Tis The Season To Be Jolly...

The tree is decorated, the cards strung from the mantle and the prezzies wrapped...yes I decided not to be a Grinch this Christmas and try to get my festive groove on. Remembering how magical it was as a child to look at all the decorations and lights and how exciting it was to see a present with your name on it under the tree when visiting family (and desperately trying to figure out what it might be) ahhh yes, after many years of being able to ignore it, I have found the seasonal spirit after all. Last week the girls came to stay with me and it was lovely seeing them tucked up in their beds like little angels sleeping peacefully under the fairy lights. Such a lovely sight!

Over the last few weeks I have been so busy, I kept taking photos to update here but by the time I was free to write I was too tired to. Looking at the pictures this afternoon I realised just how much everything has grown in the garden and that the photos I did take are quite redundant now. So I popped outside and took a whole lot of new ones that reflect just how the garden is looking.

  

The sunflowers have grown so tall, so far they aren’t as high as last years ones but they are still growing and will look spectacular no matter their size. I am looking forward to seeing them flower in a group because last year they were singled in the garden and although still impressive, it will be nice to see a sea of blooms.

The purple teepee beans are delicious! They haven’t made it inside yet because I top and tail them in the garden and eat them right there. Aside from being the most seductive shade of purple, they are sweet and juicy...definitely one I will be growing again but next time I will plant lots of them and maybe some might even make it to the kitchen.

Here are the pumpkins I planted about a month ago, they are starting to spill over the sides of the concrete tub so I have started to layer old boxes around on the ground to help keep any weeds and grass down. Once the pumpkins start to grow the weight will hold the cardboard down and provide weed control.  There is also a gherkin in there somewhere and four little corn plants, next year I will try to have a lot more gherkins because I don’t think one plant will do much at all but its good for a first year trial run to see how well they grow here.

It has been quite interesting comparing the tomato plants in different parts of the garden. This is the orange blossom I planted in the largest hanger. As you can see it is growing very well as are the other ones I put into the other hangers. They have quite a few flowers and I can already see one teeny little tom starting to grow. The plants I put under the stairs are starting to get a few flowers and look very lush and healthy but the ones I put into the new garden  have taken awhile to get going and although they are starting to get bigger I have been wondering if maybe it is too hot there for them?

There are random wildflowers popping up all around the property which is really nice. This is one that the bumble bees just love and it brings lots of colour to a odd spot in the garden.

The Urenika potatoes have been growing so well I am hoping for a bumper crop from them. I need to add some more soil into the drum but they seem to be very happy at the moment. I cant wait for the moment my hands can dive into the soil and rummage around for some new potatoes.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

A big hello! The last few weeks have been all go and no slow but I am back to show you what I have been up to. Today we had the most amazing thunder storm, forked lightning and heavy rain...it was beautiful! Long growly rumbles followed by deafening claps that shook my little house and then flashes of lightning...A symphony of nature at its best. Looking out to sea and right over the house were the most lovely blue/black/grey clouds...a sight in themselves, I love the skyline here it is always changing minute to minute, hour to hour. Sadly no photos of our impromptu show though, my camera objects to being taken out for a shower. Here are some photos of how well the garden is enjoying this crazy weather though...brrr, it’s getting chilly! The house looks like a Chinese laundry at the moment...

Last week I had two little guests stay for the week which meant Aunty was up extra early and then I was banished to my bedroom early, though once they were snoring their little heads off I could sneak out for a cuppa. Because it was such a busy week the poor gardens got neglected a little but it did them not harm them at all...in fact everything had gone nuts! The sunflowers are starting to really show themselves now and starting to be out of Sugars reach, I am going to have to put some longer stakes in to support them and remove the little ones to use for the gherkin and eggplants that need to go in.

The corn is coming along nicely though the second lot I put in only half a dozen grew but I am happy to see how it goes as this year is a year of learning  what varieties I like, what grows well here and the best times to grow and plant the seedlings being so close to the coast. The beans and peas and looking lovely and most are growing quite well (I did lose a couple), the spinach is looking so yummy I am planning on an omelette stuffed with spinach and cheese soon.

My biggest surprise was the Urenika which had grown to the top of the drum. I got some dirt quick smart to top it up but will need a few more buckets to get it all done. Did a good weed in there the other day and it is looking fabulous.

The new tub has two crown prince pumpkins in it, a gherkin plant (the only one that come up) and the eight or so bantam corn in it so far. The pumpkins which have been in longer are growing very happily and have quite a few leaves on them.

Here are the two luffa plants I put into the terracotta pipes in the hope I can train them to climb the balcony, they are slowly getting bigger but look healthy so I am not worried. The tomatoes in the garden under the stairs are so much bigger and healthier than the ones in the big garden which I am putting down to the dry windy weather we have been getting...they are rather exposed in their current positions. The tomatoes in the wire baskets are looking great and getting so much bigger, soon it will be time for a trimming.

The white sage has grown a lot in the last few weeks so I should be able to make some more smudge sticks soon. My other sage is growing much slower but hopefully once the weather picks up it will burst forth so I can sage the chook house. I went and picked them up two fresh bales of hay last week for their bedding, hopefully that will last a little while...and keep them happily laying lots of delicious eggs for me!

 

There are loads of red currants on my bushes at the moment, I have saved some of the seeds to see if I can raise some more. The raspberries and cranberry have lots of little flowers and berries starting so I am getting excited about scoffing those in a nice fruit salad. The seedlings I planted are slowly getting there...I have quite a few dragonfruit, two types of passionfruit, goji berry and at last, what seems to be a cape gooseberry. 

There are four more types of tomato to go in and some basil...tomatoes like basil. I do need to get some mix to repot the tamarillo and passionfruit this week, they loved the sunshine we had.

Now this I need to share just because it’s so cute. Mr found the shade sail...the perfect spot for sunning himself in the large hammock with bush and sea views I installed just for him...well, you would think so anyways! It seems to make the big lump quite frisky and he appears to quite enjoy swatting the dog as he walks past. Yesterday, while he was slothed out in it, the wind picked up and he was riding it like a wave. It looked so funny but Mr Cool just hung on and rolled with it...he is such a dude!