Rise Up Christchurch! Grow Strong, Carry on!

Still here, despite the cracks

YOU RAISE ME UP - JOSH GROBAN

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Last night, putting flowers on traffic cones

The end result, the roads are smothered

Lets hope so, soon!

Not alot to report today...
Kia Kaha Cantabs!
STAY STRONG
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E BUTTERFLY

Quick Post - Echinacea Haven is Bumblebee-tastic!

Its freezing cold out there, and the wind is nasty, and still these little bumbles work over time.
I love seeing bumblebees at work, they are so busy, and seem so happy at what they do :)
Snapped this photo, the echinacea flowers always seems to get mobbed, and the bumblebees cling to their spiny cones, sometimes gathering pollen, sometimes just resting on top and riding the flowers in the breeze.
I never realised just how gently scented the ech flowers are, heavenly!

Love,
E Butterfly
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Mandarin Satsuma Miho

First fruit of 2011 - Bloody Butcher Babies!

Poppy Head, still no showing of colour... Exciting!



Another gorgeous morning in Christchurch, New Zealand.

My furry friends have been out there *helping* me with the composting... See below for some cute furries!


Washington - Rubbing on the sticks that are put there to deter poohing in mummys garden!
See Zander lying in the polystyrene box behind. They all love those boxes, they must be quite warm.

We have water restrictions, and today is not my watering day, so weeding it is, well once the coffee break is over!... We have 26 degrees promised today, which is great for the tomatoes. Not so great for us who wish to have our beds tidy and weed-free for Xmas... but of course, Ive learnt, Gardens are always a work in progress, and as so, are never weed-free.



Parsley Babies... Yum!








Theres always some little unwanted plant creeping up somewhere!
Next year I hope to have some swan plants in, to attract the butterflies. My efforts as such this year are the buddleias - I have a creamy peach one to pick up tomorrow. Below youll see the Barbie Pink one. I also hope to gather others, I love their flowers, they remind me of lilacs, which I hope to have one of eventually too... Then theres Spindleberry, I love their wee berries... Oh heck. Add it to the Plants To Gather list!!


Buddleia. This one is lipstick pink. Like HOT pink!
Barbie Buddleia!


We have Kereru, or  NZ Native Wood Pigeons in the trees at the back. They dont stay long, but they nibble the plums next door. I think they must come from Woodham Park which is around the road from us. It is wonderful to see them, though they never stay long enough, big fat luscious berry-eating, branch benders that they are. Theyre far bigger than anything else we have visiting us, and their wings make a definitive noise when they fly!



Maori Potato with flowers. Im new to potato growing, with mixed success. Next season will be better!


The Eau-de-cologne Mint from Miss B along the road is growing nicely.
The scent is quite unusual. She also gave me Sweet Cicely which has made itself at home and is quite sweet indeed,  has an earthy after taste with it.

We have two stevia plants that I love. How awesome to know you have sugar when you dont have sugar *grin*

Another thing to do, is to figure out where to put grains. I really am itching to try growing something to provide us with a versatile grain...
Im hooking into Kay Baxters book Koanga Gardens Garden Guide. It is awesome, and very informative for NZers and their gardens... I aim to get my own copy, the library wants theirs back!!

Well thats it for today.
Im glad I wrote, its more real when its there in pictures, and I can look back. I just need to put aside some time to write more often...
Hope youre all enjoying the Spirit of the Season, whatever your beliefs, traditions, culture or location.

Be kind to Yourself,
Love,

E BUTTERFLY
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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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The Benefits of Spring!!

Have had a pretty good day today, despite it being the 27th - the prophecy for the End of Christchurch is tomorrow apparently, so Im making a blog post just in case I get caught up handing The End of My World As I Know It and dont get a chance...
It is GORGEOUS weather in Christchurch at the moment - fresh crisp frosts in the mornings giving way to high blue skies, and if there are clouds, they dont dare stay long so the sun is making his presence well known. I love Spring!
Unfortunately the children have both seccumbed to their big brothers virus, and have sore throats, so we bundled along the river bank this morning to make our way to the Park. Woodham Park is looking its best at the moment. Love love love it.
We found our good friend The Dog there. He loves Blaise, and always finds a stick so Blaise will throw it for him. It did the kids good to get out in the fresh air, and the sun is a good healer.

All the bulbs are starting to show their gorgeous faces, and the blossom is a reminder of all the good things in the world.

Our seedlings inside are growing slowly, but steadily. Tomatoes are almost ready to be put out to harden off so they can be planted next month.  I cant wait to have my own tomatoes growing again!
Well thats it for now. Photos to add today...

Love to All,
especially those in Auckland :-)
E Butterfly
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The News Weve all been Waiting For ... Avonside/Dallington - Street Sinkhole, Photos

A big day for some of us in Christchurch. Homeowners finally have some idea about what is to happen with their homes, properties and their futures.
Weve been glued to the news. Its really important for us who live here to know what is happening to those who own their own homes, so we can support and understand their decisions... and be the Ear that they may need... Lots of turmoil, it must be heartbreaking - we watched Campbell Live last night, and it is truly heartbreaking to see the families and homeowners and hear their stories about their lives since September 2010...
Heres some News Links here...
Emotional day for Avonside and Dallington

How It Works - Pay Out Case Studies

Crown to buy 5100 quake-hit Christchurch homes

Cathedral Dome to be Removed  - Ever since I was a little girl visiting Christchurch, it was always a sign that we were near the central city when we could spot the Catholic Cathedral domes. Seeing the Angels sitting amongst the badly damaged Cathedral in the first few months, and then the devastation in the second earthquake when they started demolishing the buildings, it all makes me so sad that My Christchurch (like a lot of other peoples CHCH!) is changing. I loved that building, it was truly beautiful. Majestic beauty. Sob. Today theyre removing the crosses. Because of the bare land spots throughout the avenues, it makes Christchurch quite a changed city site already... Just miss the familiarity. Remembering today especially, all the lives that passed away, and the remaining lives that changed forever on those shaky days... Nostalgic grey kind of day today maybe...xx xx

Big Ups. We are moving into a new planning phase. Mr EB and I are actively seeking new things to do to support our (self sufficient) lifestyles. This will bring us closer together, and we will be better able to support ourselves and our family.

Our garden is always surprising us. SURPRISE! It must be ... Spring? Heck no. Yesterday was the shortest day or somesuch... but! WE HAVE FLOWERS :-)

Oh and Holes... Middle of the Street. Broad daylight (actually Wintry Gloom today, rain and such!) but there it is... a Sink hole!

And then there is our brave Geranium cuttings that seem to eat Liquefaction for breakfast, cos theyve grown WILD baby!
WAHOO! Pretty too...

Liquefaction in the front, under the lounge

Geranium Cuttings that grew like Topsy!

And then theres our poor old Chimney. Old being the best word to describe it... The top has been removed, and its capped off inside and on the roof level... but the outside is coming further away from the house with each shudder... EQC need to assess it, before the landlord will do anything further. Gulp. EQC are so over-worked... It isnt a good scenario.

This Ole House!

And thats it for now...
Another day in the life of a Earthquake Turtle.

Love Ya!EBUTTERFLY
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What is more beautiful than Nature?

Well Ive said it before... The world would be a very sad place without the beauty of Nature.
This is why I teach my children the importance of the trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, soil and insects, birds and animals and the need to respect them.
There is so much beauty to be seen in Nature, but we are often too busy to see it.
That is why I keep my camera nearby. I love colour and texture, and in Nature, theres always something to be interpreted and admired...

My latest photos...

Camellias are so pretty, but bruise so easily and the flowers only last on the bush a very short time.

I can just imagine a tiny devic fee coming out of the middle of this one, its deep inner looks like it has been lit by devic energy...

The textures here in the trees are gorgeous!

Woodham Park has Woodland Beauties like these...

 
Who is Hebe, What will it be, a handsome He-be or a beautiful She-be?

Gracious Elm Tree - long tortured tendrils

 Winter Roses, delicate and ethereal...

Textured Bark...

 

 

A Beautiful Camellia snuggling on a branch smothered with waxy green leaves