Happiness is a garden you can call your own

I walked outside my house the other day and was shocked at the state of it. Palm leaves were lying on the ground. The  manky old hay bail was still there after months in the rain and weeds.

I found myself thinking “What gives? Why hasn’t this been…” And then it dawned on me. This was my job. And I hadn’t done it. And clearly, neither had anyone else!

You see, the outside of the house was never my domain when I was married. I never had to think about gardening, watering, removing things…and three months into the new house this lack of activity was very clear.

And so began my new growth spurt in what I now called Outside-Home-Making. I cleaned, went to the dump, weeded and then realised this was ridiculous and hired a gardener called Elvis. (Purely on the basis that I could says things like ‘Elvis has left the garden’ and the lol and lol and lol.

The next phase is to actually start on the garden. A terrifying prospect. But armed with books, YouTube, Elvis and the supportive voices of friends who tell me it’s actually a lot easier than I think – I am doing this thing. I am creating a garden!

And it’s a political minefield. Who knew that the simple act of sowing a seed could create so much conversation? Are you going to create a veggie garden to ensure you children get the best nutrition, understand the cycle of life, and reduce your family’s carbon footprint?

Are you water wise? Are you going indigenous? Is it a butterfly garden? Are you planting by the moon? Are you going to get a fountain with a big angel on it? Ground cover or grass?

I am leaving all of these questions till later. This week I am answering just two critical questions.

1. What will actually grow in my dappled shade patch of awesome? (Cue frantic reading, Googling and interrogation of unsuspecting Starke Ayers employees).

2. Where can I find a garden gnome with a little fishing rod?

The great news is that you guys get to follow my progress right here. So join me as I get set for the greatest challenge of my life…remaking my home, from the outside in!