Introducing our Lawn mowing Contractors

With the arrival of spring, every plant in our garden grows. At a very rapid rate.

Deciduous trees that I would have sworn had turned up their toes and departed to plant heaven, suddenly bud. I was sure we'd lost our Crepe Myrtles to God. Having nurtured them in big pots in the front of our house under the eaves, we chose to put them in the ground at the beginning of the hottest summer on record. Beautiful timing! Yet, even they are slowly putting out the tiniest of new growth. There is hope for these beautiful trees.

Beverley is very difficult for gardeners as far as both soil and climate are concerned. We have learnt through bitter experience never, ever to put any plant in here that likes free draining soil. They look lovely for about five minutes until their roots hit the clay. End of story.

Anyway, I've digressed. Or interpolated. I'm never sure which one. The major drawback to spring's arrival is the explosion of Weeds. We have spiky weeds, soft leafed weeds, weeds that spread tentacles, weeds with vast tap roots, weeds that reproduce at an outrageous rate and weeds that turn into specimens rivaling Jack's beanstalk in height.

I have been undertaking the Great Annual Weeding in the half of our property that is our garden. This involves taking a plastic milk crate out with my large weeding tool, wheelbarrow for chucking the excavated weed corpses, my sexy straw hat with string (to keep it on my head in the wind) and water for hydration. Once I pick a starting spot, the aforementioned milk crate is upended for sitting and I begin the task at hand.

The Great Annual Weeding has  continued for the best part of this September. We only have the lawn to go through and remove the pesky survivors of the weed n' feed drenching a few weeks ago. And keep on top of any new arrivals who dare to show their heads above ground. Once the wheelbarrow is full, we deposit the pile onto our "donut" around the Mulberry. This has a two fold purpose. The weeds break down into excellent mulch and the ring of decaying organic matter keeps the tree's roots cool during the heat of summer.

Which leaves the other half of our block that has its trees and our burning pile in winter. We weighed up our options as we watched the weeds imitating the 100 year old forest in "Sleeping Beauty". Michael didn't want to get the block mown because we'd have to repeat the exercise later in the year. Unfortunately, Lorna didn't have any spare sheep for us to borrow, as we had done in the previous two springs.

I happened to mention our dilemma to Marci, our neighbour across the road. Shane and Marci built Mt Beverley (the nickname for their house) in 2011. They began a menagerie of epic proportions soon after they moved into their home. They have geese, ducks, chickens, dogs and ....sheep! I had only remembered Rosemary and Thyme, their sheep residing in their back paddock. However, their other sheep had been farmed out to the family who owned acreage on our corner. The solution to our weed issue had been discovered.

So, with open arms, we have welcomed Bertie and Lamby into our paddock. A nifty placement of a water bucket in an old sink serves them with their fluid requirements. Bertie is big and boofy,  has chocolate brown tightly curled fleece with the deepest baa I have ever heard. And fairly substantial wedding tackle. His breed saved him from the pot, as Marci wants him to provide the necessary male supplement to create more lambs with her ladies.

Lamby is smaller, female and a traditionally white Merino. She belongs to Marci's grandson, so we had to promise faithfully to look after her whilst she is with us. She is quite shy of people and doesn't announce her presence to the world as loudly as her sheep companion.

They have taken to their task with gusto. Our lawnmowing contractors have been studiously munching their way across our paddock for the best part of a month, reducing the size of the weeds to a more manageable level. They have become round of girth and very very content. Once or twice, I've had a fright when I couldn't see them, only to find them snoozing blissfully under one of our eucalypts, wondering what all the fuss was about.

Today is the first hot day we've had since last autumn. The two of them have spend a decent proportion of the day wisely in the shade. And they didn't even turn a hair when we drove Kermit and the trusty trailer into their paddock to load some rubbish to take to the tip. Although sheep have the reputation of being the stupidest animals on the planet, I have to admit I've unexpectedly grown very fond of  them both  I may even miss them once they have completed their lawnmowing duties and return to their home paddock across the road at Mt Beverley.

Bertie posing in front of their day bed behind a fence.

Hard at work.

Shy little lady - Lamby.