Reclaiming the pool deck, originally uploaded by malyousif.

The far side of the pool deck, by the changing and pump rooms, was neglected since we moved in really. I used that area exclusively to BBQs but when we’re not firing that thing up, the area remained rather dull and uninviting. I look at it every single meal time (you can’t miss it! it’s just opposite the kitchen and breakfast nook) I promise myself that I’ve got to do something with it but never get around to do it.

This morning, finally, I decided to install the hanging baskets bracks, put up the baskets and also remove the pile of wood I’d saved from a fallen tree. Those branches were cut in lengths of 40, 45, 50 and 60cms and created a patch of them lying next to each other demarkating the areas between the dry river bed by the frangipani and the oriental patch (with Mr. Buddha) it looked rather nice. But when I was done I was surprised to note the amount of space those logs were taking!

Anyway, I got that area cleaned up and just moved back and had a look at the "new" wall. I wasn’t satisfied. I thought I still needed some stuff there to bring out the whole area. Looking around, I saw that I had quite a number of pots on Arif’s (my son) basketball court which I had commandeered to be my nursery, so I started just moving pots and trying out different arrangements until I arrived at what you see in this picture. I think the balance now is really quite nice and am rather pleased with my efforts!

Have a wonderful Friday my friends.

unidentified internal plant, originally uploaded by malyousif.

I bought this lovely plant from the Sultan Garden Centre in Khobar a couple of days ago. The very helpful employee there unfortunately mislabeled it and I am at a loss as to what it actually is called.

If you do know what it is do be a dear and let me know!

I am not very happy with the baskets I’ve put up so far, probably because I am impatient and couldn’t wait for the plants to actually develop from seed; which some of them admittedly are doing pretty well so far, and as I was on a quick business trip this morning to Saudi, I thought I would pass by the Sultan Centre on the way back.

I did.

I came back with two new big wire baskets, felt inserts, 20 pansies and 10 dianthus as well as a beautiful huge indoor plant that the guy unfortunately mislabelled. I shall have to post its picture soon and elicit your help in identifying it.

I asked my gardener to deal with them this afternoon with strict instructions on what to do, as I had to come back to the office. They should look pretty nice I think. I’ll post a picture when I get a chance.

Why waste a perfectly good mid-week break celebrating the New Year? Exactly! I woke up early as usual and was itching to play in sand again. I can’t help it, I’m a child at heart

Over by the pool seemed to be a perfect location. I never really liked the strip of grass in front of the Climbers Wall, especially that the area now houses two Washingtonias and as of a couple of days ago a gorgeous large Sterlitzia (Bird of Paradise) which was a gift from my brother’s wife (thanks H!) she brought over for Eid.

That area suffered an attack by the chafer grub and never really recovered sufficiently; it just had this long dry patch right in the centre. Hence, I decided that it is a perfect location to remove the dead patch and replace it with a more interesting border to grow various annuals in. It is still surrounded by lawn grass and it will remain so. The new area measures approximately 5.5m x 1m.

I started by marking out the area by posting a cane at each corner and tying a rope between them. I then dug out the grass:

Once that was done, I mixed in a 50 liter bag of compost and about 100 liters of peat moss and turned that well with the earth to a depth of about 30 - 40 cms:

I then put the edging plastic all around and then sowed some seeds in the new area:

I really wanted sunflowers in this area, but as the garden centre didn’t have any in stock, I opted for a variety of Marigolds instead. So I sowed the taller Crackerjack at the back, a mixture of Calendula “Pacific Beauty” and “Cupid Mixed” Marigolds in the centre, and “Frilly Francais” Marigolds at the front.

Now all that is remaining is to have patience to see the new border come to life.

That’s going to be the hard part, I didn’t get a hang of having patience so far!

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your new year.

The Oriental Patch’s water feature, originally uploaded by malyousif.

Just finished installing the new (old) pond/water fall at its new location. Unfortunately I discovered that the pump has given up the ghost, so I have to go out and find a replacement tomorrow…

Nevertheless, I think the water feature really brings out this part of the garden. What’s an “Oriental garden” without a water feature?

Well, I couldn’t let the area around the pond go to waste, can I? Of course not. So I mixed in a whole bag (50 liters) of compost and planted the following seeds and bulbs: