Frustration

As a gardener, the most frustrating job is the one where you can't ever seem to get ahead. It doesn't help when the client only wants to see you every other month AND you only have four hours to get everything done. Also doesn't help if they have a very weedy garden. So you spend most of your time weeding and not doing actual gardening. Very frustrating! The client usually has no concept on time and what has to be done especially in different seasons. We understand don't we that there's more to do in Autumn (especially if you're in a deciduous zone) than Winter or Summer & in Spring, its just nuts! But some people who are horticulture illiterate have absolutely no concept of this at all! Also weather has its own dilemmas. You don't get as much done in the 30 + days and obviously in the rain. If its pouring, no work (should) can be done! Although every worker is different. Enjoy the frustration peoples! :)

Happy new year!

I hope everyone had a fabulous new year and didn't get too drunk.  For someone who doesn't drink (anymore), its always nice to know that I may be one of the only ones without a hangover on new years day.  Did that sound sadistic? Every day, my son and I wonder outside.  He loves it.  I do believe he's like his mum, needing the fresh air.  He was, of course tentative at first, to crawl - new textures of grass and concrete.  Now, he loves it.  He loves helping me pull the leaves out of the pots.  Getting his hands dirty.  He feels the different leaves and is gentle when I tell him to be.  Doesn't mind the sun but doesn't really like wearing his hat.  As well as the different tactile experience, he likes being carried around the garden.  We noticed yesterday that the cliveas are about to flower - excellent!  They survived after I divided them a few months ago.  Our cinnamon pelagonium is also flowering.  We have many flowers and some fruit on the tomato bushes.  Its very exciting.  My husband planted a passion fruit a few months ago and its starting to go nuts too.  (Not literally, because that would be odd.  And imagine that fabulous mutant plant - passion fruit/nut!  Love it!!)

It will be a nice 24 degrees today, hotting up over the next few days.  I do hope this year will be more exciting than last year.  Lets hear it for 2013! :)

December including Christmas

What’s your favourite thing about this time of year?  The artificial lights on houses?  The random acts of kindness by individuals.  The very bizarre but completely normal Melbourne weather.  Wondering whether one will need an umbrella or sunscreen?  I love it all.  I am not a very religious person, but I see Christmas as a fabulous time around family.  As our family is expanding, the better Christmas gets.  At the moment, the weather is very odd.  I have vegies that have gone to seed way too early.  I also have fruiting tomatoes already.  It sure is a magical time to be in the garden.  This humidity is doing wonders for everything.  The rain and dry days too.  To reflect back on the year its been amazing.  I have orchids that have flowered for the first time.  I have Cliveas who have flowered twice.  The roses are just beautiful this year.  I believe the aphids have been less.  Everything seems more green.  All the different types of green...its just wonderful.  It still amazes me that some people would rather concrete in their backyards than the myriad shades of green.  Then we have the mixes that defy fashion.  An example: Chorizema cordatum, a beautiful plant which is pink and orange and is exquisite, however on the cat walk, a scary thought! I am not a huge fan of the colour pink however Croweas are known in their pink form.  Deep red bottlebrush are wonderful.  Lilac irises are startling.  I have a Hibbertia obtusifolia in a hanging basket and it is flowering at the moment.  People say that natives are boring have not really had a good look at the spectacular views in the bush.  For the moment, I am just in awe of the outside world.  Whether it be a flower, an insect or grass, it is great to be welcomed outside.  We are so lucky to have a garden and to be gardeners.  Merry Christmas and have a happy new year!

Hail to the Gardener

It is a wonderful time of year.  It is also a busy time of the year.  Especially for the gardener because the client wants everything spick and span and looking fabulous for the big day in December.  Its amazing to me that some people forget that some tasks require quite a lengthy amount of time to really come together, however they ring up the gardener two weeks before Christmas and expect their job to be done.  A busy time indeed, for the humble gardener.  So hail to the Gardener at this time of year.  The over-worked, under paid gardener.  Sometimes people look down upon us, but we don't mind, because we're happy with the job we do and accomplish.  The gardener enjoys seeing a single plant grow from a seed or cutting they have planted.  If you have a gardener, or know someone who is one, please hug them!  They are a lovely people and will hug back!  ;)  But not in a creepy way!

Herbs

I love herbs and the great thing about herbs is there is a variety to be grown and consumed throughout the year. What's growing in my garden at the moment? I have perennial basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, chives, mint, Vietnamese mint and the end of coriander, a personal favourite of mine.
I have just learnt recently that there are some do's and don't's in companion plantings. As we know, basil & tomatoes work really well together and why is this? Its because aphids and whiteflies hate it. And bees love it.
Other good companion plants? For roses, use garlic and parsley for aphids. For apples,fennel is good for coddling moths. Apricots need basil, tansy and southernwood as they may reduce fruit fly. The chemicals they use in insecticides are poisonous not just to the insect they are supposedly eradicating but also to many good insects, to the atmosphere and most importantly, to you. So on any plant which may be consumed by you and your family - because lets face it, washing with water isn't going to get rod of all residues of the chemicals. - use an insect repellant made from herbs. Basil is good for white fly and flies. Garlic is good for ants, aphids, and snails. Herbs are good for many things. I have mint close by for a refreshing tea; and having herbs in vases on my window sill in the kitchen is the best place to add herbs in my cooking! :-)