Things are a’buzz in the garden here at ‘Carlton’. Spring has sprung. Birds are chirping, grass won’t stop growing (and of course the ride-on mower is busted), the trees are leafy again and daylight savings is upon us. The fruit trees in the orchard just keep on giving with their blossom…
On the weekend we finally got around to replacing the fence on the orchard paddock. The grass in there was getting quite out of hand, and with the warmer weather approaching all I could think of was snakes. A morning of measuring, straining, digging and gripple-adjusting and we had ourselves a fence. Not bad. Yes, we are considering going contracting*. The rams have just come off the shears and straight into the orchard paddock to munch it down.
What I am pretty sure is a plum tree has absolutely zero fruit on it, bummer, but another mystery tree appears to be an apricot. Another little tree has arrived late to the blossom party with these little pinky red flowers…
The veggie patch has exploded with the rain and sunshine we’ve had. The sunflowers are reaching for the sky, the rainbow chard is looking positively rainbow-esque, the spinach, beetroot, savoy cabbages, artichokes and lettuce are all doing their thing happily. The Chinese cabbages unfortunately seem to have bolted to seed. We had a few slug and snail issues which we quickly hit on the head with some coffee grounds and ash from the fire spread about liberally. I’ve also heard good things about this copper stuff which would serve a dual purpose of making my veggie patch appear very ‘on-trend’.
The fig tree is covered in growing fruit – I am hoarding fig recipes like a woman possessed. Doesn’t hurt that they’re easy on the eye in a well-styled foodie photo either. The grapevines are sprouting some promising looking bunches of teeny tiny grapes. Matt recently suggested we pull out our ‘vineyard’, I was aghast to say the least. What is our quintessential South Australian limestone farmhouse without the vines in the backyard?!
Along with the successes I’ve also had some failures in the garden. We returned home from Papua New Guinea to a leafless lime tree. I actually rang in to the local radio gardening segment for help, I’m doing all that’s been suggested and have everything crossed. The white stocks are finally giving up, they’ve done well, bravo. My wheelbarrow of doom is striking again. This wheelbarrow is quite possibly the one and only useful thing my dad has, or will ever, give me for Christmas, but I can’t get anything to thrive in it. It’s got a million drainage holes and still things die in it. Ho hum.
But when all else fails, I guess I can still grow herbs in pots? All neatly lined up just so. I have rosemary, mint, basil, sage, chives and parsley. Coriander and thyme are missing, I know.
Now if you squint slightly, tilt your head and stand on one leg…you can almost ignore the ugly tanks and archaic plumbing system to envisage our crumbling laundry with the rambling red rose creeping all over it. Do you see it? Me too.
What’s growing at your place?
Know much about Chinese cabbages going to seed?
Got 300 rams grazing next to your house?
* I’m only half joking. Maybe even only a quarter.
Amy says
Hello possum… I think your lime needs all the flowers around it ripped out and mulch the top of the soil with some lovely lush mulch. There might have been too much competition for nutrients in there? Your pubescent veggie patch is coming along beautifully! It’ll be all lush and crazy before you know it! Mulch. Mulch. Mulch. Mulch. and keep on planting! xx
P.S. Mulch
Emma says
Thanks love, yes I agree, will rip out flowers as they’re past it anyway. Spinach and silverbeet are go time, loads of garlic, loads of butter coming their way. Tomatoes must be planted this weekend, Caulfield Cup weekend, it’s gardening good practice – but you don’t do tomatoes…
Reannon says
Hey Emma
I think your pinky red blossoms may be an apple tree. We’ve planted three this year & they all burst into tiny blooms the past two weeks. They look very similar to those in your pictures.
All your garden looks great x
Sue says
Love reading about your house and garden…..property looks amazing…and those spring vegetables have put mine to shame….I have a bit of a slug problem I’m working with….I have also got a fig tree….only 8 little figs on it so far, but I am treasuring them….my first figs !!
Fashionista says
Hello. Loving reading about your adventures and very envious at your lovely garden and orchard. Re your plum tree, I believe that there has to be two plums trees within bee range to produce fruit. This may be an old gardeners tale, but when the neighbour two doors up took out their plum tree, ours went from abundant to next to nothing in one season. We persisted for a few seasons but then made the decision to take it out (and it had grown so huge it was impinging on the neighbour’s pergola, not to mention the village of possums that were in noisy residence).
Brianna says
Beautiful country garden! I envy the space. I think Sharon might be right, probably getting too dry. I have had that problem with containers like that before. You could try succulents, or, if you’d like flowers, maybe add some water crystals or try petunia? Lime trees are much fussier than lemon, & they seem to either love life or hate it. Very frustrating! X
Anne says
I love your vege plot. You must be waiting with much anticipation for those tree to fruit. How lucky are you.
look see. says
That blossom is so beautiful! I’m currently doing a stack of research to prepare for when my backyard has been cleared (we’re talking thigh-length grass and weeds right now) and I can start planning for what I’ll do with all that space out there. Can’t wait to plant some stuff and watch it grow!
Sharon says
oh my, I’ve never seen those sort of free trees flowering in real life. How gorgeous!
Had a thought re your wheelbarrow: is it possible things are getting too DRY in it? most all stuff I’ve planted in like things end up drying out too much. Perhaps try some trendy succulents instead?
and the pipework etc, just looks like a normal old farm house. You have to be inventive to get stuff to work, even if it doesn’t look pretty!