Happy New Year!

Hippy New Year everyone!

May 2017 bring love, peace and happiness to you all!

Out in the Veggie Patch

Hello dear friends,

I think it is time for a garden update. All the plants in the veggie patch are growing great.

This plant came up by itself in the compost.  I thought it was a rock melon (cantaloupe), but it appears to be one of the "Greek" cucumbers I grew last season.

I have tomatoes popping up everywhere.  They have grown out of the fresh compost I put in the beds.

I might actually get a good crop this year, and hopefully get enough for making sauce and the like.

Baby Zucchinis...

Baby cucumbers...

The rhubarb is doing well...

I have a baby eggplant...

 Some of the tomato plants are reaching the top and touching the shade cloth now, not sure what I am going to do about that...

 I am happy with how the veggies are progressing, they seem to like this way of growing, and so do I.  Our water bill dropped quite a bit last year...

Zucchini plant I raised from seed.

 Red capsicum plant.

I was a bit late planting apple cucumber seeds this year so I haven't picked any yet. They wont be long though as they have flowers.

We have moved a couple of baths ready to make into wicking beds. They just need to be made level,and they ready to go. We have another three to move over from the other side. 

 This is one of the older wicking beds.  I have decided to keep this one and plant a variety of "all sorts" in there.  I have planted a neglected rose bush and some lavender. Some lemon grass, ginger and chives. It seems to be keeping quite moist with the pea straw mulch on top.

The rose bush appears to be happy as it is getting buds.

The lavender.

This bed is producing the yummiest of strawberries

 Figs...

 One lonely fruit on this tree.  First time fruiting and it is a type of mango, but I cant remember the name.

 Nectarines...

 Mandarins for next winter...

 Grannies...

 The grapes suffered in the heat on Christmas day, not sure I can save them...

And I am picking heaps of apricots.

Apart from madly stewing for the freezer, I am solar drying the fruit. I may have to dig out the preserving kit I think, the tree is loaded.

 Some peaches and apricots almost dried.

  And another fresh batch. I lay them on non stick baking paper as it makes it easier to remove them. They tend to stick to the wire otherwise.

What a difference a day can make. I started this post yesterday and as I am writing this tonight there is a huge storm happening outside.  The wind is horrific and I do not know what state the garden will be in by morning.  I know all the apricots will be on the ground and possibly being eaten by the ants!

This is the thing with mother nature. She is unpredictable and one never knows what she has in store. There have been floods in Northern Australia and now a warning of possible flooding here.

We have had rain, but at what cost I wonder? I will find out when the sun rises tomorrow. Stay safe anyone that is caught up in this storm.

How is your garden growing? Are you reaping the rewards of growing your own?

See you soon.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all my friends a very Merry Christmas! 

I hope you have a lovely day spent with your dear loved ones.

It is going to be a hot one here.  We are expecting 43C (109.4F), so 

cold meat and salad for us. 

All the preparations are done and the day is about to arrive.

See you in the New Year.

God Bless.