|
Hi, Greth! I am so sorry to hear about your plant and weather troubles. Have you ever considered laying out a huge tarp to catch extra rain for the garden? I've thought of putting up a huge plastic sheet, raised above ground and anchored at the four corners (at the very least... it gets really windy here!), and angling it down toward the opening in a water tank. (I'd leave the plastic down until the forecast called for rain, just because of the incessant wind.) I've been considering making a 25 ft x 25 ft rain catcher for my pumpkin patch, just to have some extra water besides what comes off the roof. I know you rarely get significant rainfall all in one whack, but maybe several similar catchers in even the tiny rainfalls could be a big help to you. |
Hi Greth...
When I mentioned the water from the washer and even the bathwater, it was because when I was little my country grandma would drain the water from the washer into the washtub once the first rinse cycle began. She would then use that water for the plants around her porch. I asked her why and she said the plants liked it and there was no reason for it to go into the septic. Been thinking of using this reasoning when we put our new place up on the mountain property. I also like DJ's idea...we always seem to have tarps over something anyway. |
| Greth Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 09:24 pm: |   |
We have thought of a separate greywater system, but havent come up with a cheap enough version. We do catch a lot of rain - nearly 300 square metres of roofspace from the house and sheds. Soon to increase by about a fifth when we build a new shed. In a normal year the tanks get to overflowing, and we have a comfortable amount to survive on.
Bush BBQ thyme is Thymus mastichina, couldn't remember the name for the life of me last night. It is a shrubby thyme growing to about 1' high, with a nice spicy fragrance. Leaves are a bit larger than common thyme too.
I have to be very careful about customs and seeds, Growit. I know this one is ok, because it was sent to me before (and opened and passed), but Mimi sent me a huge batch of seed and most of it got impounded. They would have returned it to her, but I couldn't afford the return postage! I did get some lovely wisteria seeds, unfortunately only one surviving plant after summer, but still a few more seeds in reserve.
The carnation was Bicocca. I picked it up from a market, but I think I know the grower and can find another one. Its a lovely two tone pink one. |
| Growit Posted on Monday, May 26, 2008 - 04:31 am: | |
Aha. That will be why I couldn't find it last night. I did find a lot of nice recipes for BBQing with thyme though LOL! I will go google again later.
Ok. Rules and regs are so different for each country. I prefer to offer and then let the recipient decide. I would rather you say no than introduce something that would become invasive in your country. A bit of Kudzu perhaps?! |
| Greth Posted on Monday, May 26, 2008 - 06:51 pm: | |
It isn't so much invasive plants (we already have loads of imported weeds!) but some seeds can bring in insects or diseases which can affect crops. Being geographically isolated many of these can be kept out of the country if quarantine is strict. Australian food has a good reputation for low pesticide use, and we definitely like it that way!
Apparently Thymus mastichina is also known as Spanish wild marjoram, now that is confusing! |
| Growit Posted on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - 10:09 am: | |
Sounds good to me. Wish the powers that be here were less willing for them to be used. My seeds will be organic. I have never used anything nasty on that piece of ground (I have used manure, homemade compost, fish, blood and bone and organic chicken pellets) and before I moved here 10/11 years ago it was grass.
I believe after ten years you can be certified organic so I guess I am! |
| Greth Posted on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - 06:20 pm: | |
Our problem with organic certification is that the neighbour uses a crop duster to fertilize his paddocks with superphosphate, and includes our property sometimes as he agists his sheep here.
Also I need to use herbicides sometimes, the weed problems are simply too severe for handweeding, although I do try. Can't just leave them alone either, too much fire risk.
If there are any rarish herb seeds you can send, email me first and I will ring quarantine and ask about them. I especially like things known and used in medieval times. Everything must be clearly labelled with botanic name. |
| Greth Posted on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 04:06 am: | |
Here is the garden from a different angle. The other side of box plants is doing quite well. The shrubs are scented geraniums. In the left front corner are stocks, which somehow survived the summer. Most of that bright green is actually weeds, unfortunately.
The white French lavender didn't grow much over summer, but wasn't too upset either, it is looking good now. Time to look for some non flowering bits for cuttings.
The Charleston Rose has produced one rather scrappy specimen to celebrate the rain. At least the bee likes it. Background is a Citronella pelargonium.
 |
| Seil Posted on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 08:37 pm: | |
Such interesting reading, Greth. Your conditions are so very different from mine it's almost like hearing about another planet. I really hope your drought doesn't repeat itself. We were in drought conditions last summer too but we don't get such high temps like yours so that helps.
You have to deal with the roos eating everything and around here it's the deer...or rabbits too like you. We also have pesky squirrels that just destroy things for the heck of it I think. |
| Greth Posted on Tuesday, June 03, 2008 - 09:13 pm: | |
An overview of our place.The retaining wall has nearly made it down to the back corner. We are also building it from the other end.The vegetable garden is downhill from the house, to the right. The earthworks halfway down the right hand side are a little dam, which actually does hold water occasionally in winter.
 |
| Greth Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - 07:23 pm: | |
Winter is officially over the day the first jonquil flowers, this year, June 17th (It was the 22nd in 2006 and the 1st of June last year)
You can see why we have no problems finding rocks for the retaining walls... the moss looks so pretty in winter too.
DS found a lovely little gecko on one of his walks, keeping this little guy as a pet for awhile.
The mandarine tree was one of the first things we planted when we moved in four years ago, finally some fruit (only three, not a lot to show!) Under the mandarine are a couple of carnations, and a costmary - one of the few shady places in summer, which protects them a bit.
 |
| Greth Posted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 - 04:11 am: | |
More on the gecko, I googled it. Apparently until recently it was called an 'underwoodisaurus' and no, I'm not joking. Also known as a thick tailed gecko or a barking gecko. We kept hearing this noise at night and thought it was a frog, seems to be the barking gecko. They are also interesting in that they are one of the few reptiles which live in groups. They also have toilet spots, so they keep tidy.
Midwinter finds the stocks flowering, also the wallflowers and calendula. The Thriptomene is putting on a good show too, so is the lemon verbena. A few of the scented geraniums are flowering fitfully.I started some spinach seed today, also trying some basil. Although it is probably too soon, the basil might survive in the hotbox. I'm interested to find out if it will grow.
I picked up a couple of little pine trees yesterday, maybe they will be useful for bonsai if they survive. We are finding lots of lovely mushrooms around the farm. Lots of cuttings underway, and the shadehouse is starting to fill with sale plants. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 12:28 pm: | |
Hi Greth...Basil grows pretty easy for me, its one of the few herbs I have actually managed to grow from seed here in Florida...the first time I planted it in October and it survived the winter months very well outside...we get hard freezes once in awhile around January and February, but all I did was throw a lot of hay over the tender plants. Darn things got over three feet tall and were in full baking afternoon sun. Loved to run my hands through the leaves and smell their fragrant perfume around the deck. The green thumb you seem to have should give yours the best chance possible. I'm so jealous that you seem to have no trouble starting the Rosemary and I kill every start I've cut....maybe sometime you could give me a few pointers?
I'm sure the little one is keeping you hopping...where do you find your energy? |
| Growit Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 04:56 pm: | |
Greth Pm'd you on the Sweet cicely! |
| Greth Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 08:11 pm: | |
Oh gosh, Stormy,I wish I had energy, sometimes the baby keeps me awake all night, then I have to get up and face the day in an awful mood..
I love having herbs and scented plants all around my garden. One of my best friends is a herbal medicine expert, and she reckons that just weeding my garden is beautiful aromatherapy!
We have a lot of frosty nights still to come, could continue till October.
I have got some little cauliflowers going in the hot box, also some frosted borage and only one little stockflower plant. Of some 'savory of Crete' seed there seem to be a few up. The lovage germinated. I might be able to keep these alive in the hotbox, if they go out into the garden the frost will kill them off.Lots of little onion plants are growing, should be ready to plant on soon.
On the rosemary, look on the herbs thread for what I have done. The only real difference between Florida and Oz is that you have more humidity. Rosemary will rot if it is too moist. Keep em dryish. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 08:58 pm: | |
Thanks for that tip, I'll check on the herb forum as you suggest...my Rosemary plant currently is in a huge pot (one like trees come in)...she's about three years old and doing great, I'd just like to get some cuttings to root for more. Funny you should say keep it dryish...I'm not one to water much.
oh, so sorry you are having those times...I remember when my son would keep me awake all night and how bad my mood would get (((Greth)))and then that of course would make me feel bad. Is she eating solid foods at all? My mom had me feeding my son cereal for his last feeding late at night and that sure helped keep him more satisfied...my DR had a royal fit, until I asked him how many babies he had...let him know I was not about to deal with a hungry baby just because he didn't think the kid needed solid food...my boy was just under 9 pounds at birth. He was going through almost a gallon of formula a day by the time he hit two months...food was a must for him.
Hope you are able to get some rest while the little ones are napping, of course if you are like most moms, that's when you try to get other things done. Take some time for yourself when you can. |
| Greth Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 10:42 pm: | |
Even when the baby naps, the older girl wants attention. I'm just starting solid food, I'm sure that will help. I'm breastfeeding, and baby wants to feed 20 hours a day! I kinda catnap and feed overnight, but it isn't like real sleep.
Of course I can't play as much as I would like with the older girl, and I can't help my teenage son with his schoolwork as much as I want. Oh, and I can't work in the garden much, and the house looks like a bomb hit it..
And what happened to my personal projects and time for myself and crafts? HEHE. It will come better as time goes on, and baby can sit up and be patient while I pull weeds. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 07:03 am: | |
Oh its so much fun with children in your life...one doesn't truly get to do anything until AFTER the children are grown...and then we really have no energy...LOL I breastfed as well and totally understand the demands of one who wants to eat constantly...guess I either didn't produce enough, or it wasn't filling him up...I was supplementing with formula and finally switched off to only formula at six weeks.
Mom had the advantage of my grandmother's experience (mom is the baby of 12)and I listened to her as there are five of us...figured she must have done something right, we all survived...
Oh the catnap routine...yes I recall that...I was in tears after the second week...just glad I didn't have others that needed my attention at that time...you have my deepest sympathy...I know how hard it is to spread yourself that thin. As for the house looking like a bomb hit it...eh, big deal..it will still be there when you feel like getting to it, or can find the energy. Does Jessie like to help you around the house? I'm sure she's feeling a bit "left out" with the baby demanding so much of momma's time...your son is pretty close to the same age as my oldest grandson...he will turn 12 in August. My DIL posted pictures for me and OMG!! How those boys have grown! I don't get to see them very often...we live a thousand miles apart.
I meant to ask you...can you receive packaged seed...I mean commercially packaged like from the store...If so, I'd be happy to keep my eye out for any seed you can't find there...know its not the same as collecting from the garden, but a thought.
Hope your weekend is wonderful and maybe you can at least find more than two minutes for yourself...and trips to the bathroom don't count...not unless you are in a nice bubble bath 
Karen |
| Greth Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 05:34 pm: | |
Not all packaged seed is permitted. It depends on the species. Here is the listing for Sweet Cicely, for instance.There are some excellent herb seed suppliers in Australia, havent exhausted the avenues yet!
http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_casecontent.asp?intNodeId=8473190&intC ommodityId=24889&Types=none&WhichQuery=Go+to+full+text&intSearch=1&LogSessi onID=0
I think a lot of breastfeeding mums have the same problem, and it probably isn't underproduction. Just that the reality of breastfeeding is an incredibly demanding routine. Now we have almost made the 4 month mark, I can supplement with solids, so its plain sailing from here on in!Once the feeding gets down to only a couple of times a day, its enjoyable, quick and easy! I fed Jessie to 8 months, which suited me fine |
| Stormdancer Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 08:41 am: | |
WOW...I checked out your link...again...wow! Looks like there are quite a few restrictions for you to deal with to get many items in OZ from outside. I can appreciate the rules due to the sensitive balance of the normal ecology in your country. God knows how many critters have come into the US that have destroyed or otherwise damaged native species. Seems unfortunate that our own country is so lax. Here in Florida for example, we have one of the frog species that came in from Cuba that will totally destroy all native frogs it comes in contact with. We also have citrus canker that gets brought in from other areas and countries...it causes many trees to be destroyed to keep it from spreading.
As to the breastfeeding...I really enjoyed the bonding experience that breastfeeding allows...my son would feed as long as he wished...my problem was that he wanted to nurse every 1 1/2 to 2 hours and didn't seem satisfied...my mom suggested the cereal at two weeks just so he would sleep overnight...and I could also get a bit more sleep...once I began with the formula, he would go for four hours between feedings...by one month, he was already weighing 16 pounds...by the age of one, he was over 32 pounds.
I have a cousin who breastfed her youngest until he was over 2 years old...teeth are NOT your friend! Some of the breastfeeding issues I feel are more of a stress issue...if you are stressed, the quantity and quality of the milk produced suffers. Could have been a great deal of my problem at that time in life. |
