Ligaya Garden Transformation…
After years of renting and being unable to make significant changes, we finally acquired the house in October 2015. In terms of gardening and renovation, it was a blank slate. Despite the difficulties and uncertainties, we dedicated our time, effort, and every penny to nurturing the back and front yard garden, ensuring a healthy start for sustainable living. And care and attention for every plant we put in the ground required for them to thrive. The transformation was gradual, but each day brought the garden to life with vibrant colours and the pleasant aroma of blooming pak choy flowers in the back garden.
The transformation of the back garden involved reviving a dry, thorny patch of grass into a fertile ground for cultivating edible plants. This was accomplished using Styrofoam and straw bales to give the plants a significant head start.
Before the pavers and fences went in at the back, Lon and I rigged up a small 200W solar and battery system to run future lights and, hopefully, aquaponics.
As the days turned into weeks, the once barren backyard began to take shape, evolving into a vibrant and inviting space that reflected our vision and dedication. The sight of the first blooms and the emergence of greenery brought a sense of fulfilment and joy, affirming our decision to embark on this journey of renewal and creation.
The process of turning a blank canvas into a thriving garden was not just about adding plants and flowers; it was a testament to our commitment, patience, and the belief that we can do it. It was a personal growth and resilience journey, teaching us valuable lessons about perseverance and the beauty of new beginnings. The new fences hadn’t gone in then, and the backyard was still a disaster! The owner put the back and northern boundary fences in. Once they were in and we had clearly defined boundaries, it was time to start work!
Ligaya Garden really started with a straw bale bed containing classic Winter vegetables, including Pak Choy, Wong Bok, Spring Onions and Lettuces. It was so successful that we added a second one and managed two plantings in each before we moved our efforts to grow in the front yard.
Front garden
Beside a few potted plants, a straw bale bed out the back and some random experiments of mine, Ligaya Garden was a blank slate. We jumped the gun a little while all the negotiations and paperwork went through, and we started planting at the beginning of September.
Our time renting the property had given us several ideas about improving the front garden, from the point of cooling the house to providing food. Once the block was subdivided and the fences went up, we knew where we stood from the point of view of Sun, rain and wind, and it didn’t take long for things to start to take shape.
We carefully selected various plants, envisioning how they would complement each other and thrive in the different areas of the garden, knowing that we were laying the foundation for a future oasis of tranquillity and beauty. The process was not just about planting; it was about nurturing and watching plants and bird life unfold before our eyes.
The first thing to go in was a row of deciduous trees. We chose to plant these beds with Corn and Tomatoes so that, once grown, they would immediately shade the front of the house by the front porch and lounge window. Summer was heating up already, which would block us from the vicious Western summer sun that beats down on a summer afternoon. We planted a Packham’s Pride Pear, a Dwarf Nectarine, a Satsuma Plum and a Granny Smith Apple.
Then, a row of citrus went in along the fence line. They decided to make an edible hedge so passersby could grab the fruit. It would also serve as a protective measure, blocking access except by the future front gate.
We didn’t lay out a formal path to the front door; rather, we let people do the walking and followed the approximate path of most of the footprints.
Luckily, it corresponded closely to a path design I’d sketched to improve Feng Shui, capture cooler southern breezes in summer, and funnel them toward the house.
Front door garden
We got some plastic raised beds from a sale at a local garden centre, and they went in as close to the front door as possible (Zone 1 to your permies). These provided our immediate edibles for quite a while (I’ve never had such a great crop of Tomatoes or Corn again).
We chose to plant these beds with corn and tomatoes so that, once grown, they would immediately shade the front of the house by the front porch and lounge window. Summer was heating up already.
The result was a pleasing curve that meant the front door couldn’t be seen from the gate. Probably the heaviest job was putting gravel in the path. That was followed by picking up a couple of trailer loads of second-hand pavers from my brother. They were to be installed edgewise to form the edges of the bigger garden beds, but that had to wait until the ticking over of the New Year.
The making of the driveway and the carpot… and Jelina’s job was to do the cooking.
Marlon cleaning out the carport.
We also gravelled the driveway so it is aesthetically pleasing and open for infiltration of rain so that our garden wouldn’t add much runoff to the area’s stormwater. Then, the fence and gate went up. We hired folks to do both of these jobs.
The last and most expensive job for 2015 was to get the crossover from the driveway dug out and concreted and the carport floor concreted. That meant that we could actually use the carport.
Clean, tidy and useful.
The contractors installed the fence, but we put in the letterbox. We’re officially number 3. That marked the end of a heavy 3 months of planning and labour!
