The first jonquils are coming into bloom, the magnolia is budding, and it is wet, wet, wet.
For two weeks I rested from cold to wake up and find all the leaves gone and bare trees.
In the garden, I have moved the Chatham Island Forget-me-not to a new home in the back border, as it was being forgotten and eaten by caterpillars underneath the red Busy Lizzie.
Some maidenhairs are now nestled in the rock garden.
Basalm is being trialled in Sock's Bed.
Swan plant had been bashed by the rain and leaning at a dangerous angle. I have placed a rock there to stabilise it. My sweet peas are coming up and finding their way, I suppose I shall have them forever, as one of my most favourite flowers.
I read 'Minding my Peas and Cucumbers' Quirky Tales of Allotment Life. I am glad I do not have an allotment, we don't really have those in NZ, but a real backyard. In the UK, people get put on years long waiting lists to have one, and the minute they hit the jackpot they have to start cultivating it so they don't get pulled over by the allotment police, who check if weeds are growing. If the plot is all weedy, they can say "Sorry old chap, looks like you not growing anythink, we will give it to the next person who needs an allotment."
This makes for some interesting subterfuges and skulduggery and even sabotage. If you can't get your own plot you can offer to be a co-worker for someone else, but then they get all the credit and possibly most of the produce. Hmm.
If you are working full time, you have to fit in your allotment around weekends and evenings, so the pathetic sight of someone desperately working their garden at night is not far from reality. If their allotment is not worked, well, they gonna lose it aren't they? Some tips are handed down, like, if you have weeds and can't be fagged pulling them out, (or whatever the Brit term is) just cut the tops of them so at least they don't go to seed, and then your plot may be passed by the allotment Police. Then bring in reinforcements, like strawberries and cabbages, so it least LOOKS like you have a garden.
The piece de resistance is to have the most giant cabbage and win the blue ribbon in the Allotment vegetable contest. Also you must never tell anyone your garden secrets, lest they steal your glory. You aim is to have the plot that everyone will envy. Then you can smugly say, while talking to your office co-workers as they ask you what exciting plans you have for the weekend, 'Oh working in my garden' and they will go "Cor, you work full time AND do a garden, I don't know how you do it, you model worker you." And then you can smile your smug little smile and pass around the kale chips. Nobody else brings kale chips to office parties, everyone else has store bought pastries and diabetes inducing cakes.
Tuesday, 28 June 2016
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Under the Weather
I have been under the weather lately which means, low cloud, depression, cold, hibernation.
Plant nerds might call this 'stratification' but I just call it being bloody cold.
From the heated environs of my bedroom I look out the window at my seashell birdbath arrangement. Pretty, yet incongruous as I haven't ever managed to see a single bird having a dip in it yet. I guess it's too cold. But then why are Mary and Martha losing their feathers in the midst of winter? You'd think they would moult in summer, but then, I suppose if you think about it why don't trees moult in summer and keep their leaves in winter?
Echium has perked up and I think it will live! Yea! Who knows, it may flower this summer. I have high hopes for my flowering plants that I haven't seen in bloom yet, like Kowhai, and Kaka beak and Chatham Island forget-me-not. Maybe these fussy natives are just not obliging me like the exotics because they know they are better than those other common plants that just flower indiscriminately. Maybe they are saving the best for last.
One of my manukas now has white flowers. They are dainty, like confetti. I'm hoping for more and, maybe if I get bees, manuka honey. But we will see. NZ Gardener were giving away Plan Bee seed packets at one time and I don't recall any of the seeds sprouting. I've learned my lesson. I'm a hopeless seed sower. Quite possibly, as soon as I sowed them and they sprouted, Mary and Martha just scratched them out. Chickens and bare soil do not mix.
My friend Nicole alerted me to a plant sale at her church so naturally I got up early on a saturday to snag the best plants. I managed to find a large birds nest fern, a canna lily with striking red foliage, a ground cover with purply flowers and lacy foliage I don't know the name of, and...a boston fern.
When I got home Mum had already decided to dig out my Nikau Palms and banning them from the property. They will grow too big, she says. So now I have two nikau palms free to a good home. Come pick them up. If you are reading this. They make good hammock holders.
I have moved the Kowhai along the border so that maybe I will have height to my border and mum won't notice those creeping buttercups so much. She just thinks its a mess and that I can't even garden. Well. I haven't seen her do anything much except cut things down. She's good at that. I'm like her tall poppy. I can learn a thing or two about creeping buttercups. They still flower anyway, and nobody can cut them down.
Plant nerds might call this 'stratification' but I just call it being bloody cold.
From the heated environs of my bedroom I look out the window at my seashell birdbath arrangement. Pretty, yet incongruous as I haven't ever managed to see a single bird having a dip in it yet. I guess it's too cold. But then why are Mary and Martha losing their feathers in the midst of winter? You'd think they would moult in summer, but then, I suppose if you think about it why don't trees moult in summer and keep their leaves in winter?
Echium has perked up and I think it will live! Yea! Who knows, it may flower this summer. I have high hopes for my flowering plants that I haven't seen in bloom yet, like Kowhai, and Kaka beak and Chatham Island forget-me-not. Maybe these fussy natives are just not obliging me like the exotics because they know they are better than those other common plants that just flower indiscriminately. Maybe they are saving the best for last.
One of my manukas now has white flowers. They are dainty, like confetti. I'm hoping for more and, maybe if I get bees, manuka honey. But we will see. NZ Gardener were giving away Plan Bee seed packets at one time and I don't recall any of the seeds sprouting. I've learned my lesson. I'm a hopeless seed sower. Quite possibly, as soon as I sowed them and they sprouted, Mary and Martha just scratched them out. Chickens and bare soil do not mix.
My friend Nicole alerted me to a plant sale at her church so naturally I got up early on a saturday to snag the best plants. I managed to find a large birds nest fern, a canna lily with striking red foliage, a ground cover with purply flowers and lacy foliage I don't know the name of, and...a boston fern.
When I got home Mum had already decided to dig out my Nikau Palms and banning them from the property. They will grow too big, she says. So now I have two nikau palms free to a good home. Come pick them up. If you are reading this. They make good hammock holders.
I have moved the Kowhai along the border so that maybe I will have height to my border and mum won't notice those creeping buttercups so much. She just thinks its a mess and that I can't even garden. Well. I haven't seen her do anything much except cut things down. She's good at that. I'm like her tall poppy. I can learn a thing or two about creeping buttercups. They still flower anyway, and nobody can cut them down.
Sunday, 5 June 2016
East of Eden
Our garden ramble was enjoyable seeing the autumn colour and to be amongst the tuis and other birds at Eden Garden. Its a very woodland garden set in an old quarry. I love the bromeliad display although Jacqui was disappointed they weren't edible. However they had a cafe there and they do very tasty kumara chips!
My garden has had more tidyup and musical plants, the echium is now in the sunny rock garden as it was being crowded underneath the Chinese Lantern, although looking a bit wilted due to transplant shock I hope it revives. I also shifted an aloe next to it and placed my chinese stool which is now doubling as a bird bath or bird beach because it has a tray with shells on top.
I have rescued the old recycling bin after we harvested the melon that was growing over the neighbors fence which mum made into melon soup.
I have some ideas for further beautification and that is to put more lillies in the corner bed, and more blue coloured succulents to edge the sunny rock garden as I have made it a glaucous theme. Glacous is the blue-green colour of plants that just looks fantastic in the sun. Also more cuttings of the Chinese lantern to spread around the border. I checked one cutting and its seems it has taken, so I am pleased about that.
Begonias are now amongst the strawberries in a pot and spider plants are now in the ground. Last night we had a near frost but thankfully nothing looks too affected yet. My uncle just bought a huge load of pebbles for $20 off trademe as he is doing his front yard so I may be able to snag some pebbles off him. He also complimented me on all the work done on my garden so I'm glad someone noticed!
I haven't been reading many gardening books lately as still have a big list and been quite busy with other things but its on my things to do when I can't go outside.
Next on my bucket list of gardens to visit is Mincher, up near Albany/Coatsville. I have heard there's a book called 1001 Gardens to Visit Before You Die. I don't know why they just don't publish one called 1001 Cemeteries You Can Visit While You Are Still Alive.
My garden has had more tidyup and musical plants, the echium is now in the sunny rock garden as it was being crowded underneath the Chinese Lantern, although looking a bit wilted due to transplant shock I hope it revives. I also shifted an aloe next to it and placed my chinese stool which is now doubling as a bird bath or bird beach because it has a tray with shells on top.
I have rescued the old recycling bin after we harvested the melon that was growing over the neighbors fence which mum made into melon soup.
I have some ideas for further beautification and that is to put more lillies in the corner bed, and more blue coloured succulents to edge the sunny rock garden as I have made it a glaucous theme. Glacous is the blue-green colour of plants that just looks fantastic in the sun. Also more cuttings of the Chinese lantern to spread around the border. I checked one cutting and its seems it has taken, so I am pleased about that.
Begonias are now amongst the strawberries in a pot and spider plants are now in the ground. Last night we had a near frost but thankfully nothing looks too affected yet. My uncle just bought a huge load of pebbles for $20 off trademe as he is doing his front yard so I may be able to snag some pebbles off him. He also complimented me on all the work done on my garden so I'm glad someone noticed!
I haven't been reading many gardening books lately as still have a big list and been quite busy with other things but its on my things to do when I can't go outside.
Next on my bucket list of gardens to visit is Mincher, up near Albany/Coatsville. I have heard there's a book called 1001 Gardens to Visit Before You Die. I don't know why they just don't publish one called 1001 Cemeteries You Can Visit While You Are Still Alive.
Friday, 3 June 2016
June...
I can't believe it's June already..no frost yet but its fairly chilly.
My Woodside Gardening Gang are going on a field trip this Sunday to Eden Gardens in Mt Eden. I have been there a few years ago so it would be interesting to see it again in it's autumn glory.
I have pruned one of my feijoas, taking off the lower branches after it fruited as it was a hassle crawling down to pick up the fruit with all the growth! So now it looks more like a tree instead of a shrub.
Beth gave me more plants including a marvelous maidenhair, must take a photo to show you. I have a few more jobs to do at the moment, I'd like sweet peas climbing over my arch this time after my morning glories have died off - or could they all grow together? And I now have some tulip bulbs to put in spare pots. I also have snowflake bulbs to plant, and have just buried a whole lot of dutch iris under leaves and feijoa prunings. Unfortunately, my bargain $1 kale, silverbeet, spinach, caulis and broccolis which I planted got decimated by the chickens again. Grr. I do have spare chicken wire and netting but it looks so ugly in my formal box beds. I've planted violas there too but no flowers. It's really a random bed that I throw anything in hoping it will grow and survive. Kumara seems to be doing well as it's got tenacious roots.
More snowflakes are going under the olive tree. And I'm planting basalm behind the renga renga lillies. Generally tidying up. I better go as its good weather for gardening. Tulips are now in a pot.
My Woodside Gardening Gang are going on a field trip this Sunday to Eden Gardens in Mt Eden. I have been there a few years ago so it would be interesting to see it again in it's autumn glory.
I have pruned one of my feijoas, taking off the lower branches after it fruited as it was a hassle crawling down to pick up the fruit with all the growth! So now it looks more like a tree instead of a shrub.
Beth gave me more plants including a marvelous maidenhair, must take a photo to show you. I have a few more jobs to do at the moment, I'd like sweet peas climbing over my arch this time after my morning glories have died off - or could they all grow together? And I now have some tulip bulbs to put in spare pots. I also have snowflake bulbs to plant, and have just buried a whole lot of dutch iris under leaves and feijoa prunings. Unfortunately, my bargain $1 kale, silverbeet, spinach, caulis and broccolis which I planted got decimated by the chickens again. Grr. I do have spare chicken wire and netting but it looks so ugly in my formal box beds. I've planted violas there too but no flowers. It's really a random bed that I throw anything in hoping it will grow and survive. Kumara seems to be doing well as it's got tenacious roots.
More snowflakes are going under the olive tree. And I'm planting basalm behind the renga renga lillies. Generally tidying up. I better go as its good weather for gardening. Tulips are now in a pot.
Sunday, 29 May 2016
mug shot #4 Frangipani
I tell you photography is not my strong point but I just wanted to show you my frangipani which, if you had been reading when I started this blog had a lot of drama but I think she's worth the price I paid to obtain her.
Frangipani also known as Plumeria is one of those plants that has buds on the terminal axis (ends) which is wonderfully perfumed and has become synonymous with the Pacific Islands as the flower to wear behind your ear to show you are taken! Along with hibiscus, however hibiscus is not as highly perfumed. Frangipani blooms do come in other colours but the white is the most fragrant.
This plant requires a sunny sheltered spot and will lose its leaves when it gets cold but don't be alarmed they will unfurl again in spring. I have her in a pot as she doesn't like to be waterlogged, and I can move her around to shelter if it gets frosty. You can take cuttings although I haven't tried, its certainly cheaper than buying plants at the shop, good sized ones can set you back $130.
As you can see she's got companions including strawberries, bromeliad, fuchsia, and passionfruit.
Thursday, 19 May 2016
Darling buds of May
It seems Cleopatra magnolia is budding again. Is this normal? Her leaves have fallen and she's looking bare.
I planted kale seedlings yesterday as they were 99 cents at the Warehouse (but they didn't give me 1 cents change). I haven't grown them before in my garden so will see if they flourish. Mum likes the leaves.
I have a second mini greenhouse that I put up the other day which is now on the terrace. But other than that I have not done much more gardening. Mum bottled the feijoas and I'll prune them later, she also cut down the mugwort that flowered, right down to the ground. I wonder if I cut back the daisies right to the ground, whether they will sprout again?
I am quite satisfied with my garden at the moment before everything gets frosted over. Two melons have been growing on the neighbours shed roof as they climbed over the fence. How we are going to harvest them without looking like thieves I don't know.
I was thinking about joining the RNZHS but when I asked them 'do you meet up regularly in Auckland and what do you do in meetings?' all they sent me was a invoice! I'm not joining them for $40 when I haven't even met them or received anything from them! The cheek.
So I said 'I'm not paying this, you haven't answered my question'. And they haven't replied. Well nevermind. I did join get growing because at least I receive a newsletter every Friday on email packed with gardening tips and advice. Plus I won a preserving booklet from them the other day, and they have regular competitions, and it was only $10.
So these are my top crops and my flop crops aka what's hot and whats not in gardening world.
TOP
Woodside Community Garden. You gals and guys are great!!!
Get Growing Newsletter - you can even subscribe to this for free
The Warehouse - everyone gets a bargain
Op shops and retired gardeners, thanks for the books.
Gardens 4 Health - preach it!!
FLOP
Palmers Planet. Sorry, too far away and expensive
RNZHS for a horticultural society, I don't really see much evidence of horticulturalling
Kings Plant Barn - I haven't seen you practically all month, but am dismayed you don't have decent tool selection, arches, and put your prices up.
SIT Landscape Design Course. What landscape design course. I still had to pay them and do work for them even when they said there were zero fees. And they didn't teach me anything.
Celebrities who are too busy to chat with non celebrities. Sorry Te Radar, no peaches, you didn't show up so I didn't bother emailing you about feijoas this time.
I planted kale seedlings yesterday as they were 99 cents at the Warehouse (but they didn't give me 1 cents change). I haven't grown them before in my garden so will see if they flourish. Mum likes the leaves.
I have a second mini greenhouse that I put up the other day which is now on the terrace. But other than that I have not done much more gardening. Mum bottled the feijoas and I'll prune them later, she also cut down the mugwort that flowered, right down to the ground. I wonder if I cut back the daisies right to the ground, whether they will sprout again?
I am quite satisfied with my garden at the moment before everything gets frosted over. Two melons have been growing on the neighbours shed roof as they climbed over the fence. How we are going to harvest them without looking like thieves I don't know.
I was thinking about joining the RNZHS but when I asked them 'do you meet up regularly in Auckland and what do you do in meetings?' all they sent me was a invoice! I'm not joining them for $40 when I haven't even met them or received anything from them! The cheek.
So I said 'I'm not paying this, you haven't answered my question'. And they haven't replied. Well nevermind. I did join get growing because at least I receive a newsletter every Friday on email packed with gardening tips and advice. Plus I won a preserving booklet from them the other day, and they have regular competitions, and it was only $10.
So these are my top crops and my flop crops aka what's hot and whats not in gardening world.
TOP
Woodside Community Garden. You gals and guys are great!!!
Get Growing Newsletter - you can even subscribe to this for free
The Warehouse - everyone gets a bargain
Op shops and retired gardeners, thanks for the books.
Gardens 4 Health - preach it!!
FLOP
Palmers Planet. Sorry, too far away and expensive
RNZHS for a horticultural society, I don't really see much evidence of horticulturalling
Kings Plant Barn - I haven't seen you practically all month, but am dismayed you don't have decent tool selection, arches, and put your prices up.
SIT Landscape Design Course. What landscape design course. I still had to pay them and do work for them even when they said there were zero fees. And they didn't teach me anything.
Celebrities who are too busy to chat with non celebrities. Sorry Te Radar, no peaches, you didn't show up so I didn't bother emailing you about feijoas this time.
Wednesday, 11 May 2016
The Fall
Autumn leaves have started to fall, providing mulch for the garden beds. Last Saturday we planted rocket, mizuna, caulis, broccoli and cabbage seedlings at the community garden, and harvested beetroot.
Today JoAnne and I replanted the church hanging baskets with pansies and violas, and also the garden bed, which received a 'Joyful Bliss' Lavender. I thought that might be appropriate for a church entrance.
I found a May issue of NZ Gardener at the Sallies for 20 cents. I sometimes fossick in there for gardening books although I have plenty to keep me going at the moment. The weather hasn't chilled noticeably yet but we have had some foggy mornings. Last years frost came around 26 May so there's still a bit of time, although I've heard the South Island is having a rough time of it weather-wise. Down there they batten down hatches for winter and use frost cloths and green houses. I'm glad I got my mini greenhouse as I have been using it to grow my seedlings, but was chagrinned to find at the Warehouse some in stock were now half price! So if you want to snap up a 4 tier mini greenhouse for $30 do it now.
To satisfy my curiousity, I picked up a book called 'Portrait of a Marriage' about Vita-Sackville West and Harold Nicholson. It was a memoir of their marriage compiled by their son, Nigel. For those in the dark, this couple were the ones behind the famous Sissinghurst Castle garden in Kent, England. What I hadn't expected was a big drama and scandal, or how, reading all this about their marriage, on earth it survived.
My theory is that redemption is found in the garden. They loved their plants so much that they gave up their gay lovers and found common ground gardening. Or maybe it was because only they knew where the bones are buried...
Today JoAnne and I replanted the church hanging baskets with pansies and violas, and also the garden bed, which received a 'Joyful Bliss' Lavender. I thought that might be appropriate for a church entrance.
I found a May issue of NZ Gardener at the Sallies for 20 cents. I sometimes fossick in there for gardening books although I have plenty to keep me going at the moment. The weather hasn't chilled noticeably yet but we have had some foggy mornings. Last years frost came around 26 May so there's still a bit of time, although I've heard the South Island is having a rough time of it weather-wise. Down there they batten down hatches for winter and use frost cloths and green houses. I'm glad I got my mini greenhouse as I have been using it to grow my seedlings, but was chagrinned to find at the Warehouse some in stock were now half price! So if you want to snap up a 4 tier mini greenhouse for $30 do it now.
To satisfy my curiousity, I picked up a book called 'Portrait of a Marriage' about Vita-Sackville West and Harold Nicholson. It was a memoir of their marriage compiled by their son, Nigel. For those in the dark, this couple were the ones behind the famous Sissinghurst Castle garden in Kent, England. What I hadn't expected was a big drama and scandal, or how, reading all this about their marriage, on earth it survived.
My theory is that redemption is found in the garden. They loved their plants so much that they gave up their gay lovers and found common ground gardening. Or maybe it was because only they knew where the bones are buried...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)