Winter work

The fruit and herb bed before weeding. 

The rabbits after I'd weeded. 

Our rhubarb is flowering! 

The new compost bay. 

A few useful bits and pieces. 

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! 

Welcome Annie!

Annie is a two year old cross-breed who we adopted from the SPCA as a companion for Jasper back in September. I think Jasper missed Jemima too much though and he wasn't too welcoming to Annie. They'd happily munch on some pickings from the raised beds, side by side, but weren't very snuggly otherwise. I hope though that they enjoyed each other's company in their semi-detached hutches. 

Of course we'll be heading back to the SPCA before too long to find a companion for Annie now... She's a lovely bunny who is enjoying having a big run now that Jasper has moved on and I've even seen her binkying from time to time. She's a bit shy and timid but hopefully she'll grow accustomed too us just as Jemima did. 

Farewell Jasper

Four and a half years after arriving at our house, Jasper has left us. He has a lovely cosy hole now in amongst the native plantings and I've popped in a kowhai on top of him to mark the spot.

Good bye Jasper! We miss you!

Shearing shed

Here's a rather fluffy bunny waiting to be sheared at the Roselands Farm Show... I'm not sure how our bunnies would react to that!

Jaws 1

Sun and shade

When it hasn't been raining, it's been scorching hot here. The rabbits and the chickens sunbathe for a bit and then tuck themselves into the shade to recover, a bit like us.

Baby Bunnies!

We have a little family of bunnies which I've been keeping an eye on too. There are at least four brown kits and, unusually, two black kits.

Moving House

If all goes according to plan, we will be moving house today. And so will the rabbits.



Since we have a new house now (nearly), I could hardly make them live in their old leaky house.

Winter Coat

It feels like we've had a relatively mild winter bar a week-long cold snap in mid-August. But that hasn't stopped Jasper developing a lovely thick winter coat. No doubt he'll start shedding it soon as the spring warms up.

Whispering Rabbits

If you think you haven't seen much of the rabbits lately, that would be right. And neither have we as they've been banished to the bottom of the garden whilst we renovate. My father-out-law's house is far too nice to have rabbits roaming around.

But don't feel too sorry for them - once we move back in, they'll get full access rights to the rumpus room which has been designed to be rabbit-proof with all plugs and cables off the ground.

A Giant Leap...

Weedeaters

I wasn't sure what to do with the weeds that I pulled out at our new temporary abode seeing as our weed tea barrels aren't readily accessible now. But then I realised that I had two furry waste disposal units in the back garden.

Don't even think about putting your paws on my bowl!

No Ordinary Junkshop

This is where I found the Green Foods book - an extraordinary junk shop in Helensville...



The proprietor even threw in a free poetry recital:

There once was a rabbit, who had the bad habit

Of twitching the end of his nose.

His sisters and brothers, and various others, said

'Look at the way he goes!'

But one little bunny said, 'Isn't it funny!'

And practised it down in the dell.

Said the others, 'If he can, I'm positive we can'

And did it remarkably well.

Now, all the world over, where rabbits eat clover

And burrow and scratch with their toes,

You'll find every rabbit has got the bad habit

Of twitching the end of his nose.

Green Foods for Rabbits & Cavies

Here is the best book from my stack of recent purchases - Green Foods for Rabbits & Cavies. First published in 1955, this book was still in print until a few years ago.



I'm expecting it to provide lots of ideas to help me keep up a varied diet for our two monsters.

Rabbit v Peacock

Rabbits in the grass...

Bunny's Eye View

Bunny in a Bucket