Re-Discovering The Joy Of Gardening ... My Dry Tropics Garden Journal - Mid-Summer - Week 1, January 2025

It's been a very long time since my last blog post.  Ten years in fact, and a lot has happened in my corner of Australia between then and now!  All that aside, I'm so very happy to be back working in my garden full time now and I have every intention of re-activating my garden journal for 2025.

After a 40 year career in education, I've retired, and my time is now my own!!  I can think of nothing better for my emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health than getting back to nurturing all the garden spaces that have fallen into decline through no fault of their own.  I'm definitely in my happy place when I'm outdoors wandering around our place and tending the garden.  So ... 

Garden Journal Entry: January 4, 2025

As we step into a new year, I thought it fitting to begin this journal by looking back and reflecting on the last decade of gardening at my place. I'll keep it as concise as possible while sharing the highs and lows of the journey.

The Impact of Life's Demands

Between 2015 and 2023, my work commitments increased significantly due to changes in my role in education and a return to full-time work. Balancing these demands left little time for gardening. Family life, too, grew more complex and demanding, with children and grandchildren navigating their own challenges. Time with them became a priority whenever I wasn’t working, leaving even less room for serious garden care. As a result, the garden often took a back seat, becoming overwhelming to manage and leading to significant losses and transformations.

Losses in the Garden

The most poignant of these was the loss of two magnificent Mussaendas. The pink one in the front garden, and the stunning white one at the back of the courtyard, both gave up the ghost. These towering beauties, standing at around six feet and adorned with blooms during their prime, had been a part of my garden for two decades. Perhaps they simply reached the end of their natural lifespan, but their absence left a noticeable void.

The Tabebuias (on the left) were ripped to shreds during Cyclone Kirrly
and the Poinciana (on the right) simply fell over and crashed to the ground! 

The loss of large mature trees was another significant challenge. In 2018, we lost a 15-foot Acacia (outside the shade house garden) and a 30-foot Poinciana (at the end of the car shed), which drastically altered the light conditions in the garden spaces underneath. Many plants that had thrived in the shade of these trees struggled or perished in the new environment. 

Then came the devastating Tropical Cyclone Kirrily in 2024, which wreaked havoc on the property. Several towering trees, including two 20-foot Tabebuias, were lost, and the Durantas lining our driveway were reduced from their majestic 10-foot height to a humble three feet due to heavy pruning necessitated by storm damage.

There were also many shrubs and ground cover plants that died off

in the gravel-driveway garden beds (Hibiscus, Russelia, Cuphea), 

in the front-of-house garden beds (Galphimia, Hibiscus, Azalea) 

and the back-of-the-courtyard garden bed (Acalypha, Aralia).

The Courtyard Garden’s Decline

The courtyard garden, once the heart of my gardening efforts and a space of vibrant beauty, suffered greatly during this time. Before 2015, it boasted over 100 potted plants, each meticulously cared for. 

By last year, that number had dwindled to just 10, most of which were struggling to survive. This once-thriving sanctuary became a shadow of its former self.

The Shade House Takeover

The shade house garden experienced its own challenges. The relentless growth of the giant Sword Fern turned it into an almost impassable jungle. The fern’s dominance stifled other plants and made accessing the space a chore I rarely undertook. It felt as though the garden itself was reflecting the chaos and neglect brought on by the whirlwind of life.

Moving Forward

As I reflect on these changes, I’m reminded of the resilience of gardens and the potential for renewal. While the past decade brought significant losses and challenges, it also provides an opportunity to rebuild and re-imagine these spaces. My hope for this year is to rediscover the joy of gardening, one small step at a time, and to nurture these spaces back to life.