Sad news from the garden. The garlic is not doing so well. I think it is too wet. We are almost at double our average rainfall for this month. They may* have to come out.

*ie "probably will" or "definitely will.

Meanwhile silly things keep flowering even tho we are well into winter - tomatoes, strawberries. Borage is still growing and flowering. And, in season, you should see the broad beans! Woah!

#FromTheGarden #Garlic #GrowYourOwn

Grow your own pomegranates! Peak ripeness. An amazing aroma.

This is my job tonight.

The larger ones here weight 450-500g.

#FromTheKitchen #FromTheGarden #Pomegranates #GrowYourOwn

The garden has missed me, because it has been a few days - either wetness or busyness has kept me inside. But it has been good to attend to some things, a few weeds, odd jobs etc etc and checking on everything.

I came inside with some red carrots, oranges and mint (that sounds like a salad in the making there), enough salad greens for another salad, maybe to go under the carrots and oranges, enough additional oranges to preserve in the same way you make preserved lemons*, and a whole swag of pomegranates.

I went to just pick a couple of pomegranates but most were beginning to split - a sure sign of being at peak ripeness. So today or tomorrow I will be "peeling" lots and making some into juice. A couple will go to my neighbour who provides me with eggs.

* I have read that preserved oranges are not very nice. I have preserved all sorts of citrus (lemons, limes, cumquats, makrut limes, chinotto oranges) in salt this way, but never oranges. But recently Shockey was talking about how she uses them, and so this year I am doing preserved oranges.

It will only be cumquats and the oranges this year, as I have tons of preserved lemons and limes left.

#FromTheGarden #FromTheKitchen #GrowYourOwn #food #Preserving #Fermentation

I wanted to spend some time in the garden this morning, as it has been a bit neglected over the past week. I am glad I did, it is good for the soul. And if you believe the current research, also good for our microbiome.

It got off to a soggy start - my garden shoes which live under the eaves on the decking were soggy, due no doubt to the heavy 40mm of rain the other night. So I had to find my backup gardening shoes which are Ok but my feet get dirty in them. Time to bring out the gum boots for winter 😂

🍊 The possums have fount the oranges and the not-quite-ripe mandarins, and there were half a dozen or more hollowed out skins on the ground. I don't mind a little sharing but the orange crop is light this year. I hope I don't lose too many 😭

Otherwise things are still looking good. I did some weeding. Picked some ripe makrut limes, red carrots, herbs for the soup, and a small green salad.

Some beds are weedy (small weeds) but the seeds are just coming through so I am going to let them both grow for a while so I am not pulling up plants with weeds.

🍓Strawberries are flowering! WhaaaT??? What season do they think it is? There is at least 1 baby strawberry on one of the plants.

🫛 Peas! Peas are up. It has been WEEKS. Things around them, planted after them, were up ages ago. I am so pleased to see them.

I am just inside and it begins to rain!! Good timing, rain gods! 🌈 🌧️

#FromTheGarden #GrowYourOwn #Gardening #GardeningAU #GardeningAdelaide

I needed a break, so popped out into the Autumn sunshine to weed the Dutch irises. I got over half of them done. They've really enjoyed the rain these past 2 months, and are looking very healthy - they are also multiplying.

I hope the flowering is good this year 🤞

In other news for those who follow the saga of the non-flowering bella donna plants, despite all the recalcitrance about putting up flowers, the leaves have now popped up in neat rows throughout the whole garden. Grrr. I want to rip them all out, but can't be bothered. They are so teasing me with their leaves.

#FromTheGarden #GardeningAU #GardeningAdelaide

I've been wondering a lot about a separate bed in the garden for herbs. At the moment, many large ones are scattered around the veggie beds and they take up too much space. This morning, while working in the garden (in the drizzle 😄 ) I decided that it wouldn't be a raised bed, and decided where it would be. I'll start getting it ready for spring plantings. I am quite excited by the possibilities.

#FromTheGarden #Gardening #GardeningAU #GardeningAdelaide

These overnight rains are a real boon for the garden. And it is spectacular outside atm. Rain drops cover everything, and they are dripping from the leaves of the plants and trees. The sunlight catches each and every drop and every one is a world unto itself.

#FromTheGarden #JoyOfGardening #Gardening #GardeninAU #GardeningAdelaide #BeautyAmongstTheWeeds