January 2014
Well it wasn’t the best start to the New Year in the garden. We had some very strong winds and combining
that with a huge crop of fruit on the apricot tree, down came a large
branch. It broke off part way up the
main trunk. The jury is still out as to
whether it can recover. Fortunately it
didn’t do any damage to the surrounding plants but has left a big gap where it
used to be – sad. Pop and I got the
branches and fallen fruit cleaned up.
The veggie garden is coming along and the tomatoes are
starting to flower. Not bad seeing they
were only planted late December. The
snowpeas are starting to produce – we had enough to add to a stirfry the other
night. The zucchinis also have flowers
so it shouldn’t be long till they produce as well.
I have also planted some more coriander. The first lot just went straight to seed, so
another lot should just be maturing when I have to replace them. Some Italian parsley is always good to have
and I also planted some more snow peas.
I decided to have another try with kale.
It probably would have been ok last year but we went away just as it was
getting to picking stage.
I’m really pleased with how the apple tree is going. It was planted in October 2012. It is now double the size and producing some
really nice looking fruit.
Thankfully we haven’t experienced any really hot days yet
and so we haven’t had sun damage like the mainland.
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| The water lily is doing well - one year old - a Christmas present 2012 |
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| the species Daphnes are being taken over by lobellias. I put a few pots of petunias along the cross bar of the shade house. The sweet peas have been pretty but not many of them. |
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| This is the first time this cymbidium orchid has flowered for me - it was also purchased one year ago |
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| I really love this hydrangea. It was frizzled by a 40 degree day last year - so far so good this year. It has this colour flower and also |
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| this colour on the same plant - just beautifyl |
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| penstamens are still a favorite plant |
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| This white flowering tea tree is in the front garden |
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| I had trouble getting anything to grow in front of the leucadendrons. I planted a succulent which has done really well and is now flowering - looking really prtty |
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| a close up of the flowers |
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| the veggie patch |
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| How is that for a good looking apple? |
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| I'm not keen on the orange coloured flowers but I make an exception with this begonia. It lives in a hanging basket by the doorway to the shade house. |
