Kangaeroo Corner’s garden is about to enter is second spring, and is currently going through its first winter. And its grass is greener than could ever be imagined…literally!
Although Kangaeroo comes from a family of avid gardeners, he had never really had a chance to do much gardening.
Only an unfortunate attempt at a balcony garden during penthouse living at the turn of the century had afforded itself, with less than promising results that were later to dwindle away to nothing.
Until Kangaeroo Corner came into being, and with it a garden.
It was an ounce of luck, actually, as the garden had been sought to provide a place to service the Kangaeroo cycling fleet.
But large-scale maintenance repairs that shut off most of the garden and the chance discovery of a gardener nearby who specializes in Aussie plants, and next thing you know, Kangaeroo has got an Aussie garden.
The first year has been a largely learning experience. Summer humidity and over-watering cost a few plants, most agonizingly the kangaroo paw that looked so beautiful and had taken a place in Kangaeroo’s heart.
Moving into winter has driven many plants dormant, but in general, the garden is thriving. And the lawn is doing exceptionally well.
Japanese grasses tend to go dormant and brown from the late autumn. Kangaeroo is also using a Japanese lawn, but has also blended it with a bluegrass that stays fairly green all year-round.
The lawn was brown and patchy until a few weeks ago, when Kangaeroo came across the suggestion to rake lawns to make them healthier, exposing them to greater air and light.
Giving it a burl, Kangaeroo was delighted to discover the lawn becoming verdant.
Next job is to start propagating seeds, then plant and give away.
What fun! Not much room to fix the treadlies as initially planned, but the beautiful garden is a priceless gift that will only get better.