tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57881087714007023812024-03-04T22:59:41.840-08:00gardenblissgardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-36518295979168297732011-10-11T23:51:00.000-07:002011-10-11T23:51:54.414-07:00Spring Flower PowerI've been busy planting Summer veggies, and I am now half way there.<br />
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However, it's that time of year here where the beautiful flowers end up stealing the show:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOn09f2-c0BGJzzch1ptToSlWdYSF-cVNusp9T5xp7oS4mY0fsWk_iRUZWcZRzHDD59bJtBdpR0xYe9cgEZ6YVDyZ8CHVaCZpgnOJQLIDfuFp_zOnzv1T2FopuDzgS1iMFM57tJ7Dv77g/s1600/Picture+1025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOn09f2-c0BGJzzch1ptToSlWdYSF-cVNusp9T5xp7oS4mY0fsWk_iRUZWcZRzHDD59bJtBdpR0xYe9cgEZ6YVDyZ8CHVaCZpgnOJQLIDfuFp_zOnzv1T2FopuDzgS1iMFM57tJ7Dv77g/s320/Picture+1025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crabapples are putting on a spectacular show </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnKNVmQz3qZJWjPVns8C9W9yOzrYbXgO8NnivpZH8hInV1apwXYbQ8UylJbVGGjwgDga9JCy25xQDbi17RYKSOum8ew7M6GgdozN4jgkgyqj7lGiDArDF6ecHX_tUdeDEMuEHfCk8Evo/s1600/Picture+1027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnKNVmQz3qZJWjPVns8C9W9yOzrYbXgO8NnivpZH8hInV1apwXYbQ8UylJbVGGjwgDga9JCy25xQDbi17RYKSOum8ew7M6GgdozN4jgkgyqj7lGiDArDF6ecHX_tUdeDEMuEHfCk8Evo/s320/Picture+1027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The orange trees are in full bloom with next year's crop</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9rTv1F_5puk1OhMeguh4cTX_pIHAFr2k-TVctXLAhjWDHzrCrydcohZ7fHJtuk2xRTBCiqcnP8QSzDWIvJSIm1Q9-2OfvvwYmBBDpo0vAHODAazFcrhmx-KrUDPSt7pGrbWPQK4He2o/s1600/Picture+1021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9rTv1F_5puk1OhMeguh4cTX_pIHAFr2k-TVctXLAhjWDHzrCrydcohZ7fHJtuk2xRTBCiqcnP8QSzDWIvJSIm1Q9-2OfvvwYmBBDpo0vAHODAazFcrhmx-KrUDPSt7pGrbWPQK4He2o/s320/Picture+1021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The raspberry canes are now flowering. Yum, we look forward to our first big harvest of berries this year.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The apricot tree is providing us with our first crop this year, fingers crossed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And Lavender( back) and Toffee (front) are enjoying the Spring sunshine. They are our two very spoilt bunnies. Lavender is our female, and Toffee is our male. They have both been de-sexed so that no little bunnies appear unwanted. Female rabbits also have a high incidence of developing ovarian cancer as well, so this is why both have been done. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqL2xUx9E3jAwzAbZuWY7QEDjGgC0hKWNs_F9mCq0y6DMEGh5CZU1kIGn_34ocUMBaWo2qL45jX96d0E19H-lBpKHhJphdHvCrdOTuqvTGTC6SSCS7Q4YFUb1wcpS_hEEFWJHK_No5A4/s1600/Picture+1031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqL2xUx9E3jAwzAbZuWY7QEDjGgC0hKWNs_F9mCq0y6DMEGh5CZU1kIGn_34ocUMBaWo2qL45jX96d0E19H-lBpKHhJphdHvCrdOTuqvTGTC6SSCS7Q4YFUb1wcpS_hEEFWJHK_No5A4/s320/Picture+1031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-40629952794359477632011-09-06T19:44:00.000-07:002011-09-06T19:44:29.804-07:00lime green everywhereIt's spring in Melbourne, Australia and everything is turning lime tree with the new growth.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I have planted my first Roma tomato. I know it is early, but I always plant them early and I do protect them. I'll probably plant a few more in two week's time. Five plants seem to give me enough fruit to bottle as sauce.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0M2T76hv9uq8zeqYTN9JX9SsHEqGP3vKKIoCVHdErjm9e4hubarZYjkGaw0vr2xeuS1AlJDyE7ZQnjr8OdmGY3BShYXj5LQeWtv6T184tKosiQtmDQJLX5KJ54KaChols2aoTxi90Muo/s1600/Picture+1004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0M2T76hv9uq8zeqYTN9JX9SsHEqGP3vKKIoCVHdErjm9e4hubarZYjkGaw0vr2xeuS1AlJDyE7ZQnjr8OdmGY3BShYXj5LQeWtv6T184tKosiQtmDQJLX5KJ54KaChols2aoTxi90Muo/s320/Picture+1004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>And for the final picture; completely off the track as far as gardening goes. I love to decorate my home, and for quite some time now I have wanted a tree sculpture in my house to hang decorations from, clip cards to , etc,. They are quite expensive for what they are, so I thought I would make my own. I am very pleased with the finished job. It needs one more coat of paint though.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1AC-incYaMEF76DCgO7MKiuNQQgKGV-7kh9QI70RPcmclfzIHJYgfqNAkSTQe_q-q2tNm3fHywQWirg1ZL5BsJMqQRmZlpGHsn0McrfxLXoNpIrnNhpOg0sEXFTkMY24jxFnt0Gt6rc/s1600/Picture+1003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1AC-incYaMEF76DCgO7MKiuNQQgKGV-7kh9QI70RPcmclfzIHJYgfqNAkSTQe_q-q2tNm3fHywQWirg1ZL5BsJMqQRmZlpGHsn0McrfxLXoNpIrnNhpOg0sEXFTkMY24jxFnt0Gt6rc/s320/Picture+1003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-63041303936618228602011-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-01T00:05:18.240-07:00Spring has Sprung!Spring has sprung, and just in time for my sanity.<br />
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Some photos of my veggies and what is currently happening in the garden. Plenty of Spring / Summer planting to be done in the coming weeks though.......<br />
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This is the January King Cabbage. Its colours are absolutely striking.<br />
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Awhile ago I blogged about my new veggie area. This is how it's looking. I have been picking the rocket from the front, the cauliflowers and broccoli are doing well and look healthy, and the snowpeas at the back are beginning to climb.<br />
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The asparagus is continuing to pop through, and enough now for the two adults in the house once a week to feast on. The kids don't seem to have the taste for it yet.<br />
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This is the first of the new leaves on one of my newly planted pear trees...very exciting!<br />
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The raspberry canes are well and truely starting to shoot new leaves now, and the new season canes are quickly coming through.<br />
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Lots of English spinach to add to meals.</div>
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The dark patch at the front of this bed has just had more Rocket sown.<br />
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These are three cauliflowers that were left over, so I just planted them here. The one on the right is twice as big as the other two. Interesting to see how big the Cauli gets.<br />
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Leeks are a little slow, but will eventually get there.<br />
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Little capsicum seedlings were planted today.<br />
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Down in the back beds there are plenty of savoy and red cabbages on the grow, as well as more carrots, spring onions, and the celery which I grow for the tops to give to the bunnies and is already being picked.<br />
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Yah Spring!!!! Soon for the tomato planting!!!!gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com1Australia-29.5328037 145.491477-57.0770087 105.0617895 -1.9885986999999972 -174.07883549999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-21295418673151495972011-08-28T21:36:00.000-07:002011-08-28T21:36:10.183-07:00Clean cleaningI started growing my own food approximately 5 years ago. In the last six months I have re-evaluated what I wanted to achieve through doing this. My baby sister gave me a book to read called 'No more dirty looks', a book about cosmetics and skin care and what really is in them. I read it and I was shocked. It opened my eyes to a world of organics. Having daughters myself I wanted to give them a better, healthier future. So I have changed my ways a little here, the skin and body care is under control now with the use of only 'clean' products, but I still have a long way to go as far as replacing all my make-up. It's hard to say good-bye to that favorite lippy.<br />
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I then started to read a lot more about this topic and went green with my cleaning products as well. This is something I'm really happy that I did. I have just cleaned my house completely through and I know that I haven't exposed myself to anything nasty. Once you buy the products needed it's easy. A few storage bottles are needed as well, but it's worth the effort. Below I have listed my homemade product that I use weekly, and the ingredients needed to make them.<br />
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I would love to know any other tips or recipes that people have.<br />
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Disinfectant:<br />
2 cups water<br />
1/4 cup white vinegar<br />
1/4 teaspoon tea tree oil<br />
1/4 teaspoon lavender oil<br />
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Combine all ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Shake before use.<br />
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Mirror and glass cleaner:<br />
I use either my enjo glass cleaning cloth, or sometimes I use vinegar and paper towel.<br />
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Floor cleaner: <br />
I use only hot water on my polished floor boards. Sometimes I add a dash of vinegar. On my tiles I add a few drop of either tea tree oil or lavender oil.<br />
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Bath, sink and tile cleaner:<br />
1 2/3 cups baking soda<br />
1/2 cup liquid soap ( I use dr. Bronners magic soap, made with organic oils, and available at the Vic market)<br />
2 tablespoons vinegar<br />
1/2 cup water<br />
Few drops of tea tree oil<br />
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Mix altogether and store in a large sauce/ squirt top bottle. Shake well before use. <br />
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Toilet bowl cleaner:<br />
Liquid soap <br />
Borax<br />
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Spray soap around bowl, then sprinkle borax on top. Then simply scrub with a toilet brush.<br />
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I have other recipes too, but I find these are the only ones I really need,and I'm a clean freak!<br />
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Sill haven't tried the oven cleaner one I have, but if anyone has a recipe that works I would love to know it.<br />
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Happy cleaning......gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-73865565377435377362011-08-21T02:07:00.000-07:002011-08-21T02:08:58.762-07:00Seven signs of the coming of SpringSpring is definitely in the air here in sunny Melbourne, Australia. I could smell the blossom in the air today as we went for a Sunday walk.......So here's my 7 signs this week why Spring is definitely in the air.....<br />
1.The strawberries are beginning to flower<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcUO6EWafB4t3lbjcEmvqcUW1BiLLE5wjv43TGL0ZPzSYPgG1F1iqMW3STRbiq6PiNEFoIcnbZTDuRmyXvdpizLsqrfdWgRwTcA5cDsNrsL2eWshYAVlZNM63PWiuwXLDydPAjBeNCBc/s1600/Picture+815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcUO6EWafB4t3lbjcEmvqcUW1BiLLE5wjv43TGL0ZPzSYPgG1F1iqMW3STRbiq6PiNEFoIcnbZTDuRmyXvdpizLsqrfdWgRwTcA5cDsNrsL2eWshYAVlZNM63PWiuwXLDydPAjBeNCBc/s320/Picture+815.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>2.The apricot tree is covered in blossom<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AwaiIU3FNzBUq2lSGuPIxUAtySwg_WYxyJgbFAa7f3aFwGqZl5w4bEgFeyOvVHagdl4C7Rt-sG_x-a02esgINTzDUMBVo5NtqRUu-VarFygUwpNAQGkfYtiGiAhw7wF93NhvPTde9-Y/s1600/Picture+810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AwaiIU3FNzBUq2lSGuPIxUAtySwg_WYxyJgbFAa7f3aFwGqZl5w4bEgFeyOvVHagdl4C7Rt-sG_x-a02esgINTzDUMBVo5NtqRUu-VarFygUwpNAQGkfYtiGiAhw7wF93NhvPTde9-Y/s320/Picture+810.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>3.The raspberry canes are sending out new shoots, and the new canes are appearing in the ground (sorry photo is blurry and my camera has run out of battery power)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDv8RfyLKTWhuTN5690VNrm5STk0v426MsHrTIBzWEQDVOjZjEa7CbMANh88FQfVRDXAmb3QNN-4BHfXhd2Dh7X38N8jIFKNUCHwqbD4XaWVrc9ufWJGYO8A8Xe0a2ZAt86fL3brY12I/s1600/Picture+814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDv8RfyLKTWhuTN5690VNrm5STk0v426MsHrTIBzWEQDVOjZjEa7CbMANh88FQfVRDXAmb3QNN-4BHfXhd2Dh7X38N8jIFKNUCHwqbD4XaWVrc9ufWJGYO8A8Xe0a2ZAt86fL3brY12I/s320/Picture+814.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> 4. Our weather is on the inprove, with days expected in the low 20s this week!!!!!<br />
5. The flowers are in full bloom <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr5dATSD0jWsOF-55bRNljSzxSm4icMasnzVTJF-wCljDip3YEcAneDpGZpbkD-vKXwRcCBEHiispt4ykcSIdcVbhApp7I7FfLr8YvAEmsAziR00DkKvUqld6PSXwb8Ui6DbOEvVj2Qw/s1600/Picture+811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr5dATSD0jWsOF-55bRNljSzxSm4icMasnzVTJF-wCljDip3YEcAneDpGZpbkD-vKXwRcCBEHiispt4ykcSIdcVbhApp7I7FfLr8YvAEmsAziR00DkKvUqld6PSXwb8Ui6DbOEvVj2Qw/s320/Picture+811.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>6. The chard has really taken off now and is looking great<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnHt7HQOJZH-PNyK6euMofErC6QdZtqHarHSBKIDtQf8DZW3PxRtwjxUqPpnTnm9g_8wHCzX8WOmFoiX71jAN4vra5xBYqWLBpqAMhYqQ3UQ8eyvJimGvQcmA_SX9qlZ4Yahg__bLChY/s1600/Picture+812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnHt7HQOJZH-PNyK6euMofErC6QdZtqHarHSBKIDtQf8DZW3PxRtwjxUqPpnTnm9g_8wHCzX8WOmFoiX71jAN4vra5xBYqWLBpqAMhYqQ3UQ8eyvJimGvQcmA_SX9qlZ4Yahg__bLChY/s320/Picture+812.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>And <br />
7. The hydrangers and roses are starting to shoot<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM1OfcHXgxfrFIgWmhul5R6BMasFNSxSZpUetjhYAXeuDTaXRc0nCXAEDIwMn1vlW1mIMVROAPkAsutZXMR4kI2ApmqB0gGGzcFcRVmj7nWYKdGJxTWpEzejvYwBeowYZq1kKs673mCE/s1600/Picture+819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM1OfcHXgxfrFIgWmhul5R6BMasFNSxSZpUetjhYAXeuDTaXRc0nCXAEDIwMn1vlW1mIMVROAPkAsutZXMR4kI2ApmqB0gGGzcFcRVmj7nWYKdGJxTWpEzejvYwBeowYZq1kKs673mCE/s320/Picture+819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>10 days to Spring!!!!! gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-91057341472455489362011-08-16T04:48:00.000-07:002011-08-16T04:48:56.976-07:00Brilliant BroccoliNot a lot is going on in my garden at present. Winter is slowly coming to a close, and there are many bare patches in the veggie garden now, waiting to be planted out for spring. <br />
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The broccoli is still producing good little off shoots though. They will keep producing until I remove them to make way for the spring crops.<br />
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Hurry up Springtime!<br />
gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-75702859741503298332011-08-02T21:14:00.000-07:002011-08-02T21:14:04.841-07:00garden snapsThese are some pictures of my youngest daughter's garden. I think she has a green thumb.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6Z9IaU5AJSlNNk9mrfONbPOwPx_etv4Uxqj851YynwQHc2MHglTSpvzuVqqK24UqORejzrAUH3tx1SuLhZehAK1Re13olUwjd3RoazmWvbBBszTrWjBG27RJ73dpdurXfOwZGUz2ql8/s1600/Picture+515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6Z9IaU5AJSlNNk9mrfONbPOwPx_etv4Uxqj851YynwQHc2MHglTSpvzuVqqK24UqORejzrAUH3tx1SuLhZehAK1Re13olUwjd3RoazmWvbBBszTrWjBG27RJ73dpdurXfOwZGUz2ql8/s320/Picture+515.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A couple of months ago I made a new veggie garden area. It only receives limited sunlight during winter though. So I filled it with leafy greens such as broccoli, cauliflowers, rocket, Bok choy, as well as peas. They are so far doing great, and the Bok choy is doing brilliantly. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWHX5cSuHyQlYJLFPpSiuSlgKLYuRthWn3O7Osp4guvtEA7XsJ0YvDX22Dtg5fVP6BjOuDhQliCmW7n-rw1lXibJLAUMoz-e0hqVvHStoj-ZT_Ufr63BZdIpKAhIoi8JNgcTtVR1CCh0/s1600/Picture+510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWHX5cSuHyQlYJLFPpSiuSlgKLYuRthWn3O7Osp4guvtEA7XsJ0YvDX22Dtg5fVP6BjOuDhQliCmW7n-rw1lXibJLAUMoz-e0hqVvHStoj-ZT_Ufr63BZdIpKAhIoi8JNgcTtVR1CCh0/s320/Picture+510.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are what my 'normal' carrots look like after harvest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also, I love a funny veggie shot. See what do think of this one ( sorry if you find it offensive).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzm5skU7iJnSIFy_e0B6Ivg-NVr9bZHxyGCHROCGUKvKuveKHBj30EL9PlSL4V-JkbmC0SvC58GJc7_YTGMI8_x-69CCG0sVtdFLnMqmhirw4O0OsGSoTQ_zOrJO_pSK_8Sct16XqH68/s1600/Picture+527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzm5skU7iJnSIFy_e0B6Ivg-NVr9bZHxyGCHROCGUKvKuveKHBj30EL9PlSL4V-JkbmC0SvC58GJc7_YTGMI8_x-69CCG0sVtdFLnMqmhirw4O0OsGSoTQ_zOrJO_pSK_8Sct16XqH68/s320/Picture+527.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-76639764572408333022011-07-31T19:32:00.000-07:002011-07-31T19:32:39.613-07:00Early harvest - asparagusThe weather has been amazing today in Melbourne. We are still in the middle of winter, however it has been a beautiful sunny day with a top of 19 degrees celcius. Other than today it has been quite cold here, but oddly enough I harvested the first of my asparagus today. Very early indeed, but very welcome.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eKKmhugxF9erCqOq7MC3wsPXU3CT2uhf2PwziUCiaB_3OXDb4dYgbzJz2dXn-RHIIdOgWRhLtCHCZZBv6411ZJhtyDSeeC-Q-k9w-ZNQii2Za-wFCMiPAUUQLnGHXXD5SuMU5Atjzqk/s1600/Picture+514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eKKmhugxF9erCqOq7MC3wsPXU3CT2uhf2PwziUCiaB_3OXDb4dYgbzJz2dXn-RHIIdOgWRhLtCHCZZBv6411ZJhtyDSeeC-Q-k9w-ZNQii2Za-wFCMiPAUUQLnGHXXD5SuMU5Atjzqk/s320/Picture+514.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>This picture was actually take last week, so the asparagus heads are well and truely up now. Perhaps an early Spring is on its way?gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-5057627904169664742011-07-27T19:49:00.000-07:002011-07-27T19:49:08.982-07:00The promise of good things to come...Yes it's winter here, but come spring, in five weeks time, things will start to really come alive in the garden. I simply can't wait. This is the time of year I start to get very impatient. I have pulled out some photos from last spring in my garden to keep my spirits alive and smiling:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJsEc2rlWbK7ZF35tQObssVsgebRIEUyWxxUBZjhohjOqJIi1qlk48veZercl5TZJuZrpVJqcybLEW4aI4TkfHrCOAG-rxllFebj1UFt-AujW0GmpkldpV4dReO2z5S-a0KPCHScfzaw/s1600/IMG_2348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJsEc2rlWbK7ZF35tQObssVsgebRIEUyWxxUBZjhohjOqJIi1qlk48veZercl5TZJuZrpVJqcybLEW4aI4TkfHrCOAG-rxllFebj1UFt-AujW0GmpkldpV4dReO2z5S-a0KPCHScfzaw/s320/IMG_2348.JPG" t$="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
The backyard Crabapple tree. There is also a beautiful white one in the front yard.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GmQftL-wcbAq2eHSRavZjVs1jNFIL9x1Gx7CEjyZLybXgUykttg3jMDh2J6h-Y5qM-NQpUEMChTEccGUUqbYm5KpjyA1JBonIhLn5liU8xdqY5eO_to_-XBWcqHRGdUW56geoKGq9xc/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GmQftL-wcbAq2eHSRavZjVs1jNFIL9x1Gx7CEjyZLybXgUykttg3jMDh2J6h-Y5qM-NQpUEMChTEccGUUqbYm5KpjyA1JBonIhLn5liU8xdqY5eO_to_-XBWcqHRGdUW56geoKGq9xc/s320/IMG_2359.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Foxgloves are a big favourite in our garden and they readily self-seed.gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-47576077632890684782011-07-21T00:51:00.000-07:002011-07-21T04:30:36.627-07:00The cauliflowers are so WHITE!At the beginning of the winter season ( around late May), my first lot of cauliflowers were ready to be harvested. It was still a little warm then and they looked like they had a bit of a fungal issue. When I went to the VIC market organic section, theirs also looked a little off. Perhaps it was all that rain we were having. So I planted a second crop and they are beautiful and white....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C1W-TRbCAlfTpuDBtMUSfZIeJJkLo5fteDeRFiHgtE7Fr2pV7crn-v3a9p1g6tOelJr4kSm7ZQKOnCA0OmZvG3NYURs0MrT63FhFZtyDwiDhjOIfiSGWaI0k1KpFDQApV1Hm6BBjj7U/s1600/Picture+509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C1W-TRbCAlfTpuDBtMUSfZIeJJkLo5fteDeRFiHgtE7Fr2pV7crn-v3a9p1g6tOelJr4kSm7ZQKOnCA0OmZvG3NYURs0MrT63FhFZtyDwiDhjOIfiSGWaI0k1KpFDQApV1Hm6BBjj7U/s320/Picture+509.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes, if you are experiencing alot of winter sun, they can go a little yellow. Just tie the leaves together to protect the vegetable and they will be a perfect white....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqz7Lt_rUn32g4yuX2odQMRF3YiLv7YWTIFHNwJL3auDuWM34kFMXJlEynjtrggtnLPelPXc0e7P_CRBTWbaVGsbooEMJ5iUQl7Z9F_Ws9b8rHhI2cARZsvsL7r8Kr2QzvK4HuhaOXfk/s1600/Picture+512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqz7Lt_rUn32g4yuX2odQMRF3YiLv7YWTIFHNwJL3auDuWM34kFMXJlEynjtrggtnLPelPXc0e7P_CRBTWbaVGsbooEMJ5iUQl7Z9F_Ws9b8rHhI2cARZsvsL7r8Kr2QzvK4HuhaOXfk/s320/Picture+512.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Don't you just love cauliflower with a white cheese sauce. YUM!gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-41870568045234129882011-07-17T03:29:00.000-07:002011-07-17T03:29:34.458-07:00Time to sow tomatoesLast year my youngest daughter loved picking the ripe tomatoes and bringing them indoors for me to cook with. We bottled numerous amounts of tomato sauce made from these, and are still slowly going through our supply over winter.<br />
At the end of the season, she collected the seeds from our favorite Roma tomatoe plants ( great for sauce) and dried and stored them for me.<br />
July is the perfect time to sow these indoors, and we have done just that in the last week. They will remain in our warm laundry until they have produced their second set of leaves. Then we will transfer them down to our green house, which is a little warmer, for a couple of weeks. Then we will harden them off in a protected outdoor area before planting them out in spring.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswa6mTxeuWJmtZIyg8ilRnwL2mToXZHA6dP-tWzf00DxeM55kkMBx90p_fdaRMlIQzE3m_IYe2orj-S3OB1PBDmZuV8XJkhiugVMGOF5PuWvw6ls-nO5tRbpm6XrfTpXgjy-LQLbwUkk/s1600/Picture+505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswa6mTxeuWJmtZIyg8ilRnwL2mToXZHA6dP-tWzf00DxeM55kkMBx90p_fdaRMlIQzE3m_IYe2orj-S3OB1PBDmZuV8XJkhiugVMGOF5PuWvw6ls-nO5tRbpm6XrfTpXgjy-LQLbwUkk/s320/Picture+505.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We checked them today, and to our surprise they had already popped up after only six days.gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-42562140851168138472011-07-15T20:05:00.000-07:002011-07-15T20:05:18.442-07:00Winter garden bluesLack of motivation to be in the garden is definitely a problem this time of year. I have however managed to get outside and prune the roses and top dress the asparagus and berry patch with manure, ready for spring, this week. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZo6spFYH7NBUmCzHVUDzHkhrKhZECAvHVFpM5k2MZkVI5OpI9zoIqASknSIBIStqkIoQeLC5lBgkuxs8U9WFr-nM3NIr2sZvn-ZkXNOovWasQnuoWIqjbp7-j3PBnK9BdL2dcqP-zMA/s1600/Picture+501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZo6spFYH7NBUmCzHVUDzHkhrKhZECAvHVFpM5k2MZkVI5OpI9zoIqASknSIBIStqkIoQeLC5lBgkuxs8U9WFr-nM3NIr2sZvn-ZkXNOovWasQnuoWIqjbp7-j3PBnK9BdL2dcqP-zMA/s320/Picture+501.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I also trimmed up my Star Jasmine, ready for their big spring growth. I really do need to give them a good trim this time of year, otherwise they will lose their shape when they flower in November due to their huge growth spurt. They look bronze in colour at the moment, but this is normal for the colder month and come spring they will turn their dark green colour again.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhtnTMWmCBSSvJ6N2sBgcAGH5f4A9_iDrqWNkgpYv7dNnllEFyYEcSyQ4SvBz6PHyQg1fbbZcPWr0sx7opRkriBZoKtKrL9wtgKCOcKHRAPwpM2dUgpMg9_H6KTV0LwukOTIenzH5bjE/s1600/Picture+498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhtnTMWmCBSSvJ6N2sBgcAGH5f4A9_iDrqWNkgpYv7dNnllEFyYEcSyQ4SvBz6PHyQg1fbbZcPWr0sx7opRkriBZoKtKrL9wtgKCOcKHRAPwpM2dUgpMg9_H6KTV0LwukOTIenzH5bjE/s320/Picture+498.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have a few of these on my fence line to fill in the gaps. They look great in late Spring/ Summer, when they are a mass of frangrant flowers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA2GDNKn1gVvXlUEaNXIyzO_qPF_2tlssJoOvjhld9TMEzV2LpHMlmVhIzLiy0-USZVFygRNd9UcaEXqaXQNgNZARmh1clrGefXcGjSet8MtuPO03CUIAko63x4n9Cze7Jlnh5-_ynFw/s1600/Picture+499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA2GDNKn1gVvXlUEaNXIyzO_qPF_2tlssJoOvjhld9TMEzV2LpHMlmVhIzLiy0-USZVFygRNd9UcaEXqaXQNgNZARmh1clrGefXcGjSet8MtuPO03CUIAko63x4n9Cze7Jlnh5-_ynFw/s320/Picture+499.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We also have four pots up on our deck area that have been used in a similar way. They certainly break up the hard surfaces. We are just about to enclose this deck area, but the pots will remain.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFRMbEUt5RGJhLq7buqQWBOkvA5AlKHlephphl81GIrqMqJ1i3MWfLUn67SMHUaCOMGRRWMoVxXdgBZ1XvVxuX6ReQErXTzzkLyDTyB2x8SGEHQ8ad-EghyphenhyphenXN3JZF6tjpWbjKRyKD4tQ/s1600/Picture+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFRMbEUt5RGJhLq7buqQWBOkvA5AlKHlephphl81GIrqMqJ1i3MWfLUn67SMHUaCOMGRRWMoVxXdgBZ1XvVxuX6ReQErXTzzkLyDTyB2x8SGEHQ8ad-EghyphenhyphenXN3JZF6tjpWbjKRyKD4tQ/s320/Picture+500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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After much contemplation and conversation with the garden centre staff, I decided on the two new fruit trees to be planted in our back yard. I have planted two pear trees, one a William and the other a Josephine. Sorry, the photo is shaded from my lemon tree.<br />
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Lastly, my newly planted veggie area is doing well, slowly, but healthy looking:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdnC2LZuTLdU6ufPqMK8J1V_90ZMgIh7dBZfUygF707xV1QhG-Cvx4ZyXbYcNZHy482eJvycj_Pmwe-shHtF4Fegk7hzyfk75t1MtTSPO7fEyYyJUGx5f_rgFDL5Ff7LcNj_NEYnfizE/s1600/Picture+502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdnC2LZuTLdU6ufPqMK8J1V_90ZMgIh7dBZfUygF707xV1QhG-Cvx4ZyXbYcNZHy482eJvycj_Pmwe-shHtF4Fegk7hzyfk75t1MtTSPO7fEyYyJUGx5f_rgFDL5Ff7LcNj_NEYnfizE/s320/Picture+502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The rocket is up, the peas are getting there, the bok choy is going guns, and the broccoli is slow, but all looking very healthy. <br />
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Six more weeks to spring......gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-47831046419062963232011-07-08T19:09:00.000-07:002011-07-08T19:09:41.486-07:00watercress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHk6-_w75G5RypfhOMHfzd2ftyOHDVRppBxwLMCNCGwvBD7gBXNEomkUk_SX5XtXrYqPZ4IriEJ4X_tJieXxHKbsuYTDcgac0c-hNNwGRqrs_Id0cEXJAzBBk9Qh35ZU7T1yXWd4j3Ek/s1600/Picture+402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHk6-_w75G5RypfhOMHfzd2ftyOHDVRppBxwLMCNCGwvBD7gBXNEomkUk_SX5XtXrYqPZ4IriEJ4X_tJieXxHKbsuYTDcgac0c-hNNwGRqrs_Id0cEXJAzBBk9Qh35ZU7T1yXWd4j3Ek/s320/Picture+402.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Previously I have mentioned in my blog how my watercress keeps reappearing. In Melbourne we are really not meant to treat it as a perenial, but maybe we should. <br />
This is a picture of the handful that I just removed from my garden, as it is taking over the whole area:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-KJY78r8lsSGe-xeequ1r5z72oois149mcbehGhIWb0FOu_FsrOkPnNx-FE5aZwCCYcU3KxUljX4up5q5u9UQmYokffNmetEzMG9VtxU29hQ0RX06hphSJMIWORIThWqcfG-ZxFCgt8/s1600/Picture+494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-KJY78r8lsSGe-xeequ1r5z72oois149mcbehGhIWb0FOu_FsrOkPnNx-FE5aZwCCYcU3KxUljX4up5q5u9UQmYokffNmetEzMG9VtxU29hQ0RX06hphSJMIWORIThWqcfG-ZxFCgt8/s320/Picture+494.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can clearly see the roots of the plants developing in this photo right up the stems:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHkHeE9or02QVMBEy9LfW0lN4n4kbLesGKGQ5yEhC9UgusT37I1dsI-R-FeFjhpEjUaZhEBcgCceLn2I0Gf7fWAP6sSMFh6dfEx_eXx9pRw0po8bdEEeddf-R3sVdo52BSbb9y2zkkIU/s1600/Picture+495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHkHeE9or02QVMBEy9LfW0lN4n4kbLesGKGQ5yEhC9UgusT37I1dsI-R-FeFjhpEjUaZhEBcgCceLn2I0Gf7fWAP6sSMFh6dfEx_eXx9pRw0po8bdEEeddf-R3sVdo52BSbb9y2zkkIU/s320/Picture+495.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I have placed the cuttings in water and will give them to family when they visit tomorrow.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YIMs8v9NKfC-ceWOavGPdzwzi0z640Eqq22BelZGnjvDbRWTEO3X_Hfymn3YlcgmYGk87GmBukDIXn9lnrIpTOtJ4TEGogCyBW-_o-4yp1Ij-JgaH_8_Ewc-aWYBY9OIcYBZCfGibNw/s1600/Picture+497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YIMs8v9NKfC-ceWOavGPdzwzi0z640Eqq22BelZGnjvDbRWTEO3X_Hfymn3YlcgmYGk87GmBukDIXn9lnrIpTOtJ4TEGogCyBW-_o-4yp1Ij-JgaH_8_Ewc-aWYBY9OIcYBZCfGibNw/s320/Picture+497.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-80081448814449173002011-07-07T06:03:00.000-07:002011-07-07T06:06:44.586-07:00Pear tree purchaseTwo weeks ago I pulled out one of our passionfruit vines. We had three in our backyard, and this one didn't perform as well as the others last summer. So out it went, and now I have a beautiful large space alongn my fence line in full sun. My plans are to plant one or maybe even two pear trees. I have done my research and narrowed it down to a few different varieties that will perform well here in Melbourne. The first is the Red Sensation pear, a beautiful fruit to look at, which be forms well here. The second on the short list is William Bon Chretien, or William pear as we know it here. This is probably the best choice so far, as it is a prolific fruiter, and is self polinating. Although it will be even more productive if there are two. My intensions are to espalier them along the fence.<br />
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Any ideas??? would love to here from anyone in this region who has a pear tree as to what variety it is. <br />
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At this stage I think I will probably be putting in one of each variety. This way their fruiting season will be longer as they fruit at different times.gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-24696973768475248612011-06-27T00:53:00.000-07:002011-06-27T00:53:30.830-07:00Veggie round-upEven though it is winter here in Melbourne alot of veggies are still putting on their best show:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin48NMpsYYChRU8FH2iSvJxLxAynbesoz5yT1UBOFyBFLSciwQ1NAwz_TxLKmoKw9NNxV0Z9XiIOYKjjIbUxnre30VC02ZaBipP8fSmS3uLoU5BHfoqLpH8aln9sCmHXbBF8LrhGz25GA/s1600/Picture+478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin48NMpsYYChRU8FH2iSvJxLxAynbesoz5yT1UBOFyBFLSciwQ1NAwz_TxLKmoKw9NNxV0Z9XiIOYKjjIbUxnre30VC02ZaBipP8fSmS3uLoU5BHfoqLpH8aln9sCmHXbBF8LrhGz25GA/s320/Picture+478.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The peas are starting to produce many flowers and the pods are fattening up nicely. This is the first planting of peas for this winter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD26UYZYqiJ66UK-N8cJVs6JW9ejw0w8d02r7bGyn2uGn8V7GUIikzA06h9eJwuj68D8ios8ZLM6dqoBg8cUScgyhE2xdypGP-dlUCpypQvEMlKnrwKk_Jtemf-hXmChkUgNGfrxYc-Gw/s1600/Picture+482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD26UYZYqiJ66UK-N8cJVs6JW9ejw0w8d02r7bGyn2uGn8V7GUIikzA06h9eJwuj68D8ios8ZLM6dqoBg8cUScgyhE2xdypGP-dlUCpypQvEMlKnrwKk_Jtemf-hXmChkUgNGfrxYc-Gw/s200/Picture+482.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>This is the second lot of peas I have sown this winter. Just popping their heads up. A good liquid feed every week of worm juice will get them flying along.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zqOhCRgq7-Z_4uTgYZjLnAeUx7Gbq-UHBUR8F6qOg_dpoggB3ZfJP43YCWCHeZWAbPiVBbP4uXzof_9Y2Y8SNE3r6nz028PsqCkEA5U4wInTk4SlUti9MGBiuaoqaTozJyMN15HVx5k/s1600/Picture+432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zqOhCRgq7-Z_4uTgYZjLnAeUx7Gbq-UHBUR8F6qOg_dpoggB3ZfJP43YCWCHeZWAbPiVBbP4uXzof_9Y2Y8SNE3r6nz028PsqCkEA5U4wInTk4SlUti9MGBiuaoqaTozJyMN15HVx5k/s200/Picture+432.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXPO7WaRDooNQ_Dp9RGhT8sPraTfeQ1yyP6vlH3Fl2Og8HN7vh7fbDN0GDTXj9y1bIhf_5t57Wy5DvwIjeAHm2am_PJmgH0VDiPvJJkqwDy0Y1ivGyadkesS6mk6ZM8Fa-x-jit4cvU4/s1600/Picture+485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXPO7WaRDooNQ_Dp9RGhT8sPraTfeQ1yyP6vlH3Fl2Og8HN7vh7fbDN0GDTXj9y1bIhf_5t57Wy5DvwIjeAHm2am_PJmgH0VDiPvJJkqwDy0Y1ivGyadkesS6mk6ZM8Fa-x-jit4cvU4/s200/Picture+485.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The first of the cauliflowers I was disappointed with, but these seem to be doing nicely. Good colour, no signs of bugs and firm little caulis forming in the centre. ( love cauliflower with a white cheese sauce) I will often tie the leaves of the cauliflower around the actual cauli to keep them nice and white, as too much sun yellows them. Not alot of sun here this winter though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkJg65mdazAcDi4YN7xXs8LLayswj_8nMlpFjrTMEhMg0FgYLh1Ls7ui3_z_T48YBabB4_cMd_qwb7LJu4RLSqu3f2d1TqIPaBCR4a0aXzMq8nPT_LFdKyB2ILhuQlA044DbfMnTAEDQ/s1600/Picture+493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkJg65mdazAcDi4YN7xXs8LLayswj_8nMlpFjrTMEhMg0FgYLh1Ls7ui3_z_T48YBabB4_cMd_qwb7LJu4RLSqu3f2d1TqIPaBCR4a0aXzMq8nPT_LFdKyB2ILhuQlA044DbfMnTAEDQ/s200/Picture+493.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The broccoli heads have been in good supply, being tight and free from bugs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94jrv2igGwT8wCE2tHosHAI4KSalSvdgYRlSUheABkXJijpYhveF2sVcRL35u2aBHdMtDJ0Qi3phbFrBEkGfDxrD05uzfJ-3rII6tLBekWc54zbYGI6FWCWtSNfNUsV9QtZYRMLYmRCk/s1600/Picture+480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94jrv2igGwT8wCE2tHosHAI4KSalSvdgYRlSUheABkXJijpYhveF2sVcRL35u2aBHdMtDJ0Qi3phbFrBEkGfDxrD05uzfJ-3rII6tLBekWc54zbYGI6FWCWtSNfNUsV9QtZYRMLYmRCk/s200/Picture+480.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Bok Choy are growing well. They are quick growers so they will probably be ready to harvest in four weeks. So I probably will need to replant another lot in two weeks time, as these have only been in for two weeks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVODOPNc4jg5UrNqR7VaQ68Bq69cJSVg139oDUSJebXv7-TYHSRi06qC0AiNv-1R6JgGDlAm3C78EalTuxR53jDOeyhmNPeEpRHYMb8lm9yo2m8_RL126zs4mIGDhmv1fop-wKDmVDVcY/s1600/Picture+492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVODOPNc4jg5UrNqR7VaQ68Bq69cJSVg139oDUSJebXv7-TYHSRi06qC0AiNv-1R6JgGDlAm3C78EalTuxR53jDOeyhmNPeEpRHYMb8lm9yo2m8_RL126zs4mIGDhmv1fop-wKDmVDVcY/s200/Picture+492.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Chard (silverbeet) are a constant, year round winner in our garden. Great for throwing in a stirfry and using in other dishes where spinach is needed. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmxpWb5jOk3fUfDqb1ubijFLjmFxKlVvsmRkl8l1XkQS_PSGfp76_Q4zXhQx5lh-IeG7ro3eDqh6ZgdarZp5LzFiwnzgv9ozTagGKYSRQoBdbtbcn8_Qfh0bimcKTIqdKyRtIgr5gikk/s1600/Picture+489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmxpWb5jOk3fUfDqb1ubijFLjmFxKlVvsmRkl8l1XkQS_PSGfp76_Q4zXhQx5lh-IeG7ro3eDqh6ZgdarZp5LzFiwnzgv9ozTagGKYSRQoBdbtbcn8_Qfh0bimcKTIqdKyRtIgr5gikk/s200/Picture+489.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> We don't eat alot of salads in winter, but it's still nice to have some lettuce in the garden (this is an oak one) for lunches.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLCvT3JVEZxSE8ELuqIEyjvF_tLoCNA66ErAo4LETLA5mvvBgfblkA6WxU9jrfUgUbdSjn_xDTVolJ0Kdkmt7aQoUbTYEcinDxQaiCc-hkxX7qRI6IchS0RIcoWUQFBdMQ7b5Q4WwZC8/s1600/Picture+487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLCvT3JVEZxSE8ELuqIEyjvF_tLoCNA66ErAo4LETLA5mvvBgfblkA6WxU9jrfUgUbdSjn_xDTVolJ0Kdkmt7aQoUbTYEcinDxQaiCc-hkxX7qRI6IchS0RIcoWUQFBdMQ7b5Q4WwZC8/s200/Picture+487.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQewSdjAlqZilkAcGmOgdrD28QkNlGVDSFoB75WihPGqvnXw8DfsOi0lTKG1oEDILZyz6F-ANR_6LjFgaQsIZAgK7O9Rhu6SMpU30_68upt2hHM5IiM4trSwezqTkEC_kPbak7czeTqp8/s1600/Picture+490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQewSdjAlqZilkAcGmOgdrD28QkNlGVDSFoB75WihPGqvnXw8DfsOi0lTKG1oEDILZyz6F-ANR_6LjFgaQsIZAgK7O9Rhu6SMpU30_68upt2hHM5IiM4trSwezqTkEC_kPbak7czeTqp8/s200/Picture+490.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Cabbages are doing great and look good in the garden this time of year.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmAZtbDgvJPLCi8ks_ibS0djjXC8BErkPiXwxZZJJEyPLlSYXnz_hEkNRVtZH88vCWp_Hft1VGAakjKeHZa427eyu210KvfBPzZaGvVYrMOgvC8ZYspRpFtU2Ml6FckIFcsPOO_Ntayk/s1600/Picture+483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmAZtbDgvJPLCi8ks_ibS0djjXC8BErkPiXwxZZJJEyPLlSYXnz_hEkNRVtZH88vCWp_Hft1VGAakjKeHZa427eyu210KvfBPzZaGvVYrMOgvC8ZYspRpFtU2Ml6FckIFcsPOO_Ntayk/s200/Picture+483.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYXJJqe-lMwweOYYghvcIvodV1BplyIpDQMqcZTIuuR4SCv24R-9xpfwAxcEs2bxb393mkn-JnXiHV4v5aknu418LVN4I2TPMqExyCfaPBycmrwuNT5e87U7-p8-mddo7Msw8NDjj4AA/s1600/Picture+484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYXJJqe-lMwweOYYghvcIvodV1BplyIpDQMqcZTIuuR4SCv24R-9xpfwAxcEs2bxb393mkn-JnXiHV4v5aknu418LVN4I2TPMqExyCfaPBycmrwuNT5e87U7-p8-mddo7Msw8NDjj4AA/s200/Picture+484.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>There's always beetroot in the garden and carrots. We use both the root of the beetroot and the young leaves in salads. Our rabbits love the leaves as well. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5U4xPnjNB73M2vxMYbYpGVdubaxcSGQy3Q0BmqNIunJ_1JzoP0HKpDyGO_sYa0K-TB_YY14kjDclWiDAuSpeTSWMoJ-yUCejAAlTWceWPOUJQoZFod5vGcXvUkPMwTFHTqZpUqrcuIU/s1600/Picture+481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5U4xPnjNB73M2vxMYbYpGVdubaxcSGQy3Q0BmqNIunJ_1JzoP0HKpDyGO_sYa0K-TB_YY14kjDclWiDAuSpeTSWMoJ-yUCejAAlTWceWPOUJQoZFod5vGcXvUkPMwTFHTqZpUqrcuIU/s200/Picture+481.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Lastly, the Rocket is finally up and will be quick to grow. Love this on a pizza with roasted pumpkin and goats cheese! Also, the spinach seeds are up and growing.<br />
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Happy gardening everyone..........<br />
<img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQewSdjAlqZilkAcGmOgdrD28QkNlGVDSFoB75WihPGqvnXw8DfsOi0lTKG1oEDILZyz6F-ANR_6LjFgaQsIZAgK7O9Rhu6SMpU30_68upt2hHM5IiM4trSwezqTkEC_kPbak7czeTqp8/s200/Picture+490.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 442px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2572px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-4502257974993632052011-06-24T23:19:00.000-07:002011-06-24T23:19:34.269-07:00orange tree updateThe other day I posted about my oranges being eaten by what I thought to be a possum. Gooseberry Jam put the idea in my head about netting them, so I have. The day after my first post about them the culprit hit again, and I found two more oranges on the ground the next morning. So enough is enough. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z2IrX5gOjYDDGTpMv5u-CGs4lWuo_3t_1hB8yXTmM0m7IdOn0vI20zXxEu_91WDBNls8FP-k2AHhD1I5geG7CQCSefR6PFwHTIOlSQNEtw-OEeChzESmF-JKi0UJjJv3EfCK9SWQcaA/s1600/Picture+459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z2IrX5gOjYDDGTpMv5u-CGs4lWuo_3t_1hB8yXTmM0m7IdOn0vI20zXxEu_91WDBNls8FP-k2AHhD1I5geG7CQCSefR6PFwHTIOlSQNEtw-OEeChzESmF-JKi0UJjJv3EfCK9SWQcaA/s320/Picture+459.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Also, as requested, here is a copy of my muffin recipe for Phoebe. It's not the lightest recipe, but the kids like it. Just make sure if you are putting in the strawberries and ricotta that you add plenty in each muffin. In the meantime if anyone else has a really light muffin recipe, I would really love a copy......<br />
100g butter<br />
100g caster sugar<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla essence<br />
2 eggs<br />
1 1/3 cups S.R. Flour<br />
100ml milk.<br />
<br />
Cream the butter and sugar<br />
Add vanilla and egg<br />
Add flour and milk alternatively <br />
Makes 6 large muffins <br />
180 degrees celcius until just starting to browngardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-45191695891803649482011-06-23T02:02:00.000-07:002011-06-23T02:02:23.789-07:00Yummy MuffinsIt's so cold in Melbourne at the moment so yesterday was a day that required a little comfort food as the kids arrived home from school.<br />
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Yummy ricotta and strawberry muffins:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbpIiy6pBns4c_Pj1YrDyeTfebTptnd11Z6AWm64wMPi8EoYg2-DRtOcVIlNwd34sd2xpEDIFrXv44-Ml2xNnWMv5eSqJ9XegAxD4K8rQiSzwo1eSq-NwNm771mTyaR_roJcGZAbyteU/s1600/Picture+448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbpIiy6pBns4c_Pj1YrDyeTfebTptnd11Z6AWm64wMPi8EoYg2-DRtOcVIlNwd34sd2xpEDIFrXv44-Ml2xNnWMv5eSqJ9XegAxD4K8rQiSzwo1eSq-NwNm771mTyaR_roJcGZAbyteU/s320/Picture+448.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cubes of ricotta push into the muffin mixture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoyayCISMjh0pxWn9t6VLbqzKIbrTzm7CzWt1WUw9zAQrxK_20BRnPeqOJRyi9YBcdjSWcV6dcdc7va8IBMZE1vqFL-qAmqb-nnvL4eNZRkgzQ0mfMtWzSpw1mHZs5NsnP3jr36D5Vq4/s1600/Picture+449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoyayCISMjh0pxWn9t6VLbqzKIbrTzm7CzWt1WUw9zAQrxK_20BRnPeqOJRyi9YBcdjSWcV6dcdc7va8IBMZE1vqFL-qAmqb-nnvL4eNZRkgzQ0mfMtWzSpw1mHZs5NsnP3jr36D5Vq4/s320/Picture+449.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Frozen strawberries, sliced, then dusted with a little icing sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> ( this helps them to not sink to the bottom of the pan).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com2mnhr6n8/TgKimDB2fsI/AAAAAAAAAII/gY522nHUsy0/s1600/Picture+457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXUsrgWI0wkVwwuvZxE3VG7d8hIO91ojgoPul6TApXM8O9ocT26Gyxe7HsnbN-b0OV2jqgtCvwG1jao9KHcQqQXAmhCEPrHVudInbc1qIYRpThr1yT9DZUPG3FBSOCKrJD2wSVum0804/s320/Picture+457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up they rose.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I left them in the baking pan so they would keep warm until the kids arrived home.<br />
Dusted with a little icing sugar and served with hot chocolate.</div>gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-75931983539564153912011-06-20T22:29:00.000-07:002011-06-20T22:29:59.397-07:00Beware of the orange thief!Something has been slowly, but surely, eating my oranges.<br />
<b></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhWeNtOvb0w2ZS1LCrKQ_hFkbzPJxOBbADcA_1Sz1gfSzvwehpJpYnE8rEMCT12iswhAAu0jybJGhfOpHEYmRt2m86CKLCw9BpAsQ6RcM2cBpA6m3l6SbWCFtbcrw8lHXxwNmtCzu9Xs/s1600/Picture+445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhWeNtOvb0w2ZS1LCrKQ_hFkbzPJxOBbADcA_1Sz1gfSzvwehpJpYnE8rEMCT12iswhAAu0jybJGhfOpHEYmRt2m86CKLCw9BpAsQ6RcM2cBpA6m3l6SbWCFtbcrw8lHXxwNmtCzu9Xs/s320/Picture+445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This year, due to our increased rainfall, we have had a bumper crop of oranges. There's only one problem......something is eating them. Every couple of days I go out and check them, and sure enough another one or two have been eaten. It's either a native rat- they love fruit, or a possum. Not sure what to do about it though. <br />
Some of the oranges are even having their skins left on the tree.<br />
At this point I am simply removing the ripe ones before they get eaten.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd4V2tZaWhrI2myY8atkgH2_mr6hpd8oZ8IGLA-M0pZdmoLieSSrNdTmirWVN71xKf3aC5q0IWXse-KsCkfd3yRgIwXYekWcG6gNtZdPkVnqnm1MBboHfLQ_Gj1N7SemnCNIymrqoS54/s1600/Picture+446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd4V2tZaWhrI2myY8atkgH2_mr6hpd8oZ8IGLA-M0pZdmoLieSSrNdTmirWVN71xKf3aC5q0IWXse-KsCkfd3yRgIwXYekWcG6gNtZdPkVnqnm1MBboHfLQ_Gj1N7SemnCNIymrqoS54/s320/Picture+446.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-71162145059574092852011-06-20T01:14:00.000-07:002011-06-20T04:28:08.257-07:00Home grown is bestEvery week I travel into the Vic Market and visit the organics section to buy any veggies or fruit that we currently are low on in our own garden. We grow a wide variety in our garden, but particularly the fruit side of things always requires a top up. I had always thought that I was doing the best for my family by doing this. I had trusted that when our food in Australia is labelled 'organic', it had to be true.<br />
So here's the thing: currently in Australia there is no independent government body that is testing our organic produce. Anything that is exported is tested, but not the produce that we consume here at home. There are individual farmer's groups that test the produce. The Australian Quarantine Services does accredit these groups, but many experts are still skeptical about their credibility. <br />
So the big question is, 'can we trust what we buy as organic'? Me, I'm not sure, but I will keep buying 'organic', and paying the extra for it.<br />
The verdict - GROW YOUR OWN!!!! it's the only way to guarantee what is used on, or rather what is not, your fresh produce.gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-75162209636968158752011-06-17T19:33:00.000-07:002011-06-17T19:33:08.272-07:00Winter veggiesThis time of year the garden really struggles to shine. Some would say it looks a little lifeless. The leaves have now all fallen. The roses are well and truely finishes, ready for their pruning next month, and the summer vegies are a distant memory.<br />
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Thank goodness for the constant winter veggie winners:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6nJtLXOYozYhRO8VS0fA4w8S3dmH1xosU55sw6C2nAF6xdYKvdNPzO7z5n0901TsjpbOG1o_AiFJDliD6zebIbAT7spvcphQpJ5MnU8-aZ4Nah3eGlN38PIXloHfYOPc59fJ__fN5-w/s1600/Picture+420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6nJtLXOYozYhRO8VS0fA4w8S3dmH1xosU55sw6C2nAF6xdYKvdNPzO7z5n0901TsjpbOG1o_AiFJDliD6zebIbAT7spvcphQpJ5MnU8-aZ4Nah3eGlN38PIXloHfYOPc59fJ__fN5-w/s320/Picture+420.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Broccoli is always a winner, with the tight heads coming into full production. There are about five plants now that have produced large heads, the side shoots should follow in the next month.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NevH487oYsYh9DkNhWzT12mmoXaUY6jMApSGmyPp2WNwBJv4er9gaz6oyl857LuKgBCLOZcvIpH_Wwagn7qGo9I4jpUQ8Xe1gCDcWz15GO_VHPU7nP3ZpUltUFXgkA1gZZWCQYLUk30/s1600/Picture+414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NevH487oYsYh9DkNhWzT12mmoXaUY6jMApSGmyPp2WNwBJv4er9gaz6oyl857LuKgBCLOZcvIpH_Wwagn7qGo9I4jpUQ8Xe1gCDcWz15GO_VHPU7nP3ZpUltUFXgkA1gZZWCQYLUk30/s320/Picture+414.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The climbing peas are just starting to plump up. These never make it inside the house, as the kids pick and eat them straight from the vine. The snow peas have also started to produce, these also don't make it inside, this time I'm the thief though.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-lct0c9UQwZabni61y9d3LY8jgLkS8gLNJ4UinI39yOnEufwHXBKXpQnNQDc1IizJoVrpnFfJ9QSgzQ9NRwY0qkfk_iuyRsH2BuXxorR6Ab28EUBjFYhnsg5M9hMCsfkdcBl-JwOHvA/s1600/Picture+417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-lct0c9UQwZabni61y9d3LY8jgLkS8gLNJ4UinI39yOnEufwHXBKXpQnNQDc1IizJoVrpnFfJ9QSgzQ9NRwY0qkfk_iuyRsH2BuXxorR6Ab28EUBjFYhnsg5M9hMCsfkdcBl-JwOHvA/s320/Picture+417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The watercress has popped up from no where and is growing vigorously. I thought I had pulled it all out at the end of Spring, but it has been a welcomed suprise. Great for a spicy salad, and this variety has a real bite to it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX4fEIxgK318kYJmIxNvHc0ho4IBYzpw16wTR-jcrntKJmf1gK0cY4QyYwnP5ecxVg-w5oD4SBYOqlTDlZsynR29o4xQt5siu3saQLGsQUk-qSGJNYblO3_A1TuOA4Vm-hGxZ0N83hiI/s1600/Picture+421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX4fEIxgK318kYJmIxNvHc0ho4IBYzpw16wTR-jcrntKJmf1gK0cY4QyYwnP5ecxVg-w5oD4SBYOqlTDlZsynR29o4xQt5siu3saQLGsQUk-qSGJNYblO3_A1TuOA4Vm-hGxZ0N83hiI/s320/Picture+421.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And of course there's the cabbages:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the red ones, they look as good as they taste.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly1MnDL9uWdfTHmJnpDcAo0FmWhA4GPw9r-7syaIHLH0o2Nia1MwIM8iik3X9B95S4Fab1EWEeHiuGPQknsO6c1cMTsUp5jFoss3YnvDpvCphi1mZS6jT7PGoq8_b0LuX6WOl4HdOBW0/s1600/Picture+418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly1MnDL9uWdfTHmJnpDcAo0FmWhA4GPw9r-7syaIHLH0o2Nia1MwIM8iik3X9B95S4Fab1EWEeHiuGPQknsO6c1cMTsUp5jFoss3YnvDpvCphi1mZS6jT7PGoq8_b0LuX6WOl4HdOBW0/s320/Picture+418.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My January King cabbages are filling out beautifully.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf57LiRis279rR_D5VDPl-932Rziccj_2NBomo-MFNsIBJT-qeFkw7FcszREvMbw8MkFxcjaHN-qZ9FY6zNblSz2pRKBjYraUwO6852Vj1p-f03ca06RBsBbjJNowBpTqT0Xh-tCSTGE/s1600/Picture+422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf57LiRis279rR_D5VDPl-932Rziccj_2NBomo-MFNsIBJT-qeFkw7FcszREvMbw8MkFxcjaHN-qZ9FY6zNblSz2pRKBjYraUwO6852Vj1p-f03ca06RBsBbjJNowBpTqT0Xh-tCSTGE/s320/Picture+422.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have also planted baby cabbages which are really cute in size. These ones however are from last spring. I simply removed the cabbage head and left the bottom of the plant. Now I have three to four small cabbages growing on each plant. Great little size at about 15 -20 cm across.</div>gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-57173015974494194602011-06-10T23:58:00.000-07:002011-06-10T23:58:36.930-07:00The great Australian dreamTo own your own home in Australia is well known as the 'great Australian dream'. Of course with this is the Aussi backyard, which is so diverse in the different lifestyles we can live here. Some people have a backyard that stretches as far as the eye can see, others have a simply balcony, and others, like myself have the suburban block with the lemon tree and Hills hoist down the back. No I don't have a Hills hoist now, but as kids we certainly did, and boy did we have fun swinging ourselves around on it. The eldest brother even broken one or two with his mates, but that's a different story.<br />
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My mum has always provided me with my lemons from her lemon tree that was a present from her father. In my kitchen there has also been 101 uses for her juicy sweet lemons that arrived in abundance . There's the lemon meringue pie, the lemon and sugar crepes on a Sunday morning that my youngest daughter can never tire of, home made lemonade in summer and of course the lemon curd which i love on sweet biscuits, just to name a few. I would also take the opportunity to freeze the juice in cubes as well when there were far too many lemons, to use in the future.<br />
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Three years ago I decided to plant my own lemon tree. In melbourne a lot of our lemon trees suffer with gall wasp infestation. This is when the gall wasp lays it's eggs into the soft new growth of the tree trunk. The eggs grow in the trunk, causing a swelling, and then they hatch and leave open egg lumps in the tree. Seems harmless, however over time this greatly decreaes the quality and quantity of the fruit. There are two ways to treat this. The first being to cut the swelling areas and branches completely off, disposing of the infested branches. The second method I tend to use. You cut slices of the trunk off where the swelling is, therefore exposing the eggs to open air. They naturally die. Sometimes however, the tree is far too infested to do this second method. There are also slicky strips that you can hang in your lemon tree that attract and catch the insect.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQlzuqI1JXxwMtw6hJY7keUqaYGMbZRl09qDfcMJX6Zv5L2OWqy6Tc6CFrM8KwbAHtpOxDjPQpd4MpgX0ZZun2o7NT8SayvNW72GCOM0lGJfg4ZAh9wmQm_00UflgapOl9aDHG7FYe3E/s1600/Picture+399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQlzuqI1JXxwMtw6hJY7keUqaYGMbZRl09qDfcMJX6Zv5L2OWqy6Tc6CFrM8KwbAHtpOxDjPQpd4MpgX0ZZun2o7NT8SayvNW72GCOM0lGJfg4ZAh9wmQm_00UflgapOl9aDHG7FYe3E/s320/Picture+399.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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My tree has been in for three years now, and with no signs of any gall wasps, although I have removed bits of the tree, I am now eating and cooking with the juiciest and biggest lemons. <br />
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My dad's favorite is the lemon meringue pie, so here's the recipe. Enjoy!<br />
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Pastry:<br />
2 cups plain flour<br />
1 tablespoon icing sugar<br />
185grams butter<br />
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten<br />
1 tablespoon water ( approximately)<br />
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Sift flour and icing sugar into a bowl, rub in butter, add egg yolks and enough water to bind together. Wrap in cling wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.<br />
Roll out pastry and line pie dish, fill with baking weights and bake in moderate oven for 7 minutes remove weights and bake for further 7 minutes.<br />
Spread filling into pastry shell, top with the meringue and bake until golden brown tips form ( approx. 5 mins).<br />
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Lemon filling:<br />
1/2 cup cornflour <br />
1 cup caster sugar<br />
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice<br />
1 1/4 cups water<br />
2 teaspoons lemon rind<br />
3 egg yolks<br />
60 grams unsalted butter<br />
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Combine cornflour and sugar in saucepan, gradually stir in lemon juice and water, stir until smooth. Stir constantly over heat until mixture boils and thickens. Careful not to leave alone or it will burn. Remove from heat and quickly stir in lemon rind, egg yolks and butter. Stir until butter melts. Cool to room temperature.<br />
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Meringue:<br />
5 egg whites<br />
3/4 cup caster sugar<br />
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Beat egg whites until firm peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beat until dissolved.gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-74268699709794244272011-06-06T20:44:00.000-07:002011-06-06T20:44:06.415-07:00Cold, cold , cold!The weather is freezing here in Melbourne today, as the wind feels like ice. In order to garden a large number of layers of clothing need to be applied. It is so easy now that the temperature has dropped to simply stay indoors and put the gardening clean up off till another day........or month. So beanies go on, scarves, and thank goodness for the gardening gloves. I'm being very brave and doing my hydrangeas today, as they need to be cut back in time for spring growth to happen. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGcSawNBR7hxjWb2_eQKxR3hJKoBib7CiOeSyiOVLC9w5EN7J5ak9z_f5sqrPsNMdbVr4psgv-SFaM7q3ZD0oPIc9ZbAn2fGiCoVEgVQk0M3ZbJWUv8qHZqws5yZ6y1FOCM0yeBhCQZg/s1600/Picture+387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGcSawNBR7hxjWb2_eQKxR3hJKoBib7CiOeSyiOVLC9w5EN7J5ak9z_f5sqrPsNMdbVr4psgv-SFaM7q3ZD0oPIc9ZbAn2fGiCoVEgVQk0M3ZbJWUv8qHZqws5yZ6y1FOCM0yeBhCQZg/s200/Picture+387.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The photo is the last lot of the potatoes I harvested. The kids love digging to find the spuds, it's like digging for gold and seeing how big they can find them.gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-90563632685236121772011-06-05T04:56:00.000-07:002011-06-05T04:56:32.293-07:00Juicy OrangesPicked the first of the oranges to eat today from our garden. We have Washington navels, and Valencia oranges, but all prefer the Washingtons as they are sweeter. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE4vyMfA5xdz4ovQ8R5m2UOEwMyhclmmu1YdIiPcgyy-XJZyGJ_YAMBwarH9BL5GYQfvsKqx4SLYN04Vxn_-84VCFvvvgXjzFmUtUFhxOYoDviF2xGA5lR64gn8RLEc-KOevorFW-3AM/s1600/Picture+388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE4vyMfA5xdz4ovQ8R5m2UOEwMyhclmmu1YdIiPcgyy-XJZyGJ_YAMBwarH9BL5GYQfvsKqx4SLYN04Vxn_-84VCFvvvgXjzFmUtUFhxOYoDviF2xGA5lR64gn8RLEc-KOevorFW-3AM/s200/Picture+388.jpg" /></a></div>Looking forward to many more to eat this season!gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-26120767417122020852011-06-04T00:16:00.000-07:002011-06-04T00:16:46.604-07:00Veggies for partial shadeThe other week I wrote about my new garden area. The area has now been cleared and cleaned up.<br />
Upon removal of the bricks that were down there we discovered a number of Red back spiders. Be careful when gardening as they are everywhere in Melbourne now. After many years of dry hot summers they have become a regular visitor to our gardens. So always wear gloves in the garden, and make your children aware of the danger in touching spiders. <br />
I have added some sheep manure to the area as well as fresh compost from my compost bin. At the back of the garden area I have placed a climbing frame as it is my intention to grow climbing vegetables up it so the view of the water tank is blocked.<br />
Over the last week I have researched which veggies will grow here and many of the leafy greens will do well. So broccoli will be planted in the next week, more cauliflowers, boc choy, rocket, spinach, as well as some more snow peas and climbing peas next to the climbing frames. It will be a little bit of an experiment to see what does well. I'll have the before and after photos on next time.gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788108771400702381.post-36357233788725704362011-06-02T01:53:00.000-07:002011-06-02T01:54:18.037-07:00Passionfruit clean-upToday, being the final day of winter, was definitely the last opportunity I am going to get to clean up and trim back the passion fruit vines. I say vines as we have three now, and we are lucky enough to have had alot of fruit this year. I have put some of the pulp into snap lock bags and frozen it as week. <br />
Melbourne has had a beautiful first day of winter today with a top of 18 degrees celcius, so it was perfect gardening weather with clear sunny skies. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVXsc2wjPmfVvptQp_jAfml0BL02MzZi7Km7O4R72ft368knHhoAvvKiemyaUuZeu7OreQaT49fmAU2MRF3IuwkZSwudzrE42xFN_aWXbR6a4noPbNxyfcSP0di1vVUhYfG1Kq1iApI8/s1600/Picture+350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVXsc2wjPmfVvptQp_jAfml0BL02MzZi7Km7O4R72ft368knHhoAvvKiemyaUuZeu7OreQaT49fmAU2MRF3IuwkZSwudzrE42xFN_aWXbR6a4noPbNxyfcSP0di1vVUhYfG1Kq1iApI8/s200/Picture+350.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Two of my passionfruit vines have managed to ramble up the pencil pines, so a fair bit of trimming back needed to be done. So one more job ticked off the autumn/ winter clean up list. Job list continues tomorrow!gardenblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897668372612989306noreply@blogger.com0