Summer is rolling by. Hibiscus are out. My pumpkins/buttercup didn't germinate, so I have resorted to transplantation. I've now got a courgette, bought from the new Te Puna Henderson market.
Mum has got me to plant some kind of purple leaf salvia near the apple trees. She's also got this mystery plant that has baffled me no end trying to identify it. She says the chinese name is 'Teng Chut' or something like that, and I have no idea what that is in English, let alone Latin. Maybe you can help. When I put it into Plant ID site, it gave me such wild guesses as basket plant, hebe, daphne, swan plant, tradescantia, and it's none of those. I hope it's not tradescantia anyway. She says it's a ground cover and the root is used in chinese medicine. Any clue?
The leaves are kinda fleshy but smooth, and the roots seem to be tuberous. There's no smell, and it doesn't flower.
Aside from driving me nuts, not knowing where to plant it and not willing it to take over and be a noxious weed, I've kind of left it to it's own devices.
My sister is in quarantine at the moment and escaping on Tuesday. She better count her lucky stars as she's been thoroughly spoiled in the hotel, with way to much food, even whining about not being able to taste our homegrown apricots, so mum made a special trip just so she could drop some off.
Now the apricots have finished I think the next fruit will be grapes and apples.
Karyn's been going on about Syntropic Gardening. I had no idea what is was until last week but I think she might be a convert. Next thing I know she might be on a hippie trip up north to check it all out. So far I've kind of resisted joining the whole Permaculture movement because of all the time, effort and resources required, and heard not a peep from my fellow permies over quarantine, but they must have congratulated themselves for staying homestead sweet homestead. Those who were lucky or priveliged enough to have a home that is.
Permies are ok, bu they were kind of on the fringe side of things and if it wasn't so expensive, I would do more of it. I think they were hoping we'd all move to Earthsong or something, and give our free labour to the designer architects of strawbale homes. Weren't they aware of the current housing crisis where if you wanted a place of your own your best bet was to buy a shipping container?
Mum thinks that they are good and the ideal home. I don't know if I could get used to living in a kennel. I think its best if I just stay living with her thanks and being annoying. I can't help it that houses are so expensive that nobody can move away from their folks and keep their jobs. And their garden.
