The Gems of Chaos

By Alternativeeden @markngaz
The sweet chaos that is having one's house renovated...

Yucca recurvifolia

Chaos - that's possibly the best word to describe our lifestyle at the moment. Or perhaps the word 'disrupted' as we modify our usual routines to adapt living in a house that is currently lacking in facilities, and surroundings, both in and out of the house strewn with mess, dust, and building materials.

You wouldn't want to walk with thin soled footwear in our garden at the moment...

Who says the road to beauty and order is always convenient, neat, and tidy anyway? Heaps of sacrifices now will eventually pay dividends once all the building works have been done, with the end results of it we are both very excited about. Something to look forward to and sees us through as we currently live through chaos, albeit a self inflicted one.

So how extensive is the work ongoing in our house at the moment? This will give you some clue.

The patio nearest to our house, by virtue of being the closest to where all the work is happening is looking chaotic too. With plants living along side a myriad of debris, rubble, and building materials, gone are the aspirations of making this area neat and tidy for this summer. Rather, the goal for now is to just keep as many plants in this area as healthy and individually looking good as possible. Besides, once all the house work is done (and the affected areas of the garden tidied up at least from the fire we had last month) this patio will receive a makeover soon to tie it in with the changes in the house.

The past, present, and future of the top patio...

But despite the chaos and the minimal attention we've been giving the garden and plants, it's still wonderful to see most of them doing so well and looking good even if they are not displayed in an aesthetic sort of way (rather very functional). The gems of chaos I call them...

A pair of potted Magnolia dealbata

Brahea armata

Euphorbia 'Portuguese Velvet'

Lindera macrophylla

From bare, leafless trunks to lush in two months. So glad they flushed again this year - Cycas revoluta

Knickers the poser

An accidental border of exotics

Left - Farfugium 'Bumpy Ride'', Right -  Farfugium 'Argenteum'

The red poles will make its final appearance this year

A pair of Pyrossia sheareri

Brachyglottis repanda.....

Such gorgeous leaves don't you think so?

Summer haze...

Our priorities are understandably in the house at the moment but we're glad to see that most of the plants are happily getting on just fine despite the bare minimum attention we've been giving them. The warm, sunny days interspersed with heavily rainy days certainly helps and makes it easier for us in maintaining the garden too with the little spare time we currently have. 

Oh and a little preview....


Mark :-)