Grandiflora

This food looks good, tastes good and is good. There is much more to say about the politics and benefits of growing your own food but for me it starts with the experience and pleasure. This is what sustains you.

Three colours carrots. A golden beetroot. Stella Bianca beans. Kipfler potatoes…..or the makings of lunch.

The summer garden has been a little disappointing but really, when you attempt to grow non-native food plants in a clearing of tall eucalyptus, wrong orientation etc.; what do you expect? Add, the deviations from the known weather patterns -hello summer! might be nice to see you- and what you had assumed about food growing possibilities and what you think you know…… I always have such high expectations. Hmmmm.

Not to be deterred, however, I will not stop gardening because even the small amounts of food/flowers, this land gives me are wonderful to taste and my problem is that, I’m just greedy for more. Gardening, cooking and eating…it’s a fortunate life and next year…….heat loving plants like tomatoes will go into pots to see if that helps.  Carrots, parsnips, potatoes, some lettuces, chard, rhubarb, zucchini have been in small but constant supply…..really, what am I whinging about. A lot more gratitude is called for…really!

Crimson Rosellas Platycercus elegans

Evidence of some sun and these two were frolicking about. With all the rain, my front garden especially the lower section near the mailbox, is very sodden- actually I’d call it swamp. So I decided to plant some ferns, Blechnum nudum, to soak up the water, stop the advance of invasive grasses/ weeds, stop the soil from washing onto the road and water run off, in general. If there’s going to be this much rain, it should do some good like replenishing the soil, ground water and underground aquifers; that much I can try to ensure. Admittedly, it was good to plant something that loves the wet and the birds flying around, enjoying a break in the weather, were an added bonus.