General Chat

Good Morning Allan,
Hope you've fully recovered from the exploits of last week.

It really fascinates me that you are growing some of your crops at the same of year as you would do here, despite the seasonal differences.

We can't grumble about our weather, we had three glorious weeks in March - very unusual - and a very dry April too, so we actually need this rain, but could do with it being warmer.

Tec.

The wonder of Mother Nature, Tec!

We have a capsicum plant that is now in flower for the second time this year and already has a few green capsicums on it.

Since renovating the garden we have been able to do a crop rotation and it seems to be working. Previously, due to a lack of space all the crops were grown in one particular area for a number of years.

Needless to say, the quality and quantity of produce deteriorated proportionally.

Allan

Allan it must be very rewarding to see some return for your efforts.
I don't grow any veg here. This garden isn't big enough really. My last place had a huge garden, and I did grow a few things there.
Are you able to grow fruit where you are?

Tec.

Tec, we grow Lemons and grapefruit. We also have an Orange and a Mandarin tree.

We did try plums, nectarines and peaches but the fruit fly got to them so we dug them out. We have also tried apples but with no success.

Allan

Must be wonderful to grow your own citrus fruit - I could image picking my own lemon to go in my G&T.

Well I'm off to bed now - rather tired tonight.
Enjoy your Sunday Allan and all other Down Unders that may follow.

~~~~~~~~~~to Diane,

Goodnight.
Tec.

Good night Tec, and please pass on my regards to the Duchess

Sleep well

Allan

I think you need to be a home gardener in Oz - I was always amazed at the lack of decent veges in the shops there. Brocolli was such a price as was cauli-flower and because cabbage was so expensive you could by a quarter cabbage - which I did as it did us one night in one of our cabins with other veg.

More people here are into grow your own because of the recession - but I am still reasonably happy with the prices at the fruit and veg shops - pick up some good bargains. Both my father and my father-in-law were good gardeners - but we are a bit hopeless. I do think when we fully retire and move from Auckland we will set up a proper garden.

Dad used to grow kale and I even gave him yellow beetroot seeds to grow and whilst the grown beetroot tasted right - the look put you off.

Last night I watched our "Country Calendar"program - we have a farm here that makes Buffalo Mozarella cheese. It was a real treat watching them farm the buffaloes. I was already to break out into song. I am now on the lookout for their cheese as opposed to the Italian import.

All I know about Vodafone David is that when I get to Oz my phone rings three times and texts me with a welcome to Australia - with three different advertisements. I use it to text my family in NZ each day. I am always amazed that the phone knows where I am before I do.

At work tomorrow - so will catch you all Tuesday.

Tec- does your dog wipe its paws before going in the house?

Persey

Just checking in again. I still have my itchy rash and now a further complication, so it's back to more blood tests every couple of days again - whilst I do my best to sleep the time away. Might get better sooner that way.

Allan it's good to see you back again. I'm sure your OH had a lovely week! Talk again to you all later.

Hi everyone,
I hope your rash clears up soon Berona.
I must confess that I don't eat enough fruit and vegs. I rely on vitamin tablets!
It's cold today. like Tec said April was nice so I can't complain. I still went around in my winter coat.

Good morning/evening my friends. Hope you are well:-))

I didn't get on yesterday because we decided that we would drive up the mountain and go to a country market. We've been before to this particular one but not for awhile. We had a great time rummaging through tables and boxes of just about everything you could imagine. We bought books, fresh veggies, eggs and I bought some curtaining and upholstery remnants at a very good price to make cushions . We also sat in the sun and had coffee and homemade cake and chatted to a number of people who shared our table. We then went for a drive through the country-side. It being autumn the leaves are all turning brown and red. We came on a small village which we've never seen before and they were having a produce market in the street. So we were able to buy vegetable seedlings for the garden and a couple of pots of pansies. They also had tulip bulbs but for all we were only an hour away from home the difference in climate is quite dramatic so although I was tempted to buy some I decided to leave them to a colder climate. All in all a wonderful way to spend Sunday.

Sue xx

Strange how we become attached to our gardens - I was very attached to the garden at my last house - it was a large private garden, and I'd created various "rooms" or areas of different character to create interest and variety. My favourite area was mostly architectural plants and small trees, with a fish pond, and lots of ferns and moss covered rocks. Then there was a cottage garden area with old fashioned plants and flowers.
I like to walk around my garden and remember who gave me which plants, or where I'd bought the,. The palm tree in my front garden here is very special to me because a favourite aunt, now gone, grew it from seed. It's now ten feet high, and is known as "Auntie Dolly"

Some of you will know of the old song "Come Into The Garden Maud"
This is Mauds response -

Maud won't come into the garden
Maud is compelled to state,
Though you stand there for hours in amongst the flowers
Down by the garden gate.
Maud won't come into the garden,
Sing to her as you may.
Maud says she begs your pardon
But she wasn't born yesterday.

But Maud's not coming into the garden
Thanking you just the same.
Though she looks so pure, you may be quite sure
Maud's on to your little game.
Maud knows she's been dampening,
And how damp you must already be,
So Maudie is now decamping
To her lovely hot water b.

Frankly, Maud wouldn't dream of coming into the garden,
Let that be understood,
When the nights are warm, Maud knows the form,
Maud has read "Little Red Riding Hood".
Maud did not need much warning,
She watched you with those pink gins,
So she bids you a kind "Good Morning"
And advises you two aspirins.

You couldn't really seriously think that Maud was going to be such a sucker as to come into the garden,

Flowers set her teeth on edge
And she's much too old for the strangle hold
In a prickly privet hedge.
Pray stand 'till your arteries harden
It won't do the slightest good,
Maud is not coming into the garden
And you're mad to have thought she would.

Joyce Grenfell.

Good Morning Sue,

Your day out sounds wonderful, and very interesting. I love those country markets - you never know what you might find, or what you might come home with.
That sounds like the perfect way to spend a Sunday, and I'm sure you both enjoyed it.

Tec.

Good evening/morning all

lol, Maud sounds like a fraud, Tec, but she obviously knows how many beans make five!

Thanks for the welcome back, Berona. I'm sorry to hear that you are still having health problems :0((.

On the positive side, at least it shows that you are not allergic to me, although some of my attempts at humour well may leave you groaning!

Sue, you sound as though you had a great Sunday. Don't forget, you can put Tulip bulbs in the vegie crisper of your fridge for a few days to 'condition' them

~~~~~~~~~~ to CC, Diane, Janet and Persey

Allan

Hello Tec - that was very funny. It reminded me of a tale mum told me years ago. My grandma was called Maud and one day grandad was singing "Come into the garden, Maud" for the umpteenth time and grandma yelled out from the kitchen "we don't have a garden and if we did I haven't got time for that nonsense".

We did have a lovely time, Tec. It was also nice seeing all the young families out and about. I watched 3 little ones carefully looking through a box of old toys and books with some money in their hands. Obviously they had been given something to spend and they were going to get the most for their money.

Sue xx

Hi, Allan. I've done that Allan but only with bulbs that were bought at our local garden centre. Will that work with bulbs that have been grown in a colder climate once they are put in pots or the garden?

Sue xx

Good Morning Allan,

How are you today?
Have you shown your face to the local wheelie bins since your return? and are they still talking to you, knowing that you've been fraternising with those wayward bins in Margaret River?

Tec.

Good morning Sue.

There's one way to find out about the bulbs :0))

Over the years we have experimented with plants and fruit, sometimes successfully, other times not!

The Shire of Harvey is a well known citrus growing area whilst the Shire of Donnybrook is well known for its apples and stone fruit. Both the towns are about 50 kms from where we live but the climates are totally different.

That is probably why we have had no success with apples.

Allan

Good evening Tec,

I have indeed been out to pour oil on troubled waters, as it were, and I have reassured the local bins that my intentions over Margaret River way were srtictly honourable!

Allan

Sue, I remember some time ago running one of the stall at a charity bric a brac sale. A small boy looked at a set of old enamel saucepans of various sizes - How much? he asked, What do you want them for I said - "Me Mum" 5p I said - "ok I'll have them"
So off he went with clanging saucepans.

I would loved to have seen mums face.............

Tec.

Oh, the wayward bin is a restless bin
A restless bin that yearns to wander
And I was born the next of kin
The next of kin to the wayward bin

Allan