My guavas blossom in summer and then begin to fruit in autumn, so that we get the fruit in winter.  My lime fruits all year around (it's in full sun) and the lilly pilly and strawberry tree are good to pick around December, which for us in mid-summer.  

As to drought and frost resistant, there are trees that have adapted over millenia to certain conditions.  I wouldn't try to grow tropical stuff like bananas here, for instance, since they would die.

Alison

My garden is mostly lawn just now, and although I've had plans for the garden since I moved here over a year ago, two very wet summers have meant I've done very little.  I do enjoy cutting the grass though, I find it relaxing.  Also, my son and the dog run about and play on it, and he has a big trampoline on the lawn.  

We have strawberries in pots and this year I planted more in the borders.  I have plans for a vegetable plot at the back of the house, and to plant fruit bushes (currants and gooseberries) in among other shrubs for hedging.

If it would only stop raining!

What's the point exactly?

As a pet, they're not the best animal and a pet you'd want to keep hold of.

For meat, well you have to give them back and I assume you don't get the resulting meat.

So why bother?

Eggs?

doh!

Of course

Sounds as if she gives them back when they get to laying age, though.

Interested to find out how this works.

I hope to do that when I get my own home (if that is possible in the future)

Ducks and chickens make great lawnmowers and eat the snails and slugs, they're way more useful than just laying eggs!

Well, how about it everyone?  Let's get rid of grass and grow edible plants instead.  Robusticity varies with the level of care one can put in.  

Or if not, rock gardens.  My uncle lives in the desert and grows rocks in his yard, with the occasional prickly pear.

This picture appears to depict a front lawn. I think that in the UK theft would be a big problem.

I know that in the US you can shoot an intruder inside the house. Does that extend to somebody stealing carrots from the front garden?

Depends on which state you're in.  Here, you can shoot anyone on your (land) property, provided you first fire a "warning shot."

Over the past maybe twenty years new houses built here have these front lawns which have no wall or hedge as a boundary, and you're not allowed to build or plant one.  My sister lives in a new estate like that.  No pavements either!  

I've noticed, from TV and pictures like these of American houses that it seems to be more common there.

I wonder why that is.  It must be a real hassle if you have small children or pets that you need to keep from wandering, and I wouldn't like the lack of privacy.

I suppose the lack of privacy might be less of a factor if I were able and willing to shoot anyone who stepped foot in my garden! Scary thought!

This post was last modified: 08-07-2012 11:44 PM by Marcia.