Garden Glossary

My Garden Glossary is an attempt to explain certain words which occur on the website. Some of these are part of the local language, while others are definitely home-made!

The Water Race...
Sun 22nd Feb 2009

The Water Race is a man-made irrigation canal, flowing right through the Moosey property behind the house. It's like a small burbling stream, but it's dead straight, with smooth river stones on the bottom. The water is for irrigation and stock.

Apres Gardening...
Tue 22nd Mar 2005

Going Apres-Gardening requires changing into a clean body, and stylish, clean clothes - the comparison to Apres-Ski is obvious. And, of course, some serious gardening has to have taken place - this definitely an 'afterwards' situation!

Sneaky Watering...
Tue 22nd Mar 2005

I'm one of the billions of gardeners whose favourite plants need water. Rain, of course, should do most of the irrigating. But often a little extra help is required, and sometimes one has to be subtle...

Cat Company...
Tue 22nd Mar 2005

Cat company involves the physical presence of one or more cats, who must stay close during a gardening activity. Cats are expected to look interested and to interact with the gardener - for example by sitting underneath the wheelbarrow.

The Cricket Radio...
Tue 22nd Mar 2005

Cricket is an odd ball game played by two teams - and it can go on for ages. So cricket commentaries obviously go on for ages, too, and a gardener can get heaps of gardening done while listening - on a cricket radio!

The Hump...
Tue 22nd Mar 2005

Garden areas often get far more romantic names than they deserve. Not so The Hump - it's one of the more down-to-earth Moosey garden places - dry, very sandy - and humpy! Early planting schemes have failed, but lately there is some native progress...

The Plank...
Tue 22nd Mar 2005

One of the bridges spanning the narrow water race is called 'The Plank'. That's exactly what it is - a plank of wood (actually two pieces on top of each other). It's basic, wobbly, and a real trap for the unwary visitor.

The Norwester...
Tue 22nd Mar 2005

Good gardeners know their own weather patterns like the back of their gloved gardening hand. The Moosey garden is much affected by Canterbury's classic norwest wind.

Dog-Paths...
Tue 22nd Mar 2005

A Dog-path is a path through the garden which follows (as strictly as possible) the exploratory route taken by a dog. The Moosey Dog-paths were originally suggested by much loved Tajdog, the first Moosey dog.