Introducing the Wattle Woods
I created the Wattle Woods Garden on the edge of a sheep paddock, back in the day when it was grazed by the very first Moosey sheep. They were banished, and I started digging, adding loads and loads of compost and horse manure.
Winter Flowering Wattles Trees
The gardens underneath the Wattle trees slowly expanded - the ground was rock hard in places, and very difficult to dig. And needless to say, I didn't really know what I was doing. I thought that drawing a map was the answer - not so. All I can remember of it now is an impressive row of Kalmias. Oh really?
Dry soil...
Over the years I learnt just how dry and badly nourished the soil was under the trees. I watered madly and spread loads of horse manure and mulch. I added tougher shrubs like Escallonia, and planted a group of Rugosa roses near the glass-house. Groundcover Ajuga arrived to do battle with the weeds. Renga Renga and Agapanthus were successful tough plantings - their clean green leaves looking great all year round.
The shrubs and plants I originally chose were beautifully ornamental, but just not suitable. Some died, others like the striped grass Miscanthus Zebrinus are now replanted in a sunnier garden area. The autumn flowering perennial Toad lilies still battle on, as does the large shrub rose Complicata.
PInk Camellia Shrub
Fifteen years ago I was given a collection of free Camellias, unwanted by their previous gardener. I planted them at the top of the Wattle Woods. These beauties are still going strong, and getting rather large. Yet only one of my intial rhododendrons survived...
Spring Glass-House and Wattle Flowering
My old glasshouse sits at the top of the Wattle Woods slope. It, too is a survivor, though there is now so much shade in late spring and summer that it cannot be used to grow for example tomatoes. I just use it for early spring seed sowing, and for wintering over half-hardies. If the state of her glasshouse is the measure of a gardener's success, then I am a complete failure!
.jpg "In the lower area, where the big gum trees grow.")
Path in the Wattle Woods
Paths...
The Wattle Woods are full of winding paths edged by green foliage plants. If you're feeling brave, why not duck and dive along the path behind the glass-house, underneath the rugosa roses. Ouch!
Beware!
Or check out the wriggling paths down near the big gum trees, and their cute curved footbridges. Beware : Wattle trees have very brittle wood, and bits of branches often break off. Best not to linger too long underneath unless you're wearing a hard-hat! Not a relaxing place in which to garden if it's windy.
New developments...
Increasing shade made the lawn grass less and less healthy. What to do? Easy! I enlarged the garden, using Camellias and easily grown coarse-leafed Carex grasses for fillers.
Enjoy yourself as you wander through the Wattle Woods Garden. It isn't the tidiest or best manicured of my garden areas, but it's full of trees, textures, and paths. You may even find a cat or a faithful dog following you.
The Wattle Woods