It's only a month before we're back in my own garden and honestly, I'm sure that's going to be a long post. Meanwhile, I do have a #gardenjournal to share - my parents. There's always a story to tell in the garden and I don't want to miss out joining in the fun for the Hive Garden. By the way, if you get a chance, check in on Saturdays for a prompt to give you inspiration to write a garden post for the community. The more the merrier!

My mum has two raised beds in her garden and there's only parsley in them. It does make it's way into most meals - she's a kickass vegetarian cook. Despite offers, she won't let me plant anything. She's too independent and does things her own way. I guess I'm like her in that way.

I did manage to do a bit of weeding, removing oxalis from the ground beds. The soil is quite sandy and I never understand why she won't take my advice to cover the soil with manure and straw to enrich it. Again, she doesn't like being told what to do. However, she'll probably either turn this area into native beds or put some more raised beds in, but that'll be next year as she has too much to think about with Dad being so sick. She only manages to get out in the garden here and there, usually on the way to the post box.

The amazing thing about Australia is that there's always some colour in the garden. She picked a big bunch of leucadendron for my sister's 50th this week - aren't they beautiful?

There's also a ton of oxalis we need to deal with. The weekly prompt for the Hive Garden community for this week is 'I have way too much of...' and though I wish it was 'zucchinis' because they're far tastier, it's oxalis weed that Mum has far too much of.

Despite Dad being so ill he can barely walk, every now and then he staggers to the back door and claps his hands. He looks like a madman. He's trying to scare away the rabbits which is utterly futile. Sometimes he makes me do it and if he wasn't so sick I'd probably argue with him about it, but I get up and clap my hands too and roll my eyes at Mum.

In Australia they're keen on making habitat trees which look so architectural in the garden. The birds land on them which has Dad and I rushing for the camera, but we almost always miss. The parrots cling to the bark - I think perhaps after insects? - and there's often gang gangs and even ducks, which look ridiculous in trees.

I wonder how Mum will manage maintaining this garden. It's kinda bugging me as I'm happy to do things but she won't let me or delays getting the things I need to do stuff. For example, all the fruit trees need straw mulch around them, and all she needs to do is pick up the phone and get ten bales delivered so I can do that, but as yet, it hasn't happened. I know she's got more on her mind but I'll be back in my own garden soon and won't be able to help like I can help now.

Jamie managed to move a heap of mulch for the front beds which was great. I also planted some seedlings, but more on that another day.

My hip has been hurting alot so I'm wondering about my own ability to maintain the garden at home, but I'll worry about that next month.

With Love,

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