Autumn colours

A week of work

I've taken a week off this week to get the raised beds back into production. 

The first job was putting into effect the third or fourth attempt at securing the windproof fabric which acts as bird/chicken proofing for the garden. 

I haven't managed to finish it because our local hardware store only stocked about a quarter of the shackles that I need. The shackles are already a second choice behind snap hooks which are too expensive. I've got cable ties as a stop gap (literally) and will try horticultural wire next. 

It's been lovely to spend the days outdoors. There aren't so many birds around as it's still a bit hot but the insects are plentiful. 

Our more permanent bed, home to herbs and fruit, had sprouted lots of mushrooms. I'm not sure what brought them in but it must have been something.

I'll be planting asparagus in this bed today.  

I planted up half of the vegetable bed with celery, spring onions, sugar snap peas and broad beans - all past success stories. I have lettuce now too for the other end of the bed. 

And then the nervous wait begins to see what survives our never ending summer. 

The rabbits got some kale and silverbeet that I pulled up. I let them mingle too in an effort to bond them. They spent time exploring each other's territory and all was going well until Annie found Henry in her hutch and the fur flew! I'll try again today. Wish me luck! 

Sunday Stroll

We spotted a tractor parked up by the gate today and went out to have a look. The local contractor left it so that he can mow the paddock this week. The sheep will be pleased. 

Going to seed

Cow parsley, swan plant and chives. 

First Frost

Impulse purchases

I bought some seedlings at the supermarket. Leek, beetroot, cauliflower, broccoli, parsley, pak choy and two types of salad.  

There were rather more plants per bundle than I expected so it's all quite tightly packed now. But I can always thin out some of the baby vegetables to eat when they're young and tender.

Hot stuff

I transplanted this chilli plant into the raised beds before going overseas. It's done so well that we can be sure that the irrigation system is working.

There are new flowers and lots of new fruit. I was worried by the fruit turning black but they're green underneath and apparently it's a stage in them turning red. Fingers crossed! 

Fungus

Rainbow Season

The strawberries have gone,
Asparagus is done.

The night is almost cold,
The leaves are turning gold. 

 

Gardens have few flowers,

Sunshine comes with showers. 

The season of rainbows.

Well-watered

We came home from our holidays to a bountiful harvest so we're fairly sure the newly installed irrigation system worked effectively in our absence. 

The celery and spring onions were so large that I needed a bucket to bring them upstairs. 

And I've got so much curly kale and silver beet that I'm going to swap with a neighbour for eggs (our chickens are laying elsewhere again). 

There's a basket of limes too, ready for juicing and to add flavour to a fish curry - our new Good Friday tradition? 

Witch hazel

Rainbow season returns

Autumn Sunshine

Paddock 3

Red and gold

(Not) cooking on gas

This was our first attempt at cooking on the stove - a pan of spaghetti. It bubbled and boiled away nicely and cooked the pasta to perfection. Success!

Midwinter Christmas 2

Here are the mini bead wreaths that I mentioned in yesterday's post.

I'm a dreadful hoarder. Actually, I'm a really good hoarder. Great at storing things up and admiring them from time to time. I'm just useless at using the things that I hoard. So I took out some of my favourite beads and some old earrings which I no longer wear but couldn't bear to part with and turned them into these crafty Christmas decorations.

I've no idea how they'll look on the Christmas tree but I'm hoping for a homemade, found-objects kind of look. More of a faded pioneer Christmas than a modern, glossy Christmas. I think I just need one more collection of baubles to balance the look - probably some pine cones or seashells if I have any left over from the larger wreath that I'm planning...

Midwinter Christmas 1

As winter approaches, I'm feeling festive. I don't think we'll bother to hold a mid-winter Christmas celebration as some kiwis do. Instead I have been busy making Christmas decorations.

Our local community has recently set up a swap system whereby things that would otherwise be thrown away are offered up to neighbours who might find a new use for someone's unwanted goods. When someone mentioned that they had a box of textile swatches, I thought this was a good way to start a fabric stash. A bag of pinecones for firelighting was deemed to be a good trade and so I picked up the box of scraps and started sorting.

I've found lots of pieces suitable for making rag rugs and some lovely bits which will make baby clothes. I wanted instant gratification though and set about making some mini rag wreaths for our Christmas tree.

Bold red, gold and green or icy silver colour schemes seem strange for a summertime Christmas so I'm planning a a more natural, sun-bleached Christmas display.

I've been busy making bead wreaths in co-ordinating colours too - check back tomorrow for a sneak preview of those - and I'm planning on a seashell wreath for the front door and some bunting for the deck. Watch this space!

Golden Brown