Magic Garden

Author: Bev Woodman
Word Count: 426
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Magic Garden

This is my garden, our garden, a haven and a hideaway!

Magic Garden belongs to the following groups:

All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Everyday Life, Green!, Something To Say and The Word Tree

Steadily I negotiate the various levels of stairs and walkways that lead to and through my garden – my sanction and my oasis. We have lived in this house, tucked into the side of a hill and overlooking beautiful Lake Macquarie for 39 years now and it wasn’t until last summer that we finally finished our backyard. Because of the steep slope we never used the yard, it was always left natural with gum trees and lantana. In the early days we would burn off but then the local council stopped this and so we would have a working bee every few years and clear it a little. It was during one of these working bees that I fell off a 2 metre high wall and needed the rescue squad to come and stretcher me up the hill and off to hospital. Then we got neighbours either side and so we thought we should get to work and do something. So here we were, both in our 60s and carting retaining wall blocks, mulch, dirt, rocks, pebbles and plants down the hill to create a magic garden. What’s more, everything we cleared from the block needed to also be carted up the hill to the roadway to be disposed of. The gardens is on five levels with steep banks planted out with hedges, tropical plants, lavender, natives, vines and succulents. I’ve played around with a few plants and replaced those that weren’t suitable or those that the possums decided were a snack for them. The very back area is my fern tree haven and I’m steadily watching these magnificent trees grow taller each month. It an ecclectic mix of plants with meandering paths and stairs, nothing truely formal – that’s the way I like it. Last summer was kind to us with plenty of rain and milder days and so my plants survived. For this summer we have in place soaker hoses and lots of mulch and wetting agents. Today I love to wander through it and sit just listening to the garden sounds, the buzz of the bees, the birds in the morning and evening, and to admire our work. Sure it was a lot of work and many days we were crippled with pain and aching muscles – but its finished now for us and others to enjoy – even the possums play there at night and love to bowl my garden ornaments over. To me my garden is the Magic Garden, a place to hide and regroup and collect my thoughts.

jadeast

I have a similar area on my land facing the lake,which I’m just getting started on Bev. my goal is to create something similar if I don’t run out of time first. My wife says I go nuts buying plants in the spring!
Yours looks like a very lovely place Bev I know it makes you very happy
Bev Woodman replied

Thanks Jade for your lovely comment – I plan to add a few extra photos maybe today – I am so pleased now that everything in the yard has really taken off and this summer should make a huge difference again. I was out there weeding and trimming yesterday and I so enjoy getting lost in there. I spent a fortune on plants but its worth it. Thanks for your interest.
Larry Davis

I’m on a flat quarter acre with a sunken herb garden ( spoked wheel design ) looking down from a decking.
But I bought a quarter acre next door a few years ago,( as an investment ) and converted it into an orchard with a large vegetable and an assortment of fruit trees..
In the centre it has an arber covered with jasmin.
( beautifully cool in the hot weather )
Bev Woodman replied

Sounds beautiful Larry – I’m imagining it right now, thank you.
Helen Phillips

Dear Bev, thanks for sharing your garden, I am even becoming attracted to the idea that I should not look at gardening as a chore! We’ll see if it becomes a reality. Your garden looks and sounds beautiful to me.
Bev Woodman replied

Oh Helen thanks for this comment. This garden was quite a challenge as we had to clear the years of lantana and fallen logs first before we could do anything and it started off by steadily clearing and landscaping as we worked our way down. The joy was in planting and mulching and then watching it all grow. Its becoming a jungle down there as its so protected and humid most of the year that everything grows really fast.
EarthGipsy

Great tale Bev. I’ve been feeling down about my yard being a mess…..thank you for making me feel so much better; only having been here for 2 years…I have 37 years to get my act together (lol!!)

I shouldn’t laugh at your misfortune in needing to be rescued…but you have painted a funny scene :) It certainly was worth all the pain and exercise – a beautiful sanctuary indeed! Edna Walling would be proud!
Bev Woodman replied

Thanks Sonia – I can laugh now at the thought – I actually threw myself of the wall while throwing cuttings down to Phil who had the mulcher going down below me – I was in mid air when I thought “this is going to hurt”. I had a fractured pubic ramus and many bruises and the embarrassment of the ambulance and rescue squad turn up to get me out – luckily we have a pole house next door so that had to zig zag up under there to get me to the road on the stretcher. I heard a chopper at one stage and thought “bloody hell that’s an overkill” but luckily it wasn’t meant for me. So you can see a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this yard. More to come.
cooljusher

What a credit to all your hard work, a truly magical place.
Bev Woodman replied

Hi and welcome. Thank you for the lovely comment and for adding me to your watch list. I have had a look around your gallery and I just love your work too.
NordicBlackbird

Lake Macquarie??? Oh, boy – you in Newcastle, Bev? :))))
I have very dear friend there!!! Thank you for sharing your non-fiction with us.Love your magic garden. ...I really felt “home” :))))
Bev Woodman replied

Thanks Nat and so pleased you had a stroll through my garden and so pleased you took the time to comment. And wow you know someone from my home town – its such a small world really!!