Diary of a Garden Lover

The little librarian who sits inside my computer, looking after me, has let me down this past week. First he allowed me to click on a pretty little flower that was residing on my hard disk. A virus just made to fool me. Soon I had lots of little flowers running along the bottom of my windows page. A new one sprang to life, every time I clicked an exe file. If I hovered the mouse on these fast growing blooms, I got the invitation "Come on let's party". Yes, a new experience every day, this was my first virus adventure. I finally got it cleaned up, only to find that my Internet files were not working. After much swearing and sweating, I had some co-operation from that little man and came back on air. Then I discovered that the old computer I have at the country property was not working [and is still not functioning] so there was no way I could write my article for this month of March 2001!

The house and garden first year

Frustrated, I picked up my diary that I keep at "Kibbenjelok". In the early years, I wrote of the weekend activities, but of late, these entries have been few and far between. I started to read the entries and I am going to share two with you. Just as written! For those readers visiting here for the first time, I should explain that in 1986, Kees and I bought a country property of 137 acres, with a Federation farm house, 40 acres of apple orchards, 8 acres of rasberries and 60 acres of natural forests. We first slept in the house in 1987. In the year 2001, we still spend weekends nuturing and loving the ornamental gardens we created over the last 13 years.

JUNE, 1988, Sunday

Arrived last night after wedding at home at approx 7pm. All was well with the house. Weather is disgusting. Kees could only plant six Camellias from the dozens of plants we purchased in our plundering of the nurseries in the north of the state.

Camellias planted in home orchard, "Pink Sparkles", 1 x "Wavy white", "Yuletide", "Grand Slam", 2 x Sasanqua seedlings

I spent pm sand-papering old bathroom cupboard, made by the first Mr Wolf from blackwoods growing on the property. It is very cold and wet. Collected 28 eggs in 6 1/2 days [sic] - Another power fuse. We had on 3 heaters, grill, TV, and usual appliances eg fridge. I put on the kettle and wham! Total darkness. Kees left to go home and wham! again, I discovered I had no phone. Apple harvest is finished