These sausage bulges must be baby cucumbers. I've never seen one on a plant before. My previous attempts to grow cucumbers were spectacularly unsuccessful, so just a healthy plant with flowers is a huge improvement. Sprog cucumbers is even better.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Cucumber
These sausage bulges must be baby cucumbers. I've never seen one on a plant before. My previous attempts to grow cucumbers were spectacularly unsuccessful, so just a healthy plant with flowers is a huge improvement. Sprog cucumbers is even better.
Art Loving Kookaburra
This bird perched for at least 30 minutes on the Guernica sculpture. I approached very cautiously but he did not seem at all concerned and allowed me to get very close without flying off. I think he was waiting to be fed. Our NZ neighbours are back and they always feed the birds. The birds become very tame and continue hanging around hopefully for a while after they have left again.
El Destructo
Our new neighbours are completely re-landscaping their garden. First they had to remove most of the existing vegetation. They asked if while they had the equipment would we like any of our garden demolished and removed. We had intended to work on the strip which borders their house, but slowly and one bit at a time. So this was rather a rash move. However, once it has been cleared we should be able to get a feel for the site. I would like to grow some fruit trees and this looks like a promising spot.
Morning tea
This is a lovely spot to sit for a short break, especially in the evening before the mozzies come out.
On the Roof
Taking the tarps off the patio. A little bit of extra roofing over the patio means more people can sit outside at a party and not get wet. It also means a dark kitchen.
Beetroot
Finally the beetroot plants are looking sturdy. They were quite fragile for a time; very vunerable to nighttime predators and very easily flattened by heavy rain. The next question is how to know when they are ready to pick. After that comes how to cook them.
Flowers
I scattered a packet of mixed seeds under the palm trees. A few seedlings have surfaced but now I'm unsure which are weeds and which are seeds, so I guess they all get to stay.
Capsicum
I have never before managed to grow a capsicum when the pepper grew big enough to eat before being injected with the eggs of some insect. This plant has remained indoors except for one day when I put it outside for sunshine. It was very popular with some small flying insects so I decided it could remain an inside plant. The two peppers so far appear to be very healthy, but another problen has developed. They are on the same side of the plant and their weight is causing a severe list. A bit of tape and a stake topped with a sponge safety ball seem to have soved the problem.
Determined
With all the rain this year, some times it feels as if we are being invaded by plants. Reminds me of The Day of the Triffids.
Shady Spot
This sculpture represents Autumn. When she first appeared in the garden this bush was not there. I don't know where it came from but it is thriving where it landed.
Very Interesting
This bird is very interested in the strawbwerry plants. There's no sign of fruit. I hope he's not casing the joint for later.
strawberries
I have tried several times to grow strawberries with with a total lack of success. My biggest success was to keep them alive for a month. There was never any sign of fruit. Someone suggested I grow them in a bag, so here they are. The instructions say to leave them horizontal for a week.
Magpie?
This bird and a couple of his mates clearly consider my garden to be their territory. They seem curious but not frightened of people. They amble around occasionally finding something to eat. I'm hoping it's grubs they like and not fruits.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Morning After
It was warm enough the night of the party for this heater to not be turned on. It was also fine- no rain for the evening.
Party time
The band (all two pices of it) arranged themselves right in front of the vegie beds. The extra lights and noise does not seem to have done them any harm. One beer bottle was left behind among the tomato plants. I think it was probably empyy when it was left there. if not I'm sure there are lots of beneficial nutrients in beer.
Cucumber flowers
I don't know if cucumbers have male and female flowers like pumpkins. If they do, these would all be males.
Optimism
I cut back the pumpkin vines a few days ago and left them to be collected later. I was very surprised that several flowers appeared on the withered vines. Such optimism! They were all male flowers!
Over exuberant
Our new neihbours have had their garden cleared ready for a brand new creation. Unfortunately their gardener was a little too entheusiastic when he pruned this creeper: he cut through the stem and killed the plant.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Dragonflies
Dragonflies have been extremely prolific this year. Some mornings there have been hundreds of them dashing around. They must like the wet. Does this mean next year there will be tons of birds?
Labels
If you label everything as it is dismantled, it will be easier to put back up.
Too Wet to Go Out
Too wet to go out, so this is the view from the deck, including the neighbour'd garden.
Sweet Potato Flower
This is the first sweet potato flower I have come across. Perhaps they need some fertilization at this time of the year. They certainly managed to grow a good crop without it last year.
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