More trees.........

Today we planted quite a few trees at the recreation reserve and cemetery. These were trees and shrubs grown in pots in need of planting out desperately. It was an eclectic assortment of plants, all interesting. Not known how they will handle the severe conditions, infrequent watering and unpredictable and unreliable rainfall.

Many Australian, not necessarily Victorian natives are/were planted. But in both these areas we have to plant those of the world. The area of Cassilis was populated, while the gold lasted, by the peoples of the world. They came from all the crannies of the globe driven by the dreams and desires the hope rather than the promise of gold attracts. It is no different now, though less nationalities reside in Cassilis because the population is much smaller.

The continued planting at the Cassilis cemetery and recreation reserve is really art. These canvasses are being covered by the several artists using plants to create something of beauty for future generations. Important in this effort is what to leave open to better show off the background. To carry the attention over and past the growing and evolving beauty of the foreground, to the backdrop which is also very pleasing to the eye.

Is there a plan, there is, but it is created on the spur of the moment of the work being done. Ideas put forward at the time and this open consultation acted upon immediately. It becomes spontaneous and fluid expression. It will change with the seasons and years as increasing maturity develops the landscape of these places that residents of the past selected for the purpose of rest, meditation and serenity.

More Mowing....

More mowing. A lovely spring.

An advantage of the Kubota zero turn mower that we use to cut the grass at the cemetery is, it directs the cut grass to one side and we can flow it round the base of the tree, out to any distance. This acts as a mulch to keep the ground moist and cooler over any shallow tree roots over summer and break down to enrich the soil in the long term. Something that wasn't possible with slashers on tractors.

Where the grass is thick it can be picked up and taken to trees where the grass is sparse and they too can be mulched with all the good results of that action expected.

As has happened so often, we have cut the grass at the cemetery and recreation reserve and then a few short hours later there has been some rain. This will keep the cut grass green and that's desirable for several different reasons, aesthetic and practical.

We have been blessed with a lovely spring, and though the grass is growing constantly, it's really a good thing because the cut grass is being processed by bacteria and fungi, enhancing it as it returns nutrient back into the soil.

The three oaks near the shed have been mulched within their tree guards, this because there is no point mulching any further away from the trees, as their dripline is within the guard still. They were also watered and this rain will be the icing on the cake. All in all, very nice.