New front garden area with paver barricade

Dug out the grass in the front garden area and put pavers around the edge to try to stop the grass making its way into the garden. Put soil from the back garden into the dug-out area.

Digging

It was cloudy yesterday; today started cloudy but came out with clear skies and sun. Started getting into the front yard, digging to expand an area where previously I had only used a small patch against the fence for beans. The hens loved it.

Pruning and mulching

Pruned some trees (ngaio, lucerne, loquat); mulched most of the branches and put them around the recently planted taupata.

Sunrise and kelp

Sunrise this morning. (of course, we don't actually
get to see the sun until closer to noon)

Some kelp has now been put into the garden in the back yard.

Two taupata planted

The first of this winter's plantings have gone into the ground. Kitchen scraps were put into the holes before soil from the vege patch in the back yard was added.

Sun started shining into the house today.

More Kelp

I dragged some more kelp back across the road yesterday. Must get my soil sorted. Winter has been mild so far, and if this continues, the garden should be started sooner than normal. I should be prepared for such things. I'm behind schedule (as per usual) with my soil as it is.

Winter and Spring Flowering Bulbs Diagram

Diagram from the back of the Ranunculus packet.

Kelp

Kelp soaking in water to wash the salt off.

The beach is a good source of kelp for the garden after rough seas.

I normally only give the kelp a wash with the hose or leave it out in the rain to get rid of the salt, but the kelp I have at the moment that's ready to go into the garden has been soaking in water - only because there happened to be a garden trolley full of water from rain that I figured I might as well use when I dragged the kelp across the road to our yard.

The garden tends to be fairly dormant over winter with the lack of sun, so I try to use that time to improve the soil, ready for spring.

Small row dug beside driveway

Sawdust etc. from chook-house has been mixed into the row, ready for planting.