Busy Times... Holidays & Garden Plots

Between the Christmas Shopping and the Weeding, its been a busy month already.
Have just put in another little bed which Ive planted in carrots, two sorts, Nutri Red and Paris Ball, Some celery, and some Leeks.

The Back Run - Bath, Corn Bed and Pumpkins (Winter Deluxe Pie)

Zucchini & Stevia, Small Basil plants

Bath 2 - Eggplant & Stevia, Chicory and Basil

Corn Bed 2

New Gardens - Raspberry & Tansy in Front, Carrot, Leek & Celery behind

Higgledy Piggledy Garden Stuff
Tomatoes Red Russian

Basil in Front, Big Boy Tomato in behind, then Red Russians & Missouri Love Apple...
A Work In Progress

All sorts, still sorting out this corner. Mizuna & Lettuce, Basil, Poppies & Tomatoes

I dont know, I dont plan like I should, so Im going with the Flow. It felt right, and lets face it, Miss 5 ate her way through the last bed of Nutri Red carrots pretty quick, so Im going to make sure there are plenty. Its awesome to know she loves fresh veggies!

My echinacea looks gorgeous - second year, and a new position in the garden, and it has five flower heads promising to colour up. I had no success with raising seed from last years, so maybe this year I will do root division and have better success!!

Sunflowers, Companion to Corn



Self-sown Scarlet Runner Beans
Happy to see them, love those flowers!!



Chamomile - love that daisy head!



Calendula



Boysenberry!

The calendula have taken off, I love their golden faces poking up everywhere, they really are like Garden Sunshine! Im collecting seed, and have dried some heads to make Calendula Balm in the Winter.

The Grosso Lavender has been cut and dried this week. The plants have been much more successful this year, I think getting rid of all the clutter around them and improving the soil quality has helped. I love the scent of lavender, and it was nice to have the house lavender-scented whilst it dried.



Echinacea - My Favourite!


The dehydrator has had good use this week - We also dried some catnip. Im thinking of some little felt mice to amuse the cats... Another good Winter project with our newly dried catnip.

Hmm,  What else? ...I have companion planted the Raspberry canes with Tansy.

We are watching out for the large poppies to colour up - they all have buds that are emerging slowly!

Have put a light dose of Epsom Salts in with my citrus. I noted today too that the wind has relieved our Akane apple of most of its blossoms, so I guess that will mean no fruit. How sad, but until I get it settled into a grow bag, it wont really matter.

Have dug out a very misshapen deformed Missouri Love Apple (tomato). Still have three of these beauties, love the name! ... They are better shaped and will hopefully grow strong and healthy from here on in!
One purple calabash plant, a very tiny one. I hope it will grow up big too, I so cant wait to see its fruit...

The others all seem to be going well. The Albenga Oxhearts and the Red Russians are my main tomato crops this year. Im really loving seeing fruit setting on my Bloody Butchers too!

Our Red onions from last season were yummy! I dug them, set them out to dry, and really couldnt resist. They were so sweet... I think I have four out of two dozen left. Next time I will be planting more... Its amazing how you notice how many you use when you plant and grow them yourself!

Hollyhock

Have planted a bed of lavender, all Grosso, so hopefully they will take and be my welcome patch for the bees in the coming years!

And now, some photos! :)

Love,

E BUTTERFLY

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Winter Again ... Gardening On The Inside

Its freezing cold today. Arlais has just told me the *Scary Sky* means the clouds are chasing one another, and I think, given the wind, she may be right. The grey/black clouds are chasing the big billowy snow clouds away. Its rained, hailed and blown all day.
It hasnt stopped The Process though!
Im having computer issues, and havent got a clue how to fix it, so I ll stick to what I think I know - Im Gardening On The Inside today - the dreaming, scheming, reading and planning... From the warmth of the lounge, with the awesome bank of knowledge I can find in others books, Mr Google and similar...
Real hard work I tell ya!

Ive also been checking the pots... We have some more little shoots rearing their heads... I feel like an expectant parent, but theyre making some good progress...

So Onward We Go - Snow if you will!
It wont stop the Creative Juices flowing.
Our fenugreek seedlings have set their next lot of leaves, the Tomato Gang - Albenga Oxheart, Black Zebra and Yellow Cocktail are going strong. No sign of Russian Red and his mates Bloody Butcher or Chocolate but Ive just noticed a little elecampane stretching up from its soily bed, - whose going to be next I wonder?

So Im going back to the gentle rest of my chair to sit and peruse the pages of someone else's wisdom
I have on my knee The NZ Organic Gardening Handbook by Brenda Little... so away I go.

Rest Easy,
Hope youre safe and warm

Love to All
E Butterfly
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