big job, but now it is finally done.  I have to admit, the downsizing didn’t really work but Jenny is happy and has new places to plant – this is the most important thing.  And now Winter is almost over.  The weeds nearly beat us but the Galanthus are looking fabulous, the mini Daffodils are poking their heads through and it feels like an excellent Spring is on its way…