Despite the dry ground and heavy frosts, 2017’s winter planting season has gone really well.  I’m down to a couple of weekends planting extra plots to use up 100 leftover plants.

Increasing the number of regular helpers has made a great difference, as has Matthew’s reliability and skill as my outstanding Chief Planting Assistant.

Plus fantastic volunteers on our big planting days. So much better than when I started out all by myself in 2009 with a mattock, hauling buckets from a distant dam for water.

I loved introducing lovely Finnish Rotary exchange student Martta to Australian tree planting, although she wasn’t wild about the sharp saffron thistles.

Slowly, we’re building our wildlife connections and shelter across the landscape, despite the rocks and steep slopes.