Franky is not well

Frank has been in hospital since yesterday morning. He has FLUTD and couldn't wee as his urethra was completely blocked. He had a major operation yesterday but is doing well, I cannot wait for him to come home, all going well he should be released tomorrow afternoon. Poor boy was in so much pain.

I cannot do anything without him, my motivation just evaporates.

PS: Since I wrote this Frank has been extremely well with no relapse.  He continues to jump in bed most mornings for a cuddle and to demand his breakfast by biting me. I love him so much.

New pictures

I've been a bit occupied since starting my gardening business, not really felt I could concentrate on a drawing. However January slowed down quite significantly, I'm too poor to do anything else at the moment. Frank got jealous of the cat in the picture.

Frank on his magic rug

Trying to keep this blog fairly simple these days and my reproduction of these drawings in not that great. I'm only using Painter to crop and resize.  

Echinacea, inspired from photo in Gardening Australia.

My new planter box

Everything is growing well, however Frank likes to sleep here during the day.

I'm now working full time in my own gardening business

After what seemed like eternity in a very average office job I'm now free. My business is almost running full time now, I had a small job this morning and have tomorrow off (very temporary).

My first job Monday morning was to renovate the biggest camellia I've ever seen, and some of the branches were over 5 metres! I was scared at first and wondered whether I was being stupid trying to do this job because of the weight in the branches. But I worked slowly to bring it down so hopefully all going well it should be a better looking tree in a few years time.

The view from the rooftop garden that I work on, no railing and a 3 story fall. And no more working weekends.

My new planter

I built another raised bed for the front patio. This time a much simplified design which was placed directly on concrete. Not giving anyone a chance to steal this one I filled it with soil straight away.

Don't leave anything hanging around, I had a length of leaky hose which had been safety sitting outside for the last 6 months until last night when someone walked right in behind the planter and took it. Probably looking for tools. There were three old cat beds, too small for Frank, behind a wall on the patio, they took them. Not upset about the lose, more the fact that someone invaded my space.

There's still a bit of work remaining like finishing the top edge and drainage holes around the bottom which will happen in the next few days. The design changed a bit, pine sleepers which I had in mind would have been too heavy and out of scale in this space. Cannot wait to start planting.

Two Valleys Trail – Cooks River and Wolli Creek

Last weekend I walked the first stage of this trail from Bexley North to Turrella, I think I just got a bit frustrated, more signage would be appreciated. Today I started at the beginning and finished at Tempe where I should have finished last weekend.

It's a great walk for all horticulture students especially those doing their diploma to be able to see so many Australian natives from the study list growing in closed forest environment. Lots of Pittosporum, Dodonaea, Cissus, Smilax, Juncus, ferns, Acacia, Banksia, Angophora and Eucalypts. The area is far from pristine but still a very valuable area in terms of its biodiversity and habitat for birds.

Generally when I go walking its to see plants but I'm notice more bird life and I did stop to watch several New Holland Honeyeaters flying around a Banksia integrifolia, although I could be wrong as don't know my birds very well yet. My camera is not good enough to take pictures of birds anyway. My favourites are owls and so far have only seen one pair of Powerful Owls at Ryde.

The trail is affected by many issues which I just don't have the time or space to explain now and Cooks River Valley Association, Wolli Creek Preservation Society, Mudcrabs – Cooks River Eco-Volunteers, Friends of Ewen Park have been working to remove weeds, reduce erosion and the damage of neglect and indifference for so many years. They've done a very good job but there is so much more needed.

Buster

This is my brother's blue cattle dog. Such a funny boy and this is what he did to the ball I bought him. Did hope that it would have lasted more then 8 minutes.

Congwong Bay, La Perouse

I have a major assignment this year to study a plant community and describe it in detail. So I went to explore the Jennifer Street Boardwalk and other trails through Botany Bay National Park.

Both areas were very interesting and contained remnant Banksia communities so I was naturally interested. In fact both areas I could see at least two to three community types, Banksia, Angophera and tea tree with their termite mounds. There were many Golden Orb spiders in the area waiting in their golden webs for butterflies and small creatures. Bit scary but harmless to humans.

Jennifer Street photos

        

Henry's Head photos

Termite mound

Horticulture Parks and Gardens certificate 3 - complete

What a strange feeling, I walked down the stairs to cross the Village Green at Ryde Tafe for the last time this year and realised how different my life now is. It is sad to not have had the opportunity to say good bye to my class mates for the last three years. But how exciting to have come so far, to have started my own business, stuggled against my lack confidence.

I'll be back at Ryde next year for the Diploma course and hopefully some of the people that I studied with will also continue.

Drawing Frank

I have to be quick, about 3 minutes and he kept biting me. Such a naughty boy.

The Everglades - Leura

I got lucky and was asked to visit this garden for work to see if it was a suitable venue for a lunch I need to organise next year. There was no view from the lookout as the mist had rolled in and filled the whole garden. Everyone I met apologised for the weather but it made the garden more beautiful.