Term Two – 2022

Praise the Lord no more compulsory face masks here in Perth!  I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time as I have found it very difficult to breath with a mask.  Some of course are still wearing them, which is their choice and I’m sure if I could breathe wearing them so would I in public places. Thus far, the Lord has sheltered me from the virus as Perth has now succumbed to the outbreak with many coming down with a dose or needing to isolate due to being a close contact.

My garden continues to keep me busy.  The wisteria, grape, fig and pear are entering into their dormant months, displaying leaves of autumn colours before beginning to fall.  Australia has only one true deciduous native tree which is found in Tasmania. I have planted a few non-native deciduous plants.  These were chosen not only to appreciate the transition of seasons but also for their summer shade and, with the shedding of leaves, provide me with much appreciated winter sunshine.  The added bonus is that I am provided with an abundance of fallen leaves, which turn into mulch, providing nutrients not only for the plants but also food for the worms. 

By mid-May, the bulbs had started to sprout, poppy seeds from the huge pink and popular red poppies were also germinating. Marigolds which I had planted in a rectangular pot were sprouting, as were Everlasting seeds planted before the rains.  Plants I had rescued from TAFE thoroughly enjoyed the liberation of being released from their root-bound pots; last term’s tulip propagations were brought home and repotted too. God willing, they will bring a bright display this coming spring. To complement these, I bought some bright red ones to help make up the numbers – you know what they say – plants should be planted in odd numbers to form a striking display.  Those who know me will be wondering where I have put all these extra plants.  Good question.  I’ve snuck them in between other plants or put them into pots and yes there is not much room left in my garden or around the house.

A friend from TAFE, Monica, has given me some new pond weed. I’ve removed the tiny duck weed from the mermaid pond as it was so thick that I couldn’t see the fish, which is what I enjoy.  I decided that another pond was needed so I used the old plastic container I had rescued from the side of the road.  As the raised garden beds are not really conducive to growing vegetables, due to being too hot in the summer and too much shade in the winter I have used a small corner for my new pond. I filled it with fresh rain water from the storms we had in early May and once settled, took some water to be tested at the pet shop.  Here I also bought three new varieties of pond weed, which I anchored to the bottom in their individual pots before covering the bottom with pond gravel. I then placed a dark green bottle on its side at the bottom of the pond so that the fish would have somewhere to hide.  The water test showed the pH, ammonia and nitrates were safe for fish.  After a day of letting the turbidity settle, I caught two Rose Barb and three White Cloud Minnows from my other ponds and put them together in the new pond.  Monica’s pond weed, and an Australian waterlily (Nymphoides indica) with its small fringed petals I have put in the front pond where the large waterlily hibernates over winter.  This will give the Rose Barb something to hide under till the larger one re-appears in the summer.  The other pond weed, which looks like a miniature waterlily or gigantic duck weed, (Limnobium laevigatum) is in my new pond. It too will overtake the pond if allowed.  To prevent this, I have used a small poly-pipe with polystyrene inside to help it to float.  This will section off half the pond, keeping the weed on one side only. As it multiplies, I will be able to give it away to those who might like it. Unfortunately, the two older ponds both have blanket weed, a type of algae which can take over the pond, robbing it of room and oxygen for the fish.  Removing it can also remove any eggs the fish may have hidden there for safety so it’s a bit of a catch twenty-two situation.  Fortunately, it needs sunlight to survive and being in winter shade will slow its growth over winter, which I’m hoping will encourage the fish to eat it.

This term at TAFE I have been studying Plant Establishment, Nutrition, Identification and Biodiversity. All of which I have really enjoyed,  especially those where we have spent time planting a vegetable/herb garden as well as two visits to Joondalup Lake to monitor the aquatic macroinvertebrates.  During these excursions we collected quite a few tiny fresh water shrimps. Both Monica and I took some home for our ponds.  I haven’t seen them since as they are translucent and blend into their surroundings.  I pray they have survived and are eating the debris at the bottom of my ponds. I must admit after adding them to my pond, I hoped they wouldn’t eat the fish eggs as I’d like to see them increase in number.  Maybe there will be a balancing out of both species as they learn to live together.

In our Plant Establishment classes we weeded, fertilised and planted out a variety of brassicas into the TAFE raised vegetable garden beds as well as more herbs into the surrounding gardens. Unfortunately the irrigation system is non-functional in these beds, so they have needed to be watered by hand by one of the TAFE staff, Joe, who helps out with all things horticultural. It was during this time we found out there was an old greenhouse which will eventually be pulled down to make room for a new study block.  Here we found potted plants left over from second semester 2021.  Some of us, after acquiring permission, decided to rescue some of them to take home, but there were still lots left over.  After gaining authorisation, we were able to re-locate them by planting them in the TAFE vegie garden, replacing some of those we had planted which had since been eaten by something we were unable to find, possibly caterpillars, grasshoppers or some other chewing insects.  There were also pots of sweet potato cuttings left at campus by an anonymous donor, which we also planted.  Now the challenge is to keep them watered during the coming holidays.  I’m praying the rains will soon come to our aid.

We had a big task in our Plant Identification practical assignment with research and hand drawn pictures of 10 different plants from around campus which had either a pest, disease or a deficiency.  Praise God we had already studied pests, diseases and deficiencies last term and now deficiencies in more detail in our Plant Nutrition class.  Here we planted cauliflower seedlings in different soil media to see what deficiencies they developed.  There were 10 pots for each of the 4 soil types – white sand, potting mix, another mix without fertiliser and our poor Perth soil which is very sandy and alkaline.

As the end of term drew near, I applied for the second semester, only to be told that because I am a part-time student, I didn’t have to apply again.  I was confused as previously I had been told I would need to apply afresh for full time then speak to management to adjust it to part time.  I sent an inquiring email to the organiser, but didn’t get a reply which I thought was strange. I later found out that her email plus those from other lectures had ended up in my junk mail.  Praise God that before finding them, I decided to visit her and was reassured I would be enrolled in the second semester.  What a relief.

Except for the storms early May, we had typically beautiful autumn days, cool mornings and nights with warm to hot days.  I surprised myself by continuing to go for a quick dip at Hamersley Pool, after my morning jog, even though the sea was quite rough. It certainly is an invigorating way to start the day.  Although the days continue to be very still, the temperature has dropped, which puts me off swimming, so it’s a break from now till next spring… or is it?

Photos:  1. Ornamental pear flowering out of season    2. Helping the girls get into the waders, Joondalup Lake    3. Monica calls me the supervisor    4. The girls taking samples of macroinvertebrates    5. Supervisor testing the salinity and pH of the lake water    6. A dissected cottonwood flower    7. Drawing and labelling of dissected rose

Prayer & Praise Points:

Please continue to pray with me for peace both in Europe and for the Far East.

Praise be to God for His amazing gift of changing seasons and all the splendour they provide for our pleasure.

Please continue to pray for those who are suffering from Covid, for those needing hospitalisation and for all the medical staff who provide such needed services. 

Please pray the Lord will continue to provide for religious freedoms here in Australia, for peace, health and a recovery from the past few years of the influence of Covid not only here but throughout the world.

Praise the Lord for His sovereignty. It’s so reassuring to know His purposes will ultimately be achieved, even though it looks like mankind is making a mess of things.  God will one day step in and put things right.

Please continue to pray for my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat to come to know Christ’s love for them.