Ready for the good dirt!

We have dug out tonnes of roots & raked, shoveled & finally we have it level enough to order the landscape mix, 20 cubic metres of it!
But because I just couldn't wait any longer I had to plant something, so in the far corner I have planted a Bauhinia variegata purpurea (Orchid Tree). This tree grows to approx 8m with a width of 6m, it is partly deciduous, although we shall see as it still has lots of leaves at the moment. It has beautiful fragrant, magneta, orchid like flowers - a tropical looking tree.

Heaps of pot plants eagerly awaiting planting, some I dug out of the garden & others I have propagated & even more I have purchased.

Bella sunning herself in the warm winter sun, still lots of roots around, but hopefully they will break down under the new soil.  Rusty screen leaning against the pavers, which we will attached to a frame & erect across the entry way to the patio, it all looks outstanding in my mind!

Decision Made!!!!

Well after an in depth discussion one family night tea, involving all four boys & their father it was decided a pool was no longer warranted! The pool was cement based with a liner, the liner was leaking & the pool was just too close to the shed, We toyed with the idea of reconstructing it into a smaller rectangle & a more contemporary look, but that would involve great expense as new pool fence would be need as well.  The boys are all grown up & will most likely move away so the use was questionable as well.
SOOOO it was decided, out with the pool. Decision process took way longer than the action required to get rid of it. Sons recruited, tools located & in place, pump brought in from work, all done in about 5 hours.

You can see all the tree roots that had found where the leaks were.  The rocks on the side are concreted in, not sure what to do here, but could perhaps just leave them & incorporate into garden somehow?

These roots are from a very large cocos palm we had removed last month.

What a mess, but the boys had fun!

Now let the designing & planning begin!

My new home

The front view with a few sons cars parked on lawn. big plans still formulating, but the lawn will all go & perhaps a little more paving where the blue car is for parking.

From garage looking towards road (carpark),  One of my boys has already started to dig a little of the lawn out. 

Two cordyline (I think), alternanthera rubys blush, an azalea were already there. I planted the Grevillea Dorothea Gordon



bought a new tank to collect rainwater from the new shed we installed in the backyard.  The shed ended up being about a metre bigger than I thought we were getting, might have been an intentional mistake by hubby!

Golden cane palm & agapanthus


Backyard view, ugly pool fence,lots of paving & minimal garden, will have to rectify that!  New large man cave, almost touching house & pool.

placing tank in position, way too close to the pool for my liking, mmmm may have to make a decision on pool??

pool looking a lovely shade of green!

water tank in place & fitted up, well done boys!  Discussions to follow on fate of pool!