Thread: Greenscaping our Retirement Home in Nan Province

I'm not saying Thunder the Labrador pup is spoilt, but no-one gets an umbrella for me if I want to pee on the back yard grass in the rain. Had almost 200mm yesterday.

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

no-one gets an umbrella for me if I want to pee on the back yard grass in the rain

...no indoor facility to accommodate the leg-lifting urge then...

The greening is well on the way!!

Looking really good now, especially that grass. I think we might well be using something similar.

We have it all to come, first of all need to clear the overgrowth but already PJ has a lot of plans for what is going where...!!

Your landscaping is looking great, are you for hire? It's something I can do but not my favorite job, I prefer working with power tools.

Got four TC, six if I include off the balconies. There is something deeply satisfying relieving oneself in the great outdoors, and for the record, I prefer no spectators. Regards, - BiP

Originally Posted by tomcat

...no indoor facility to accommodate the leg-lifting urge then...

French doors plus balconies = very satisfying.
Had an old house in North Queensland many moons ago that was most convenient.

Go Malay Grass TD, I'm unconvinced by the Manila Grass. For some reason I've always been keen on using goats to clear a block, but have never had the chance to do so. Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp

The greening is well on the way!!

Looking really good now, especially that grass. I think we might well be using something similar.

We have it all to come, first of all need to clear the overgrowth but already PJ has a lot of plans for what is going where...!!

A wooden Queenslander style house would have been fantastic here docmartin. But imagine trying to get such a thing built in this day and age, and in northern Thailand to boot. Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by docmartin

French doors plus balconies = very satisfying.
Had an old house in North Queensland many moons ago that was most convenient.

Yes indeed.
But if one had salvage timber for framing and boards for flooring and wall lining, plus sash windows and suitable doors it could be done.
They’re very simple structures.

But local builders would want some concrete posts and bearers somewhere ...

Originally Posted by docmartin

They’re very simple structures.

...termites love simple structures...

If they’re designed and built and maintained and inspected properly they can be termite proof.

Advice Needed on Santol Fruit Tree

So maybe ten days ago (before the big wet) this young Santol fruit tree was a picture of happiness. Then yesterday I saw this. It looks dead from a few meters away but all of the leaves including the brown coloured leaves are still subtle to the touch. The only abnormalities I can see are the nodules shown on the last photo. Anyone know if this thing is 'going to God', or having a turn it will recover from, or this is normal?

A couple of firsts here in Pua.

The first lime the wife has grown.


And the first passionfruit. We've got a ton of flowers in the passionfruit vines although at the moment seems to only be the Thai sourced plants. The vines from the seeds of some passionfruits from Australia are not yet flowering. But all of these plants are only 7-8 months old and planted for 6-7 months, so plenty of time ahead of them.

...how do you keep the pests off? I mean insects not in-laws...

Not doing anything special TC. Do have some white vinegar with citrus peel in it for the smaller bugs but so far nothing has touched the lime or (as I've learnt this afternoon) the several passionfruits. What should I be alert for on these? Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by tomcat

...how do you keep the pests off? I mean insects not in-laws...

Time to pick up the pen again on this thread. The wife was keen to show off her flowers in the butterfly and bee garden, both insects are making good use of it.

The Thai passionfruit vines are loaded with green fruit. The Australian sourced plants while just as vigorous as the Thai doesn't look to be flowering/fruiting yet. Noticed one passionfruit had started to decrease in size and go wrinkly. It is still green. I've a vague recollection that in Australia a passionfruit would be turning purple about the same time as going wrinkly. Looking for good advice on how to tell when a passionfruit should be picked.

The papaya trees are growing really well. We have six in the back garden, none including this one is more than seven months old. Four are flowering and two have fruit on them.

The wife has planted some Thai beans. I'm still trying to get a more precise name or description of what they are but they are thriving.

The banana trees, pineapple plants and grape vines all going well.

Thunder the chocolate Labrador is almost 5 months old now...150 days tomorrow. Now a big boy and still plenty of growing to do before he fits his paws. Very intelligent, very trainable but still a bit of an adolescent when it comes to garden and pot plant indiscretions. We took him for his first ever swim today at Sila Phet waterfall. Cool and clean water. This stream comes out of the Doi Phu Kha National Park and even when high the water stays pretty clear. He loved it, plus riding in the tray of the Hilux.

Took the wife and Lab pup out to Tad Luang Waterfall this morning. A valuable life lesson, make sure the collar is on correctly. Was taking the pup across 70cm of clear but fast moving water when he slipped out of the collar. I dived over a rock and sort of belly flopped into the white water and managed to get to him. Between the wife and I we got him back to the bank and a few minutes later he was swimming in a safer pool. Me, I'm at home nursing what I think are either badly bruised or cracked ribs. The wife took this shot before realizing I was needing some help. A panicky 20+ kg dog without a collar is not something you want to be holding on the edge of a drop while sitting on slippery rocks in fast moving water.

Great friggin thread, BiP!

How are your ribs? Cracked/broken ribs suck to high heaven.

Agreed. Mine are cracked I think CSFFan. I've had broken about 13 years ago falling across a catamaran railing as I went down from losing my footing and it came up on a swell and I don't have the same sharp pain this time. But bloody painful and a little restricted in breathing when lying down, and can only lie down on my back. I had no idea I damaged anything until an hour later when we got home.

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Great friggin thread, BiP!

How are your ribs? Cracked/broken ribs suck to high heaven.