My last post, can be viewed here, I mentioned my elderly neighbour Geoff had died. He was a good friend who often came for a cuppa on the verandah on a Sunday to tell of his latest addition to his chooks or what was happening in his garden or have a whinge about his “situation” (I am not going into that as it is too personal and also makes me too angry). He often told of his life, which was very often repeated, where he worked and of his family. One of the amazing coincidences was that we both went to the same High School, although he was there around 21 years before me. He was a great friend to me. Geoff was a Boilermaker by trade and his skills in doing things that i had no idea about, helped my development as a “man of the land”. I helped him in showing him the ways of nature and how the place we live in was very special, possibly developing him as a “bushboy”
There are many a story from the old days but in this I am relating the story of Geoff the gardener whose plants I have in my garden. When Geoff was to go into aged care as he really needed to have the caring he needed, he said to me “come and get as many plants and cuttings as you want” although his family (a cousin and niece as he never married or had any female relationships) did frown upon my doing so.
One of the things he said was that if he died he was leaving me his chooks in his will. Just before he left he asked me to come and get his chooks. A couple are still here, see this link, and are another reminder of Geoff.
Some of the plants I did go to Geoffs’ place and get are flowering and others are well and healthy.
This is his garden. I never took my camera to his place but I did a couple of times. So please enjoy Geoffs Garden.
This is the way into Geoffs place. The power lines to the left are a clearing and the main garden is on the right
The sign at the front. Geoff said it meant the Gates of Heaven but if my Italian is correct it means Sky Harbour. I didn’t have the heart to tell him it should have been Porte del Cielo
This is the only small piece of his garden that I have. The Hippeastrums that year were splendid.
Geoff had some Australian native plants in his garden. The Candle Banksia was one my favourites
There were some Grevilleas but not as many as I have.
He had a lot of birds at his place as well. Brown Honeyeaters enjoyed his Grevilleas.
One thing he enjoyed was a huge dish he filled with Sunflower seed, much to my displeasure. I bought him a wild bird mix as it was healthier for the birds but he persisted with his sunflower seeds. His verandah was always overflowing with sunflower seed husks that the Rainbow Lorikeets, King Parrots and other birds came to his place and feed. The King Parrots still hang around my place but the number of Rainbow Lorikeets has dropped. I don’t have any photos of his big bowl bird feeder.
OK. Back to his garden. These are a selection of his day Lilies. He loved the Port Wine Lily best. I hope I have one of these to remember him by.
If you look in the background, you can see some of his chooks as well.
It was a bit of pot luck in getting some of the day lilies as he wasn’t very well and couldn’t remember which plant was which until it flowered. The Yellow Day Lily was a lovely splash of yellow in his garden.
The pink variety was stunning to come across wandering about Geoffs Garden.
I have had a number of the Leopard Lilies in my garden. One of the first plants he gave me.
At the back of his house he built a garden complete with rocks he made from concrete. After a few years you couldn’t tell that they weren’t real bush rocks. Among these “rocks” Geoff planted Golden Lycras. When they flowered the back garden was a blaze with yellow. I have so many around my garden as he was always lifting the bulbs and giving them away.
Here is the Iris which has been on a number of my posts but not from this angle.
The Iris with bonus Stingless Native Bees who loved the Iris
Geoff had a nice selection of Gerberas. This one was a rare Gerbera he had.
The pink Gerbera really stood out in the garden.
Geoffs favourite flower probably was Hippeastrums. His garden was filled with all colours of Hippeastrums. It is a pity I don’t have a full record of these wonderful flowers.
This Hippeastrum is currently blooming in the pot that I collected from Geoffs Garden
The orange Hippeastrum was unusual.
Another stunning colour
This is one of my favourites.
The almost white Hippeastrum is another rare one. Geoff also had a green Hippeastrum but I couldn’t remember which part of his garden the flower was in.
Geoff loved the fragrance of Frangipannis.
This Frangipanni greeted you as you came up the driveway to the house.
Finally, here is Geoff just a short while before he had to go into care. He was a crusty old coot but a good friend.
Good bye mate
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