Jenny's Grove

last updated: February 10, 2007

Jenny's Grove

Latest update:
Planting has now commenced, those of you who would like to plant your own trees here, please contact me.

This is the grove being developed by Karen, with the help of Jenny's friends, using the seedlings given at her funeral. The aim is to continue Jenny's plan to plant lots more trees in our yard, this one being a special one which is known as Jenny's Grove. It will be a permanent reminder to us all of Jenny and her many talents.

Work started on Jenny's Grove on 26 August, the day after her funeral: for four days the grassed area was watered to stimulate the grass back to growth cycle (we have a drought at present), and on 29th August the whole area was sprayed with Roundup to kill the grass. Once this has taken effect, an irrigation system will be put in, cane mulch put down, and then we'll be ready to start planting - this will be around the third week of September.

Pictures will be put up at least every three months so everyone can keep an eye on their trees.

How it looks at the beginning ... 30 August 2004. On the left, views to the North East, on the right views to the South.

For those that know our property, it's the top field, very close to the little dam.

At this stage, the grass has been watered well ....

... and Roundup applied on 29th. Jenny's dog Luci supervised the operation, as did Tara.

After some mulching was done, the seedlings that can't wait have been planted. 28 bales of mulch already used, and the area has been doubled in size already to accommodate the number of trees. More mulching this week ...

Tara and Luci are now busy doing their QA tests on the plantings on a regular basis.

Here's how it looks on 2 October: I've expanded the original area several times, and now started a separate area for plants that cannot tolerate full sun (pic on right). 58 bales of mulch down, still more needed.

Picture taken early in the morning of 14 November: most trees have now found their feet, those that have not will not survive - nature takes its course despite our interventions. Last week's heavy rains have been very beneficial. 102 bales of mulch used so far!

The rains we had in early November have transformed everything, all is green now for a while.

The granite memorial arrived on 6 November - while it's final position is not yet fixed within the grove, its presence is a key feature of the concept of this grove.

February 2005 update
It's now a little over five months since Jenny died and this project began. Jenny's Grove is slowly maturing, maintenance is therefore a little less and plans for the next stage are starting - some trees will be relocated to fill in gaps and relieve over-crowded areas, according to what's thrived and what did not. Soil conditions at present are good, the soil is moist but not waterlogged as it was a while ago, and the heat of summer is really making things grow well - including weeds of course.

A general view of the area known as Jenny's Grove, with the top grove in the background.

Trees are really finding their feet, the ornamentals flowering well.

Like this grevillea that's been flowering off and on for many months, while still growing well.

And other natives have doubled in size during this hot humid weather.

In the shade grove near the main shed, the prostrate grevillea is also thriving

Overview of the shade grove, created for those trees and shrubs that could not stand full sun in Jenny's Grove.

The area by the dam is proving a little troublesome due to excess water at times, so more shrubs are planted here.

Ornamental hawthornes are doing well in the newest extension to the grove
Tara gets me back to work moving mulch again :)

February 12, 2006 - I can't believe it's been over one year since last I updated this page, I'd always intended to do it more often. The summer has been long, and wet - despite Brisbane having really strict water restrictions this year we've had lots of rain most of the time so the hose ban has not made the garden suffer. New plantings continue, while the 'old' growth is now 17 months old and doing really well, to the extent I've had to prune some trees as they were getting too tall too soon. Mulch now comes in giant round bales, that a local farmer delivers to the sheds, and the Land Rover is used to tow the large bales to where they are to be spread.

The bottom end of the original grove, and part of the second extension to the grove
Tara checks things out as usual.

A better look at the second extension
Luci emerges from the dam at the lower end of the main grove.

Compare these images to the very first - the only recognisable thing is the bonfire site, everything else has grown beyond measure

A fourth extension to the grove, to the north of the dam. Jenny had always planned to plant here, as the vacant block next door is about to be built on.
The third extension is not looking so healthy, as it's in a much drier spot that needs a little watering help that cannot currently be given.

Jenny's dog Luci still enjoys a nice swim on a hot day, in the little dam that's at the bottom of the grove. Tara does not get out of her depth these days after a near-death experience a few years ago.