Hi Gambit it's great of you popping in here and giving us an update with your roses.Very useful information.Its good to know that Icebergs are really hardy.
Gambit their is a story on Gardening Australia about a couple who rented and had all their plants growing in containers with a watering system and could take them when they moved.I think they had over 40 in their courtyard and it looked amazing.Your only limited by imagination.
Happy gardening,
Mark

Hey J*

Completely agree, for those of us who've struggled with depression eps, we need to be careful what we care about. We really do!

As difficult as this is for me to say this, let alone write lol, we need to care about Numero Uno first!
Then move out in concentric circles outwards about whom and what we care for.
I've been drawing diagrams of this for decades to help my thoughts and focus, thankfully.

Funny thing about those concentric circles is that it wasn't until THIS YEAR that I realised I was in the centre!! lol omg I missed the major point.

Self-care.

Fortunately I exited FB a couple of years ago.
I loved the connection with meaningful groups but found the extraneous bs intolerable.

Re: battery hens, yeah 😥 horrible.
Myself and all my adult children never buy caged eggs, probably never eat eggs from any other source but our own loved chickens. To be truthful and pedantic lol, we DO eat eggs in commercially produced foods so there it is.

We have a local group who Free the chickens from battery farms by collecting thousands at a time. They call them "Ladies". They're now a Registered Charity and I'm so proud of them!

We all get all our chickens from them. Last was 16 retiring ladies delivered on the day they were freed. SO much to tell about their adventure with us in those first hours, days, months. I have snippets of videos of them at dawn learning how to walk on grass! Me laughing & crying with gratitude for these darling creatures. SO CUTE!

With a usual 50% loss rate when rehomed, we had zero losses yay!!! It took me to make hot water bottles for them every night because most of them had no feathers & it was Winter.

They became HEALTHY!
LOVE their life & their mama lol.
Our eldest chicken is 13+y old lol.

Same with animal breeding, so sad.
We only take in rescue animals.
Atm we have a rescue poodle, darling boy had such huge anxiety we carried him around in a baby sling for months! Now he's 4, he's doing well with lots of love & care.
Same with our rescue kitten who was too young to leave his mama. Carried around in a baby sling. I woke this morning to him on my bed, he's magnificent too! Knows when we're unwell & never leaves our side. Then goes out to all the boundaries when everyone's okay & is a sentinel at each corner lol! He's 11yo.

Our pets live to grand old ages. A rescue dog we found at the tip lived 21y with us.

I do my best for native animals and that's all we can do.
Decide what we CAN do.
Do that.

Love EM

Matchy69 said:Hi Jstar it's the reason I keep my 20 aceras of natural bushland so the wildlife and bird life have some natural habitat to live.We are building out more and more of our natural bushland and our native animals are trying to live in suburan and our natives are coming endangered.We need to share our gardens with our natives.

Mark you're AWESOME!

EMxxxx

Gambit87 said:

Hey everyone!

my roses are actually going pretty well so fair. The icebergs are definitely more hardy then the other 2.

Its been pretty hot here the last few days. been keeping up with the watering.

been thinking about my next gardening project - girlfriend reminds me were in a rental haha.

Hey Gambit

Great to hear of your successes in growing roses!

I second and third the others about looking at Gardening Aust clips because there's a plethora of info on there and TONS of ppl growing amazing gardens in rentals, and composting lol and WORM FARMING!

LOVE THAT.

The whole composting and worm farming adventure makes gardening SUPER CHEAP and any food you grow SUPER HEALTHY lol... with merely waste from our homes.
Perfect.

I tried growing in styrofoam containers didn't work for me.

Bigger pots are great for herbs but they need quite a bit of sun.

Still there are health benefits (Not sure why I keep rambling on about health benefits ... what is that?) but there are... to growing indoor plants.

Lately I heard of a Japanese study that showed growing Sanseveria on our bedside table to be beneficial to our sleep quality, air quality and overall calm.

But just SEEING a plant growing in our home can lighten our mood.

You can get so many from the side of the road, when ppl have thinned out their gardens and leave the excess for pick up. Happens tons here.
Also Permaculture Groups esp for food growing. I think you can attend 2 meetings before needing to join.

Also Community Gardens.

It's been raining here for all but ONE morning I have wanted to walk to our local CG.
Raining today which made for a lovely morning sleep in for me!

So happy you're loving gardening Gambit. You have a real Green Thumb there!

EMxxxx

Hey gardening peeps,

Soft misty rain for almost 2 weeks here now. Only 2 spots of sunny patches I can remember when we were baked to bits lol.

The humidity in the air is so obvious. Mould is becoming an issue in some places.

Papa Brush Turkey has decimated my front garden in a way I've never seen before.
Give em an inch right?

Oh well it's staying like that for now.

I have a gardening date at Alexa's, my eldest d (not her real name btw), on Monday next week.
This was a Christmas Voucher I gave her. She's collecting fast! lol.
I need to find all my gardening equipment bec even though her garden is not big, it needs a lot of work done. Alot of cutting branches away from windows and stopping the breeze coming in. Mould building up on walls being a major health issue.

Trimming the tree above the clothes line, where the birds sit in the branches and do what birds do! Making her have to re-wash clothes again and again.
She lives where there are hills all around of National Park so the birds can sit there or use the other branches lol.
Also the cicadas are landing on anything brown coloured on her line.

But she has frogs living in her garden now which she loves the sounds of at night. Reminds her of being back home, living here. Nice.

Her Frangipanis are getting very spindly, they look sick now.
My neighbour prunes his back and it bounces back abundantly.
It's flowering now. The fragrance wafts in to our property and it's lovely.
Not sure when to prune Frangipanis but I'm pretty sure it'll be AFTER flowering is over.

My garden is doing its own thing atm lol.

EMxxxx

Hi all I have been picking my watermelons and they have be beautiful and sweet.My son has been enjoying them.He has been planting the seeds out of them So I will probably have melons coming up everywhere.
Happy gardening,
Mark

Dad was a landscape gardener for many years, among his projects he totally transformed a local council centre to make it into a sustainable permaculture garden, installed the grey water system, even built them a chicken coop and veggie patches.

Then he built some compost areas and another raised veggie garden at another of his sites.

Even before this he was always a green thumb, I remember his rose garden so well...even indoor potted plants were a boon for him, the living room was alive as a jungle, I still recall this hanging plant that was centrepiece, it gradually snaked it's way along the ceiling of the living room and towards the kitchen, was so refreshing and calming to be surrounded by so much vibrancy and life.

All I have now is that small Lucky Bamboo, I am keeping it going, not as well as dad, but I am trying. I want to surround myself with plants and nature again.

I used to help dad out sometimes, but I was more into digging and transporting things, never really had to maintain a garden as he was always one step ahead of everything. I tried to carry the wheelbarrow as he did, too heavy for my kid arms, it tipped but he stopped it with one arm, so strong so...

Funny, I was going through a lot of dad's old course work, I have access to so much knowledge from when he did his certificates, he has photos of a lot of his designs and works, including this beautiful garden he designed and created for a UNSW project.

I worked with him one day at that place, he outworked me as usual, he worked all week, and did that on the weekend as a favour, still put in a full shift. I was so tired, he must have been too, but never showed it... shit I miss him.

I might go over there again to sit and have lunch in the beauty that came from his hands, back, and heart. That day was so long, but so beautiful, just me and him working and talking, dad I...

Happy New Year gardening people.May your garden thrive in the new year

I just added the figures up for the rain last year.We had 680 mm on 74 days. Not that much rain but a lot better then the year before.

Thank you for your well wishes Mark.

Wishing you many happy gardening projects this year.

Have planted out my strawberries, spinach and rocket. Spotted one of my kids inspecting and tasting the salad leaves.

I started putting a paver edging around a side garden bed yesterday. Got only about a third of it done but the humidity exhausted me within minutes so I’m just accepting it’s not going to get done at this time.

Hi Lillylane I love it when kids inspect the vegie garden.My son is cute checking his strawberries and picks one bean or one lettuce leave for his mother.

Hi all I am going to pot up some geraniums that I have struck from cuttings.These will be selling stock.I have a few different ones an orange one a red one and four different pink ones from light pink to dark pink.

Hey everyone

Thankyou for posting all you have, it's beautiful to read, all of it.

It's raining here again... almost 3 weeks of rain but today it's misty rain.

I can see the lantana loves it ugh.

So more inside work today.

My mother is a hoarder and Alexa went to see her today for a planned visit. She wasn't home as per. Alexa may bring some of mother's plants to give me. Apparently the place is the worst it's ever been.

I really want some succulents to pot up.
I'll see what she brings.

Feeling so tired today, bit over everything tbh. Awful sleep. Issues. Etc.

It's so nice to come here and read what others are doing!

Love EM

Hi Em I am sorry you to are struggling with sleep. I just had read what is going on in another thread.Not the way you want to be spending your break from work.Maby a loving chat to your family telling them what' going on and how you are feeling.

I hope you do get some more succulents they are such an easy thing to grow and so many wonderful looking ones and some so unusual.I can see why people really get into them.

I potted up 12 geraniums this morning with my daughter and put another lot of cuttings in.I will take them down to the shop in a few weeks to sell.I am just having a break before I get my bed ready to put some bean seeds in.

Happy gardening,

Mark.

Thankyou Mark, You're always so kind to me, I really appreciate you.

I had pretty strong words with the kids this week after the straw that broke mama's back was one son driving into our garage door by accident ofcourse, after 2 massive fines for me driving another son's car that we THOUGHT he had registered (and so did he) but he hadn't. More health issues too. Feeling pretty sad and tired atm. The kids have been doing more since but they work alot atm so it's hard for them too. They're trying more now lol.

Alexa had a terrible time with my mother, it stresses her so much. No one would even believe what mother's like. She's completely lost her mind. She'd had shock treatment as a teen and was told never to have children. She was so unwell even as a little girl. People have been wounded so badly physically by her including me. She's dangerous at times.
Things were so harsh back then (and even now with some people here). My mother suffered alot. Still does.
It's so sad Mark.
I had to go NC decades ago and Alexa feels it's all up to her and the pressure's too much.

Alexa was crying to me tonight and it's just sad.

Alexa fitted as many plants in her car as she possibly could for me... trying to make a dent in the overgrown garden.

I got:
* nasturtiums
* some climbing plants IDK what they're called
* some lovely succulents I didn't have IDK what they're called either.
I forget so much when I'm stressed like this.

I LOVE geraniums and yours sound SO PRETTY!
I love their rose like scent. They're so hardy too, great plants.
I have some cuttings in water (from Alexa's last trip to mother's) but I'm not good at growing them.
Mine go all spindly bec I don't like to cut them I think?
Is that the reason?

I'm thinking about taking some time out from the forums. I think I'm blundering way too much and that's not good for others here.

I'm doing lots of home improvements and it's taking its toll on me psychologically also.
Repairing so much damage from ex demon brings up alot of bad memories.

My new bedroom, sons' old bedroom, has so many holes in the walls from demon. We hid them with wardrobes. Now I'm moving the stuff and seeing them, it's having a huge impact, triggering mild-ish PTSD reactions etc.
Better get back to it.

Thankyou Mark.
Love EM

Hello Em,

Oh lass I'm sorry you feel so low... you give so much of yourself to be there for others... if it's ok... I want to give you a big comforting hug... I'll brew a pot of tea (or coffee if preferred)... & we can sit outside & watch nature... just to rest & relax.

I wonder lass if you might find, as I & others here have... that if you limit yourself on bb to just a few of the threads you already follow/have & avoid all others for as long as you need.. it means you can still have/give the support here you find helpful... without being overwhelmed by it all... we all have a limit as to how thin we can spread ourselves trying to be there for others in r/l & online.

I hope that doesn't come across as trying to make you stay... of course if you need a break you should do what is best for you... I only mean to point out if you would like to stay it is ok to limit yourself.

Be gentle with yourself

Paws

Hi Em many people take breaks from here and it is ok to.The help you have provided has been exceptional and we are so proud of you on here for the advice and help you have given.I wish I could give such great advice like you.You would come back afresh and be in a better place.Paws made a great suggestion limiting yourself on threads you are on but knowing you it would be hard for you to do.
On the gardening front.Prune back hard geraniums anytime of the year is ok.You can do it now and they should shoot pretty quick and grow more bushy and not so spindiley for you.
Take care,
Mark.

Thankyou Paws, Thankyou Mark

Thankyou for your advice and support. I appreciate every word so thankyou.

Yeah I did reduce my input on threads, just not enough.

It's raining again here today so it matches my mood really.
I'll say more on my thread later if I want to, bec I had some pretty deep realisations.

I'm changing our bedrooms around and I had no idea how I'd be triggered so deeply.
The PTSD has come back in gentle rolling form, not full on thank God I don't think I could cope.
This is yuck enough lol.

Yes Paws I will sit with you and watch nature, I cried when you said that.
The birds are flitting about happily in the misty rain and the huge Gum tree is full of fluffy yellow blooms.
I'm privileged to see that all today and privileged to be here.

Thankyou
EMxxxx

@em,

Do what you need to do to take care of yourself! You are important too :)

Everyone - I hope youre all well.

I repotted some of the roses over the new year weekend! looking good now. I almost bought a miniture fairy rose plant... but I didnt haha. I'm thinking about trying to grow some everlasting daisies (my favourite flower).

I need to remember I only live in a small apartment haha.

Hi Gambit their are some beautiful miniture roses at there.Maby next time you will buy one.Nothing wrong with having as many pots you can fit around your place if gives you happiness and it helps with your mental health to.

Happt gardening,

Mark.

Thankyou Gambit, you're very kind. Feeling marginally better today so I'll take it!
Any improvement is good.

I love the sound of your roses and how you chose the right plants for you too.
Roses are so beautiful.

If you want ANY encouragement to get more plants then we'll always do THAT lol.
The way you're heading - next minute you could be on Gardening Australia yourself!

You're such a natural green thumb Gambit. I'm so glad you started gardening.

Don't worry that it's only a small apartment lol... we're loving your stories!!

EMxxxx

Hey Mark and all

Thankyou for your support, it means so much to me.

This morning it was really hot & humid but cloudy. Still I went outside for my morning ritual spent with the chickens, Papa Brush Turkey and the forums with my cuppa.
It got so hot I had to come inside.

That's ok we're changing rooms so LOTS of inside work.

Then it poured down! We got a storm.
I think it's rained every day for weeks here now and it SO unseasonal. Not so much the amount of rain but the frequency of it and the lack of endlessly hot Summer days.
We had a few heatwaves before this rain began so there it is. Or was lol.
My plants and trees are LOVING it lol!
15-20cm new growth on my Lilly Pilly I can see.

Happy gardening everyone lol.
I'm INSIDE.

Love EM

Hi Em you always got my support on here.Your amazing lady giving so much support to others on here.You do deserve a bit of time to yourself and coming to terms with things triggering you.I was emotionally abused by my ex for years and she does and find it really hard developing friendhips especially with woman.She did a lot of damage to me.

I hope you get heaps of fruit on your LillyPillys and you you can make some jam.They would be allright to juice to thinking about monkeys thread.

We had 4 mms of rain last night.We are just getting a little bit at a time.The garden is looking so good and lawn needs mowing.

Tale care,

Mark.

Hi all,

gambit, good things come in small... apartments! 😉

em, you got this. Glad you’re taking it slow when you can.

mark- just been catching up on your thread, and will reply there soon. It sounds like you have a full plate. Hugs!

our indoor plants are going so well! Moved them to an eastern window and they are thriving!

the lack of real heat is strange here also, but def welcome. Maybe not for all the holiday-ers.....

at least we’re not worrying about bushfires!

cheers

J*

Hear hear, NOT worrying about bushfires. Thank God for that.

Yeah I feel a bit sorry for all the holiday makers here too... but I think just the ability to "get away" is welcomed for them regardless of the weather tbh lol.

Thankyou Mark, You're a sweet sweet man and extremely kind still to your ex wife when she's run out of money for things.
Yeah... I get that in being super aware of making friends esp with women.
I have the same 'thing' going on with men, I won't call it a problem though lol, I feel alot better this way!

Although I am well aware there are issues with "certain types of people" be them any sex.

Could you please share the name of your thread Mark?
I'm almost afraid to go into other ppls threads atm, still feeling very "tender" after the horrible weekend.

Thankyou everyone for giving me permission to take a break (I know I didn't need permission but it sure feels better when others understand).

EMxxxx

Hi Em Thank you for your kind words and calling me a very sweet man and sweet caring lady.You have been helping people on here so much.It really is great you do that.I think the thing is giving yourself permission to take a break and I think it can be a hard thing for us to do.I have have had conversations about giving myself permission for things with my pschologist.I need to be kinder to myself and I have trouble saying no to people.No is a very hard word to say.

On the gardening front I have picked my last melons and I have planted my bean seeds.I will have to clean up my vegie garden and work at my crop rotation with my winter crop I probably plant around April.I can't believe I am talking about winter allready.

And Em I responded to you on my thread.Thankyou.

Happy gardening,

Mark.

Hi all,

Haven’t done much in the garden lately but at least take a walk around outside and see how things are going.

Got rid of some moth vine or false choko which I’m told is an invasive weed. It actually looked so beautiful in flower. Will put in some star jasmine instead.

I worked up the courage to tell a good friend that I’ve been quite unwell lately in regards to mental health. She’s a kind and supportive person. But she said she doesn’t think she could have anything to offer for my mental health. And then we talked about other things.

And I felt about a hundred times more lonely.

I shouldn’t feel so sensitive. Maybe some people just feel don’t know what to say when it comes to mental health. I guess it would have been nice to be asked what was going on.

Last year I was there for her when she experienced panic attacks over a particular phobia. And she’d had some insensitive remarks by a couple of people that she was making a big deal over a ‘small’ thing.

Just a follow up post ...

Sorry for my rant below - I think I was a bit emotional about not being able to open up to my friend sorry. Maybe I’ll try again sometime.

It’s hard to feel vulnerable isn’t it?!

Anyway, our mango tree is absolutely full of mangoes. They are still green and very firm so I’m not sure what stage to pick them. I guess the possums will let me know :)

Lillylane.

Hi Lillylane the time to pick mangos is when the skin changes colour depending of what variety it it is it might be yellow or resist colour.And what I do is take a sample fruit that I think is ready and cut it open if the flesh is yellow around the seed it is ready to pick and will ripen in a week.I hope you can beat the possums and flying Fox's to then.You can make a delicious jam out of them as well as your chuntnets.

Happy gardening,

Mark.

Thanks Mark, I look forward to giving it a try.

Someone we know gave us four giant mangoes from their friend’s tree. Apparently she said they are smaller than usual this year!

These had a darker pink/orange skin. My daughter loved them. Was almost too much to eat so I cut some up for smoothies.

I want to try EM’s idea of planting a second tree.