UPDATE #FromTheGarden

The dragonfly is still around, or another one is visiting.

I saw a hover fly, usually seen in Summer (altho not this year), and watched it hover in place for what seemed like ages. It seemed like she was enjoying the slight breeze in that spot before darting off to the yellow sweet mace flowers. Apparently they love yellow flowers.

The lemon tree is in full bloom. I wanted to prune the tree soon, but 🤷‍♀️

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I popped outside to check on Ms Huntsman Spider again, and she is still in the same spot as before, altho she has shifted position. I hope she moves tomorrow, that is the stake I am tying my late tomatoes to.

It is sunset now - there are no bees on the bushes, so this will be the time to prune the tulsi. Bit by bit.

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One of the tulsi bushes is a metre wide and the other two grow into each other - together about 1.5m wide.

There is one more in a very large pot. It is the mother of the other plants and of the many cuttings I have given away. It has been suffering this year. I think it might be pot-bound.

I pruned it back hard this morning, shifted it into gentle sun, and watered well. I took more cuttings from it. If it survives the prune I will look at a repotting option. I could give it to friends but I am sentimental about this mother plant. It was given to me from the Temple.

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Also, when I went out into the garden while the sun was still very low, it was shining through the tomato bush and I could see every hair on its stems highlighted. Oh it was glorious! Such joy.

I have told the bees that pruning of the tulsi will happen over the next few weeks. Pandemonium! I have promised to leave them some flowers. There will be many reminders over the next few days.

Pottering around I found some "hot house" cones in the shed - singular bell shaped hard clear plastic that is useful in late winter and early spring for starting plants. Bright idea 💡 I wonder if I can use these to solarise the alium thrips/aphids on the flat leaf chives. I am going to try.

Yes, it will harm the chives too but I have other patches and saved seeds.

🤞

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@SeaFury There's a tricky balance to growing your own food: What can you grow in your climate/circumstances VS what do you like to eat VS how much of it can you possibly eat?

Melbourne & surrounds lends itself to a fairly broad range of fruit/vegies, and I own* my place, so I can put whatever wherever, without fear of aggravating a body corporate or landlord. Also, I'm not currently gainfully employed, which means I have time on my hands. Your circumstances are probably different.

That said, even when growing things I like to eat, I invariably end up experiencing gluts, so finding ways of preserving and/or giving away produce is a real thing.

I am not trying in any way to be condescending or discouraging: growing and eating your own produce is tremendously satisfying, even if others think you're a weirdo for being in the garden instead of watching footy on the telly...

@earthmothering9

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*LOL not even close

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Anyway, I found 2 lots of organic beetroot seed ("Bull's Blood" from Diggers, and "Detroit" from Select Organic). I planted in alternating rows, but the geometry of the bed is such that the numbers are quite unbalanced: if I counted correctly (this is possible), I should have 22 Bull's Blood and 16 Detroit. 🤞🏼

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✅ Another vegie bed emptied, weeded, and dug (I have found that the roots of a nearly shrub/tree (I suspect the white fig) had sent roots through the plastic lining and had filled the bed, so my "no dig" garden bed isn't. Now I understand why last year's garlic was a disappointment, and why this year's pumpkin was running at about 30% of capacity...)

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