Sunday 25 November 2012

Yep Summer's arrived...................

With each approaching season I always feel a little wary especially Summer, 
and this year we have been caught on the hop with Summer arriving a few weeks early.
Our last rain fall(only 3 ml) was on 6th November and the long range forecast isn't looking too promising so I have been busy watering & mulching the vegetable garden beds.
We are also trying to complete all our fire prevention work, paddocks and  grass areas slashed,  water tanks filled, all rubbish & firewood etc moved away from the house, testing generators and water pumps.....the list goes on.

One of the positive outcomes with the early warm weather has been the Garlic Harvest, so far I've pulled up over 100 plants most of them drying in bunches in the shed but some plaited and already given away to friends.



Some of the smaller bulbs of New Zealand purple.

This weekend I netted our Cherry tree and Mulberry tree both of which are full of fruit, next on the list to net are the plums,peaches and apple trees.




I also took a few photos around the gardens.................




 Climbing rose  "Wedding Day"is a real beauty and covers the entire wall of the bathroom.


Bob's latest artistic creation, reclyled barb wire.

Some of my favorite plants in the garden are ones grown and given by friends, I just love the bright red flowers of Altissimo against the iron tank and stone wall.


Who would think a snapdragon would grow between all this stone ?


The last photo I'd like to share with you was taken by one of our guests staying at our cottage, this little wren and his family have been keeping many people entertained over the last few weeks as they go about their daily tasks.
The picket fence is one of his favorite spots.

   
Isn't he beautiful !


Thanks for dropping by and hope you all have a great week........

Monday 12 November 2012

Harvest Monday

Its been a few weeks since I last joined in with Daphne's Harvest Monday and I've really missed catching up with every body's weekly harvests. 

Today I picked just on 500 g of sugar snap peas.


Five lovely beetroot which I'm going to make into another batch of beetroot & apple relish which has become a new favourite.


One large leek 


             A bunch of spinach which will go into tomorrows mini quiches.

             I've also started pulling my garlic and hanging it in the shed to dry.


Sadly just over a month ago a fox got to my girls and took 6 of them, I was so 
tired after a day at work was late home and let the girls out for a quick scratch................... got busy cooking dinner and then early to bed and forgot all about the girls, I'm so mad with myself and not quite sure whether to get any more. I still have my lovely old black Chook and two little silkies which were in another pen and now only getting 1 egg a day.

                                                       
You wouldn't believe it as I'm writing this post our little dog is going crazy outside and my husband went outside to check and saw the fox !!!
I suppose they have their young cubs to feed but wish they would get the rabbits instead!


Looking forward to heading over to Daphne's Dandelions  
and checking out this weeks Harvests from around the globe.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Open Garden

It's been a little crazy at our place over the last few weeks getting ready for our first ever open garden ........


Last 4 days have been a whirlwind of meeting other keen gardener's, giving tours of the garden, making cups of tea and selling plants.

Five more days and I've already lost my voice twice!!


Silver beet, Tuscan Kale, Snow peas all picked fresh in the morning.
The Grapefruit & Ginger marmalade proving to be the most popular.     


Photos of the Garden to follow...................