I was telling my new neighbour about the birds we have back at the old place (the one we're selling). He got a little defensive, telling me about all the birds we have in the new place and how people come and photograph them. True, and there are some amazing birds, but so far nothing has compared to the bird life we have at the old gaff. Jamie's counted some 76 different species. The place is lit with them. There's just no way to explain it.
We've got an opportunity here to build a new bird haven, of course, but that takes a while. There's a bit of aaaah as we we tidy up the old place every week, hoping someonoe will fall in love with it and buy it. It's fucking beautiful. It's impossible to explain how gorgeous it is.
And even more so now with the grapevine twisting around the central vegetable garden, and the elder in full leaf and blossom. Everything is so shaded, green, vibrant. It's a magic land of colour and life. Whilst some of the fruit trees have already flowered, some are still starting, like the apple - I wish I remembered the name of this apple, as it's one of the best I've ever tasted. I also wish I knew how to propagate them!
I do know, however, how to propagate lavender, so I gathered a heap of cuttings to put in soil to grow. One needs lavender for the bees, let alone tea! I'll wait til the iris stops flowering before I go around taking bulbs from my favourite colours. Any tips here?
If the house sells soon, I'll be convinced it's because of the garden rather than the house itself. This week we had a couple of bites, but still don't know if they'll come to the party. Selling a house is such a nerve wracking experience but there's one feedback common to everyone that comes through - the garden is incredible.
This year I have a ton of cabbages forming and nearly ready to pick. The yellow beetroot is starting to go to seed and I really must pickle them. I made the best beetroot pickle this year, stuffed full of herbs and chilli. I can't get enough and regret playing around with another variety when the one I used to plant was so delicious and grew so well. All the silverbeet has gone to seed now. We have heaps of snow peas but since Jamie doesn't eat them I'm usually just munching on them in the garden. I don't want to plant too much as I wont see it come to harvest but I will plant a few things like tomato and zucchini if I have some left over seedlings, because I would appreciate it if someone did the same to me.
The kangaroo paw in the pot above is flowering now - I was given it by a friend when Dad died, and a year after his death, it's thriving. Paws do well in pots! You just got to plant the dwarf variety. I find them harder in the garden as they're messier and straggly and need too much maintenance.
The artichokes are just about to burst into flower - I love these, but don't know if I'll have room for them at the new place. That's a long way away anyway - currently I'm just concentrating on improving the soil and waiting for Jamie to get done with the renovation so that he can help me build infrastructure. I have found myself constantly reassuring him that in a few years, our garden will be just as beautiful, if not so expansive. However, he's really sad to be leaving this little paradise. I think I've switched that emotional side off a little - there's no point in crying over leaving. One just needs to put energy into planting anew.
With Love,
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Would you mind sharing your beet pickle recipe? That sounds rather delicious...
The iris that I have in the garden is an unkillable beast. Had a few bulbs in a bag for a around 3 months, they didn't care at all. Just started sprouting a little after I planted them. I was told though that it's better to cut off 2/3 of the leaves, so they just have leaf stumps left, more or less 15cn high. That's supposed to help with rooting. Mine didn't care, either way they just took over.
My artichoke didn't make it. I think I don't have the right soil. There are many plants at Lily's school, so I'll read up on it and try again. I really have to get into studying soil again...
Hope the house sells quickly! From what I see, it is indeed very likely that the garden is the main point of selling. Maybe you should change focus, and market is as "Garden for sale! House included."
Haha I like that!!!! The problem with our home is that it was built as a kit home. It's been modernized and renovated by us but it doesn't appeal to people who love their massive huge new builds. So we just have to wait for the right person.
I never intended to grow irises but after I experienced the joy of one I was hooked! They are very easy to grow. All that energy in the bulb. And I forget what colour I planted where so Spring is always a surprise!
You'd think artichokes would grow in anything... They are thistles after all! But yes soil health is everything. You just have to use bioactivators... Anything that encourages microbes and bacteria. Milk, even. Compost. Fertilser tea... Get a bucket and chuck water, handfuls of cow or horse manure, compost, broadleaf weeds .. water that into the soil.
Pickle recipe... Just standard half vinegar half water (I always add extra vinegar as I like it). For the beetroot one, I roast the beetroot with olive oil first. As it's roasting I fill the bottom of my jars with herbs eg garlic, chilli, oregano, thyme, garlic chives, peppercorns, coriander seeds. I heat the vinegar mix. Then the roast beetroot including juice goes in the jar with the vinegar mix. I keep in fridge, don't eat for a few weeks so flavour deepens. So good.
Thank you! That sounds like a really good mix of spices for beets, I'll try it out as soon as the situation here is resolved and I can order jars again 😅
I'll give the artichokes another try. The good thing is that there are more than enough at the school, and they're happy if I take one away from time to time as they spread very well.
They've got pretty good roots. I still add straw and manure to mine as it can't hurt for the 'fruit' or edible flower. Love them so much!
Do I see a lemon here too, oh yes:)
Beautiful garden
I have a huge lemon and lime tree I will miss!
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STOPWow, I can really feel the love and connection you have with your garden. Your garden is full of life, I like the arrangement and the plants you planted.
Hey, I really love how beautiful that place looks.
I swear, when I see it, I think to myself that I would love to be in a place like that, working, or just spending a few days there to disconnect from everything virtual.
I love how you took the picture of the flowers, and seriously, I would be happy spending a few days there.
Thankyou. I wish you could!