Well, we kept working on the land, getting this and that done. Just mucking around, really. Neil made good use of the pool, but I must admit that it was just too cold for me. I just hopped in for a few seconds to get wet and cool down, but couldn't stay in there. One day, Tracy came to visit, and she and Neil stayed in there for a while, too, but again - too cold for me (the wimp ;-).
BIG crickets. We have tons of them, and they are quite noisy day and night.
Our new pond (you have guessed it: Bought on TradeMe)
Lemon tree
I also got a couple of 3-tiered planted boxes on TradeMe, and planted
cucumbers and pumpkins, as well as some other grasses and a cape gooseberry.
more soil....
Here my planter boxes, with native grasses. I got those for just $1 each at Mitre 10 Mega. The Agaves are still from Tracy's batch, and we also got two lavender plants and a few succulents in there...
Ok, and now the lawn story, as promised in a previous blog: It turned out to be impossible to source some top soil to fill the big box. I called many businesses and people, including quarries, garden centers, our developer, our real estate agent, the saw mill, etc. I spent ages on the Internet and tried to find a company that can deliver top soil. The closest I could find was Silverdale, which is about 90 minutes away, and cartage would cost a fortune. In addition, we came to the conclusion that we really don't get much rain up there, and thus a lawn would suffer. Even if we have the tank filled, we are not up regularly enough to water the lawn. Thus, we thought of an alternative and revived an idea that we had some time ago already: Instead of lawn we will have some nice stones. We'll have it nicely down, with planter boxes, pond, seating, etc. Also, we have enough green around there, so it doesn't feel like you are in the concrete jungle of the city!
Well, the decision was made, and we started preparation of the site:
Well, the decision was made, and we started preparation of the site:
Step 1: Weed elimination
Step 2: Laying the drainage pipes
Step 3: Finishing the border for the big box
Step 4: Digging the pond half way in
Step 5: Weed elimination
After the spray had time to get into the weeds via the leaves (48 hours), we took the weed eater and cut as much as possible.
Step 6: Laying the power cables and building the external power box
So far we had the power cable for the bach as extension cord and had to plug it in every time we arrived (via a caravan plug). We also had no outside power. Thus, we threaded two power cables through hoses (in order to protect them a bit better) and then dug them in. I also built the power box, so that we can plug in the pool filter, as well as other tools. In order to keep it as dry as possible, I used a plastic tote and outdoor outlets. Not the most beautiful option, but it does the trick. Once there are plants around it, you can hardly see it ;-)
So far we had the power cable for the bach as extension cord and had to plug it in every time we arrived (via a caravan plug). We also had no outside power. Thus, we threaded two power cables through hoses (in order to protect them a bit better) and then dug them in. I also built the power box, so that we can plug in the pool filter, as well as other tools. In order to keep it as dry as possible, I used a plastic tote and outdoor outlets. Not the most beautiful option, but it does the trick. Once there are plants around it, you can hardly see it ;-)
Step 7: Laying the weed matting
Neil had to go back home for a job, and I stayed to lay the weed matting. It had to be done that day, because next morning the gravel was to arrive. We worked all day, and I only got to start with it in the early evening. It was a bit of a b**ch to lay the first lane. Once that was done, the rest was slightly better. I had 200 pins, and used them all. Also, the stapler we bought broke at the first attempt of using it. So I used all small nails I had to fix the weed mats to the border as well as possible. I called Neil, and asked him to get a new stapler next morning on the way up. We had weeks of sun and no rain, but of course on the day where it counts, we have rain! I had to interrupt the work a few times to wait out a shower. The strong wind didn't help me either!
Neil had to go back home for a job, and I stayed to lay the weed matting. It had to be done that day, because next morning the gravel was to arrive. We worked all day, and I only got to start with it in the early evening. It was a bit of a b**ch to lay the first lane. Once that was done, the rest was slightly better. I had 200 pins, and used them all. Also, the stapler we bought broke at the first attempt of using it. So I used all small nails I had to fix the weed mats to the border as well as possible. I called Neil, and asked him to get a new stapler next morning on the way up. We had weeks of sun and no rain, but of course on the day where it counts, we have rain! I had to interrupt the work a few times to wait out a shower. The strong wind didn't help me either!
evening rainbow
That's it for the day! I just couldn't do anything anymore. So I got up very early next morning to finish it up. The truck was to be there at 8am! So I got up very early, and had to get some matting back in line where the wind had blown it off, and then finish the rest. I used up every little piece of matting, and since I ran out of pins, I just held it down with stones...
I had time to spare until Neil and/or the truck arrived, so I put the two dragon trees in planter boxes (yes, trees and boxes are bought on TradeMe, haha).
My cucumbers and pumpkins are growing. They loved the rain!
I don't even want to know how many bags of soil and compost I have bought already!
Neil arrived and I was able to use the new stapler to fix the weed matting to the timber of the big box, so that it won't slide away when the stones go in.
Finished, and ready for the truck to arrive!
Step 8: Delivery of the stones (blue chip)
Right on time, the truck from our friends at ATLAS quarries arrived. It was the same driver who delivered our gravel a few months ago, and he backed to the planter box without even stopping and asking - he knew :)
Right on time, the truck from our friends at ATLAS quarries arrived. It was the same driver who delivered our gravel a few months ago, and he backed to the planter box without even stopping and asking - he knew :)
Well, there we are with 10 tons of blue chip stones, on a damp cold summer morning... Neil looks a bit concerned - he knows what comes next ;-)
And after months of sun and drought, we got the rain right in time to soften the ground again, so that the truck can churn up the soil again - grrrr! Two days earlier, and he would have been on concrete-hard clay, and wouldn't have left any traces...
Step 9: Spreading the stones
some soil and compost around the pond for plants
getting there...
...and pretty much done!
We could do with another 3-5 tons of the blue chip, but at this stage we'll leave it as is, and see what else we do first. For example, we want to put in sort of a patio for a table and benches. Only when everything is done, we will order the last amount of blue chip and finish all up neatly.
Looking good: The pond with the solar powered fountain (for aeration) and some plants around.
February
Well, even Neil admitted that the pool was too cold. Funnily, even on hot days it never really warmed up enough. No idea why that is, but we tried over weeks of sunshine. So it was decided to get rid of it, and get a blow-up spa pool in. We can leave it cool in summer, and hot in winter :) We got one on TradeMe, and it was a bit of a nightmare! Picking it up 30 mins south of Auckland, and then driving it all the way up to Hukatere. Since we wanted to save water, we got out any container we could use, and emptied the pool into these. Overall, we had about 400 liters conserved that way. Then the pool came off the deck, and the new one was unpacked and set up. Well, we thought we'd set it up! We realised that the control unit was missing! A call to the seller, and he apologised and said we can pick it up. Neil wanted it NOW, and thus he drove all the way back to the seller, and came right back to Hukatere - a good 5 hours of driving. Happily we attached the unit to the pool, turned it on, and......nothing! Dead! Our hearts sank, and we cursed like mad. Another call to the seller revealed that he gave us the right power unit, but the wrong pool! It was the broken pool he used for spares. I was fuming. Neil was tempted to go back again immediately, but I could convince him not to do so. A bit frustrated we emptied the water in the containers (since they were close to bursting), and went back home next day (Sunday). I had to be back at work Monday morning, and flew out to Maui Tuesday morning (blog here). On the way home we stopped at the seller, and he gave us the right pool (I made him do a test run while we were there this time). He apologised and gave us some freebies "for our troubles"... Neil was itching too much - he went back up late that evening, since he had no job until Wednesday.
Buckets/containers of water...
to be planted...
my first onion harvest
growing cucumbers
we have lots of bumble bees on the pumpkin flowers all the time
The weekend after I got back from Maui, we went up again, and I saw the spa pool - and could test it right away! YAY - what a cool thing. It is a million times better than we had expected. Just wonderful. Whenever I go up now, I am in there at least 3 times a day. I particularly like it at night, when the stars are out. The view is amazing - what a privilege to sit in a spa pool, and have an amazing view over the valley and Kaipara harbour? We are so lucky!
nice tan lines - not! (yuk)
our BBQ
our short-lived water lily. The flower was eaten off (it looked like possum
tooth marks), and so was the second flower that was just coming up :(
A stink beetle. There are lots of them, eating the leaves of the cucumber and pumpkin plants
Meet Huey, Dewey, and Louie, the residents in our pond
hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....
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