Possums Strike Again!

One negative about living amongst so many beautiful trees is we have so many possums. Last year they stole my tomatoes & ate my roses. This year, they're back! Eating my new Japanese maple leaves & rose buds again!

Rose buds eaten

Japanese maple leaves eaten

Have tried a few things to deter them but nothing has worked. A fellow gardener suggested quassia wood chips. If you emerge these chips in water, the horrid bitter flavour of the chips leeches into the water & if you spray this water onto your plants, the possums will be put off by the awful taste (& it is awful, I tried it) & stop eating your precious plants. So I figured I'd give it a go.

I purchased some chips online

Little helper helped me put them into water

We let them soak in there for a while & then out we went to spray all my pot plants.

Will update if its a success or failure.

Fingers crossed!

Happy gardening

Bel

Posted with Blogsy

Spring Vegetable Garden Plans

Spring is here & it's time to plant. I'm a bit late but I have been so busy with baby girls 1st birthday & christening that I really haven't had a chance.


I know lots of people have been growing their seedlings undercover ready for planting out in spring, but not me. I just buy mine from the nursery or start from seed in the ground. It's just too much for me with two little ones & I have no real desire to do it.

What do I want to plant this spring? Here's my spring to summer garden last year.

Right at the start of spring- my first planting. I had several tomato varieties, climbing beans, cucumbers, pumpkin, basil, parsley, cucumbers & banana peppers.

All my tomatoes. I staked them with bamboo & soon learned that was a stupid idea! This year, I shall stake them properly.

Back in summer when my little baby was only 3 or 4 months old.

I successfully grew a big abundant bunch of climbing bean plants from seed last spring.

I grew so many gorgeous, perfect, mixed variety tomatoes last year, and then a big awful hailstorm hit & ruined them all. I was so sad, but this year, I shall grow them & eat them & it will be a good year!

My lovely next door neighbour shared her beautiful Passionfruit vine with me last summer (as a big part of it hangs over my side of the fence) I think I got around 80 passionfruits & they were devine. I even got to share them with my family. Hoping I might get them again this summer.

A lovely Passionfruit flower from last year

So that was last warm season, & now on to this year.

This year I plan to grow several tomato varaieties again, peppers, beet root, capsicum, climbing beans from seed, eggplant, pumpkin from seed (I have seed from my husbands uncle's plants), zucchini, cucumber & some giant & dwarf sunflowers. I'll also pull out my parsley plant & re-plant using my Nonna's seeds she shared with me.

In pots I think i'll grow some basil, coriander, lettuce, mint & some pretty little chilli's & a few strawberry plants.

I'm going to sit down & draw up a garden layout & try & follow good crop rotation practices this season. Will do that later in the week.

Hope you are all enjoying spring,

Bel

Posted with Blogsy

New Spring Growth

My spirits have lifted significantly, thank you spring!

My most favourite season (I know I keep saying that but I only have 3 months to repeat myself right?)

Lots of wonderful things are happening on my balcony. New growth is everywhere. I've fed everything with seasol & fertiliser to give all the fresh leaves & flowers a boost. Everything looks sensational so far. Here are some photos I took with my baby girl

My Japanese maple, sango kaku is full of new growth. You can see the gorgeous, bright green of freshly sprouted leaves, but they haven't fully unfurled yet & I can't wait for them to open right up. They will look amazing & there will be lots of photos

My smallest & youngest Japanese maple, aureum, is full of bright green new leaves. It's so pretty. It's leaves have golden tips

My dwarf peach has blossomed even more since my last post. The flowers are so pretty & big for such a tiny tree

 

 

and sadly, my tulips have come to an end

Someone was not at all sad about it. She was finally allowed to touch the big pretty flowers

Woo hoo!

I have planned out my spring/summer vegetable patch now. My next post should be about that. I have some serious weeding to do firstly. I've realised winter is not a time I feel any desire to garden.

Until next time gardeners,

Bel

Posted with Blogsy

My Japanese Maple Sango Kaku Through the Seasons

Here are some photos of my sango kaku through all four seasons.

First, here it is in spring

Beautiful, brand new growth

Then summer

The tips have a little colour on them from all the hot winds.

 

The beginning of autumn

 

Further into autumn. It's so beautiful here.

 

 

This time & brand new spring growth are my favourite times!

 

and winter

Fast asleep (as little helper puts it)

I love how different it looks in each season. Such a beautiful tree to own.

 

 

Happy gardening,

Bel