Hello Dhaaarlings...
Princess has continued to remain busy despite trying to slow down...
Over the past few weeks the palais grounds have been snipped, slashed, pruned back, weeded, mown, raked, fed and watered, dug up and replanted to within an inch of it's life... and is now looking more like a garden again rather than an overgrown jungle of weeds and neglected plants...
Even Spot did some supervising...
Even Spot did some supervising...
It's been hard work but I'm feeling good and after 10 trailer loads of green waste have become best friends with the person on the gate at the local tip/green waste recycling centre...
At least the orchard is looking neat and tidy... even if the Apricot is struggling with fruit this year... We got pruning a little late...
The roses have been a picture... "Blue Moon" continues to climb over the arbour but sadly I lost my favourite "Black Boy" Climber. It finally succumbed to the dreaded "Black Spot" despite regular spraying... but it put up a valiant struggle right until the end... You can see what is left of it in the picture above with "Spot" the dog supervising... It will be getting dug out and replaced with another very soon...
The pink climbing rose "Leonardo de Vinci" has been a stunner this year but is somewhat shaded out by the Apple Tree...
The Vegetable patch had been very neglected and most of the bathes were only growing weeds over autumn and winter...
But now look at them..
Sno Peas Chard/Silverbeet and varieties of minuette lettuce
Many of the lettuce are self sown from last years crop going to seed and are also popping up all through the surrounding lawn areas...
A bath full of Zucchini/Courgette with a self sown Tomato... Sweetcorn and Lebanese Cucumbers in the bathe to the right...
The first of the Purple Dwarf Bush Beans are just starting to reach harvesting size...
Sharing a bath with climbing string less beans that are engaged in a battle with the Wisteria for territory on the climbing frame... (Between you and me the Wisteria is in for a pruning tomorrow)
The bed base in front of the beans and tomato plants is one of two that I scored for free that were on their way to the tip.
I think they will make a terrific climbing frame for cucumbers or beans or Sno peas or cherry tomatoes next season
Zucchini with it's first crop of fruit not quite big enough to pick just yet but give them another day or two and well have fresh Zucchini Slice...Mmmm...
Sno Peas still manage to astonish me with the rate at which they grow. Pods that are too small to pick one day almost double in size overnight ready to pick the next morning...
I have had the same parsley plant growing in the same pot for about 10 years now... It has survived the worst of the droughts by growing smaller leaves and when water has been plentiful it takes off again producing large lush bunches of leaves... I walk past it every day but barely even notice it...
Today I stopped to examine it a little closer and to see if it needed some more soil
I was surprised to see the size of it's stalk!
It is quite huge...With another offshoot about half it's size half way along... Now I know why the plant always looks so bushy... it could probably do with a top up of soil but now I'm worried that the shock might kill it!
This is what it usually looks like when just walking past it...
I've planted tomato bushes in both pots and baths this year, hoping to be able to harvest enough to preserve and or make sauce... we will have to wait and see... Last year we managed to bottle cherry tomato's which have been well used in batches of bolognaise and added to pasta for a quick healthy meal.
When they start to fruit I'll post mor pics...
Until next time darlings you know where to find me...
I'll be head down and Bottom up somewhere in the garden...
Gorgeous; what a peaceful sanctuary ... and with your own food, too! You must have the green thumb; I, myself, have the blackish thumb so luckily Carlos tends to most of our plants.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you have a Carlos Bob.
DeleteThe garden is quite the sanctuary here considering that we live right on a main road... much of the road noise is blocked by the trees and shrubs muffle the sound as well
WOW! Amazing gardening by Princess and supervision by Spot!
ReplyDeleteThe third photo is especially stunning. Well done.
Thanks mate... I love a bit of colour and pots are brillant for this as you can change the colour scheme and vriety of plants you grow each season
DeleteOh, Princess! Your garden is just stunning (as usual)! Well done Spot!
ReplyDeleteI love a good tangle of nasturtiums, and yours look lovely with those daisy-type flowers growing amongst them. Everything has come on so well, hasn't it?
And your orchard looks like it's doing a fine job at blocking the view from the new appartments/flats/whatevertheyare - You can indulge in a spot of nude sunbathing after all!
It makes a huge difference when we get decent seasonal rains to give the soil a head start in the moisture holding stakes... I used to spend a fortune on soil wetting agents and still ended up with a dust bowl.
DeleteThe fruit trees have provided a nice foil from the ugly brown bricks of the units next door so nuding up will still be a summer persuit...
impressive, sugar! sadly, my attempts are gardening have resulted in pots of death things! i had one good summer of basil, but nothing since then. i figure someone has to support the local farmers markets, so it might as well be me! ;) xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks Savvy, basil is finikerty to grow here as it seems to prefer a semi shaded spot and lots of water. I've finally managed to get some to grow in recent years.\
DeleteFarmers markets are a good alternative to growing your own produce and they often get a better return than what the big supermarkets want to pay them for their goods...
Nice whimsical touches throughout, such as the old bed frames.
ReplyDeleteTa MJ
DeleteThe bedframes will come in real handy. I nearly bought some old toilet bowls the other day at the tip recycle depot. Thought they would be good with tomatoes growing in them. We already have old baths for the veges so we may as well expand on the theme... Sadly the Empress didn't like the idea all that much...
Right! Here's the deal...you give yourself some time-off and pop up here and help me with the wisteria,jasmine, cestrum, petrea,wild figs, terminalia and way too many palms!Oh, and bring a few of your nasturtiums to shame mine into doing better.
ReplyDeleteYour place looks absolutely lush and wonderful!A proper garden, with so many surprises.
Thanks Dinahmow and welcome to th Palais...
DeleteA trip up north sounds very inviting... I once lived in Townsville on 2 acres of natural bush. I loved all the different tropical blooms. Planted lots of gingers and haliconias which were a real colourful display
Oh, I am soooo jealous! We are just having our first frosts here, and our nasturtiums (always the first to get caught by the cold) look like a load of soggy handkerchiefs... Your garden is lovely, and it certainly seems like a bountiful harvest! Jx
ReplyDeleteAfter such a protraced winter it is lovely to see the garden literally burst into bloom Jon. The first bit of sunshine and it's off! Soggy hankrchiefs are a great description for old nasturtiums...They do tend to get a bit slimy as they rot away after a frost
DeleteThank you so much for sharing such wonderful pictures of your garden of Eden, Princess!
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are gorgeous! What stunning arrangements--both the manmade and naturally wild ones! Fantastic! Spot did a very excellent job supervising. And you did an outstanding job of tending and creating a paradise!
I luv that you recycle and creatively use many different materials to enhance and craft such a lush, rich, and fabulous garden! I am particularly astonished at the amazing variety and diversity of delicious fruits and veggies and herbs that have grown so magnificently in your spectacular garden! I'm both mesmerized and delighted (and hungry!) looking at the wonderful, marvelous fruits of your labor! You have a gift! Thank you for sharing these wonderful.fotos with us! Please keep us posted on the development and growth of your garden. You're all ready reaping a bountiful, delicious harvest! Now I'm motivated to shop for veggies and fruits tomorrow at the local farm stands and market! Thank you.
Thanks Mr Swings... The Sno peas have just about finished and i'm about to put in some more, we have had some zucchini in a lovely stir-fry the other nite for tea...
DeleteI'm with Jon, I didn't prepare for the frosts and have lost my Geraniums. My own fault.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is gorgeous - I wish I was as industrious as you!
Please give Spot a kiss from me!
Sx
Woof! I guess that's a thankyou from spot. Sorry to hear that about your Geraniums Miss Scarlet... Thankfully or sadly Geraniums tend to gow like weeds in thiese parts, rain hail frost or drought they just keep on growing and often need to be taken to quite severely, with the pruning shears...
DeleteIt looks lovely Dear!
ReplyDeleteThanks Damien... it is hard work but worth the effort...
DeleteAll this post did is make me want summer already! Your place and grounds are stunning. I could definitely see a elegant table set up in the nook of those gorgeous gardens to take tea.
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me Maddie, I have a picnic table and seats that i'd purchased the timber and paint to refurbish some years back... I'll have to go hunt for them and get the project happening now i have the time...
DeleteI'm taken with the stack of car tyre planters, exquisite.
ReplyDeleteUsually Mitzi I grow spuds in the stacked tyres but this year didn't get around to doing it... The closest they got to being planted out was to dump a clump of garlic chives into the shorter of the two stacks... they are growing a treat...
DeleteI'm already having winter doldrums and I live in Florida. Keep us informed of the summer bounty. Oh, and what Mitzi said, I have four lying around in the shed...
ReplyDeleteJust drag them out into a corner of the yard, stack them up, fill them with soil or potting mix and throw in a few seed potatoes, you'll have your own tower of potato power in no time Mr Pirate...
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