JASMINE INFESTATION

I've been hard at work in the inner garden along the roadside this weekend. Jasmine, almost defeated. As much as I love the smell, it was time it came out. My neighbour Miles has been an absolute godsend in getting the project started - and frankly did 99% of it, due to my increase in work. He's also given us some great ideas on how to reduce the issue, permanently.

This photo is taken after about half the infestation (and certainly the worst part) was taken out. The purple leaved tree, was covered as were all the shrubs nearby it. You couldn't see the trees for all the jasmine. We really didn't realise just how bad it was until it started coming down. Certainly motivating...

VEGE’S VEGE’S AND BERRIES

Not sure if I mentiond it, but the combined vege patch with our neighbours is well under way. At first I had - with the kids - planted a pile of seeds and thinking I'd try something 'green' with it, planted them in egg cartons... well, the dog didn't like that idea and kept standing in it (they were on top of my planter box) and you can imagine what the cat was doing with it... so those ones never panned out. I ended up having to buy seedlings for the first vege install (gosh, did I work in IT)... and they are well under way. My next attempt at planting seeds is working (no egg carton) however, on the day i could not find my permanent marker pen, so I used a felt pen thinking I would find the permanent sooner rather than later... well, I forgot didn't I, and watered them that night... guess what - no labels. Oh well, at least they are popping up... I will be able to recognise most of them, but the ones I have never planted before, like Stevia and Soapwart, well... here's hoping a quick Google Search will help me out there.
The vege patch at present has a load of brassica's, tomatoes, zucchini, onion & leeks. I have been following a friend of mine in the vege growing challenge and she had made a blackboard for her garden to indicate what was in there and when things should be ready. Great idea, but I've run out of blackboard paint. Perhaps a summer project.
We have also covered over the berry cage with bird netting and created a little strawberry patch right next to it. Very proud, but still have to work out a better way of tacking that side down.

OOOOPS... OH WELL

I saw an advert for frangipani (native to Australia). Now, my experience of frangipani is of my aunty having some growing outside her window, all bushy, and my mother in law having one in a pot. So when I saw them advertised for $3 each (normally $20) I jumped at the chance, but not having the opportunity to get to the shop in time, send in Jason. When they came home, I discovered that they are actually a HUGE open form tree this particular variety growing to 6 metres. There went my opportunity to have the beautiful scent filling our courtyard, and for a while there I did not know what to do with them. However, they have found a nice home, out by the new shed and on the courtyard side of the greenhouse... so hopefully the smell will waft over where it is wanted upon occasion.

NEXT SPRING PLANS

In August I dug up daffodil bulbs from the paddock and planted them around the orchard trees. They should look gorgeous come spring next year. I've also been busy planting heaps of trees, pittosporums near the new shed, a deciduous magnolia at the entrance, with some (tiny) griselinia behind it, that should create a lovely screen for the shed and give the magnolia a beautiful green 'background' from which to shine.

Pondering the simple things...

When I was about 7, I had a male teacher. His name was Mr Marsh and he was easily in his 50s, a big guy, partly deaf and as a result had a booming voice.

I was quite a shy kid... and I found out years later, that at parent teacher interviews, he had told my mum that he thought I was afraid of him (on account of me being so quiet).

I have to say I do not remember feeling afraid of him, I certainly had no reason to be... I was just generally a quiet kid (what happened says my mother). I do remember thinking he was a rather big, powerful bloke though... I think I was more in awe of him actually.

Well, during the school year with him, we shared a moment. Perhaps he planned it, given his concern about me. I had to hand in my work for marking and as I approached, he was simply looking at a miner bird that was perched outside the window. Realising that I was there, he quietly said, "Look at this bird Elizabeth (as I was then known), isnt' it peaceful. Such beauty and simplicity.' We both just stared at it for a little while.

I am now 35 years old and this small moment has been remembered and treasured. In my early 20s, it taught me that big booming powerful people, can also have a gentle side. But more importantly now it is my constant reminder to take a step back, take moments, to enjoy the simple things.

Now that I have my own children, I make sure we take moments to enjoy simple things, such as a fantail flying through the house, gently planting seeds, the smiles on their faces and giggles (oh the giggles), the sun shining, the rain falling... can there be anything better, I think not. At times when you are feeling down, taking time like this can really lift the spirits.

So thank you Mr Marsh, you taught me some valuable lessons, that will last me a lifetime and it only took you a few seconds of your time...

Cakes again...

I've ended up putting my cakes into facebook. Cakes by Design (Auckland, NZ) is my fan page... easier to update one place for cakes. So my blog is going to become solely for the sake of the land... :)

Garden & Greenhouse

For a few years now the garden has kind of spewed over into the courtyard. It ahs been embarrassing to say the least when friends visit... so finally we can afford to get a block wall put in. Jason wanted wood, but I have grander plans...
I have to do the digging for the footing, which I am most of the way through but as of the end of next week I should be the proud owner of a decent retaining wall.

We are also back into the greenhouse, both in setting up a garden and infact getting a new roof on it.

Over winter we lost the roof, and thanks to me earlier in the year, we were insured... so $12k via the insurance company later and only a $200 excess... we have a new roof.

Herbalism - New hobby

Well, my son William and I were strolling through the garden and we walked past the rose bushes which are now in full bloom. I was musing over the beauty of the white and crimson flower which I give my nana every year and William pointed out how beautiful they smell. Right I thought - time to teach the boy about natural perfume... so using my childhood memories of Mrs Blazey's house next door, we gathered a huge amount of petals (and the aphids to boot) and threw them into a container with boiling water - by the next morning we made rose water and it is truely divine.

It got me thinking - what with Christmas coming up and all - that this might be nice to give as presents.

So, this morning Charlotte and I gathered heaps of lavender.

I also found a recipe for a healing salve, and given I bought some beeswax a short while ago, I figured it was time to try making a balm / salve.

I've been wanting to get more into making herbal 'concoctions' and now that my garden has a fair number of herbs it's about time I started.

So Rose Water, Lavender Water and the beginnings of a salve... what will be next