A wonderful open garden

Do you know what these birds are???

They are guinea fowl. Aren't they cute!

They just run around the place at my friend Tina's garden.

This weekend she participated in the Australian open garden scheme, run all over the country showing off beautiful gardens.

Tina has 2.5 acres of gorgeous gardens. Natives around the borders that make me want to convert to bushcare (no- not really, but maybe to plant a few myself) Then she has a large traditional garden and a huge permaculture garden with orchard and veges and the bird enclosures.

This walkway is covered with vines of grapes, passionfruit and kiwi fruits and herbs grow underneath along the ground. Tina's garden uses a lot of stacking techniques, even though she has a lot of space.

I sent an email out to my permaculture contacts inviting them to come along on the Sunday, and four people came. Ken and Diane also go to my church, they loved the garden. This photo was taken after the bucketing rain had diminished slightly. It didn't stop the keen gardeners.

Tina asked me if she could give my name out as a contact for permaculture, and she inspired me to get organised. I did up a brochure and a sign up sheet and came along for one of the days, talking to people and signing them up for the group. There had been an article in the local paper about the garden and a few people said the only reason they had come was because it mentioned permaculture. Lots of people keen for a group so today I have sent an email out to everyone asking when they would like to meet and what they are interested in, or have skills to teach others in. Hoping to start in October!!!

In this photo you can see Tina's mandala garden. At the front a frog pond with strawberries around it, and there are 6 beds around it in a circle. All have wire guards to protect the tender veges from the chooks and in the background you can see the fruit trees with frames for netting to keep the birds off.

Here is Tina in the pink shirt giving a tour for some of the visitors. There were also homemade scones with jam and cream, pumpkin scones, delicious soup.... really a great day!