News at Hand - 2015

Change is afoot! 
And I find, Im needing more than a hand to do so :)
Hello from Woolston.
We have a new home!  In a city where exorbitant rents are rife, and fixed homes happen slowly, our house in Avonside is finally getting fixed. We wont be going back, the repairs are going to take months to complete, and after that the landlord has decided he has had enough and will sell it. How sad it was to say Goodbye to twelve years of memories. And my Garden. Oh dear :(
So here we are.
It took me almost four months to find this place, affordable - only just. And it has no garden to speak of. It has however, carpet without holes or mould, and a gorgeous new bathroom and kitchen. A beautiful kitchen, that means I have space to bake and cook and preserve and ... well its just really blissful!
We have no garage at present, which means we have boxes in the lounge. I went to pick up the keys and asked about the garage plans. Oh no, they said. No immediate plans to build the garage within the next eighteen months, but we will let you know.
The following Saturday, a rather large man knocks at the door. Im Andrew, the builder... About that garage... We start on Monday...

So, we have foundations in place for a huge double block garage. And a carport. And here I was, just hoping for the washing line to be erected... It was another casualty of the EQs :)

No photos as yet. I can find the camera, but have no idea where i put the box with my batteries...
We have had to downsize, sadly, our cat family. Sam and Zander , the old boys. remain and we have at present two kitten and their mother. She came to us as a foster cat who was pregnant. Shes a delight and will make someone a really gorgeous pet. I have the tabby kitten, Trudie, sitting in front of my computer at present. She makes it very hard to type, but shes undeniably cute and gets away with all kinds of things.

So Im just taking stock of what I have by way of seeds, space and enthusiasm. Im a little sad at all the plants I left in my garden, but I reckon theres a reason for change, and maybe the next person who goes into that home will need those plants even more than we did/do.

One observation I have made, is that although we only moved a mile as the crow flies, away from our previous home, the soil here is quite different. Not a lot of nutrients in it, it is very sandy with no *guts*. Plenty of mulch and some compost is needed. Give me time, and it will get what is required, I have started the list already. I also need a new compost bin or two.

We have 2 peach trees here, a golden peach and a (yum!) black boy. The black boys have fallen due to the bad winds we have had in the past two weeks. Ive been boiling them up for breakfast on cereal.
The back section has been subdivided and sold on, so we have what amounts to a very small courtyard garden. I have my pots that have lemon trees and tomatoes and strawberries growing in them. Ive planted pots of dinosaur kale and coloured lettuces to get us through the winter. The yard is sheltered and mainly concrete, so I have to remember to water regularly because things wilt quickly. I also planted two rhubarb crowns so we wont lose that valuable nutrient-filled treat!

Next to go into the garden, is the chilean guava - nz cranberry plant. I love these, if grown efficiently in a hedge form, they smell heavenly - like candy floss in fact! They taste like heaven too if the berries are left til theyre large and juicy!
The kids can be found sitting around the bush when they are ripe :) I hope to let this one grow a bit, then take cuttings. The school could do with some to plant in their edible garden.

Wanting to utilize all my space, I have some wall planters here that I want to plant out with something that will attract bees. I also have my favourite chilli - Rainbow Thai, growing inside on the windowsill. It gets full light and some warmth there too. I hope it will grow well throughout the season, as they are handy to have, but also, they sell well.

So there we go, an update on whats happening. Time to make changes, and to plan for more positive things ahead!
Hoping all is well in your world,
Happy Gardening!!

Earth Butterfly 

Pudding & Cake - Ambrosia Recipe

What gorgeous weather, perfect for the first week back at school.
I have today off to get some things sorted, including a warrant. It should err WILL fly through thanks to some tinkering.

We have a birthday party tonight, our son (the fisherman/hunter) is turning 17, and he is having a few mates around for cake and pudding. Im to make the cake, and Im not sure how it will turn out, but it will be simple and full of sugary goodness for sure! I was thinking of something I could sculpt (???) into a fish-like, salmon shape... yeah right!

He wants Ambrosia for pudding... gulp.
Ive found several different recipes that include all kinds of berries, but I will be using blackberries because their juice *acid* changes the marshmellows into gooeyness that mixes nicely with the cream. Yeah I know, it sounds gross.
However, this recipe is looking promising NZGIRLS AMBROSIA RECIPE

Ahh well, off to the kitchen I go...
If you see lots of blue smoke in the East... it may well be my oven overheating with the strain :)

Back to Gardening next post... its time for planning the Spring plot,  and getting some seeds into the mix, yes?

Love
EB
XX

Monday Stuff...

Weekend Harvest

Seems like ages since I wrote.
We have had a great week, and its hard to believe its Monday again.
We had the car lads here again this weekend. After lots of loud music and a couple of stray swear words, the new bumper looks good. There is no longer a leak somewhere...?  Theyre happy, and theres a lot worse places they could be!




I have a very nice 7lb brown trout in the freezer!

66cm 7lb weight... Put up a heck of a fight!

We headed to school for Certificate Assembly on Friday, then after morning tea in the Garden, I had some willing extra hands helping with the weeding. It was nice to be chatting and weeding as we went, and it rocks when you find someone who enjoys gardening as much as you do! We did four hours of weeding, and I must confess my muscles were aching today!

Have just discovered the Chilean Guava (NZ Cranberry) berries that were hiding beside the boysenberry- this awesome berry smells like *lollipops* and tastes sweet. Awesome!! Will take some cuttings and see if we cant make some more plants, they would go well in the School garden.

NEW FOR THE GARDEN - Tomatillo, New Cimmaron Lettuce (red) Cauliflower... Cabbage... Kale... all going in during the season, so hopefully new seeds to offer next year! :)

Thats all from me for now...
XX

Nobody Drink My Wine...

Nobody Drink My Wine...
It sounds so wrong when your six year old daughter says it as shes going off to bed.
It isnt that bad - No, really it isnt :)
Tonight we juiced some grapes and some elderberries with some large Summer Apples. It was very purple in colour, so we added some to soda water. Yum! It isnt too bad, especially with ice! Miss six is calling it her  Elderberry Wine.

We rounded off the evening with some Banana Bread. Hot Banana bread with Elderberry *Wine* - yum!
Another Sunday evening coming to a close, and I dont appear to have achieved much. We had *The Boys* here with their noses under cars and in The Workshop. Its so nice to have some space in my garage... well, it was!. It has been a nice gardening weekend too, the kids have played outside and Mr 12 has learnt more this weekend than he ever has with anyone under a car... And hes loving it. More next weekend if the weather holds!

Have learnt so much about the tropical fish we are fish-sitting until their owner moves into his new home. We have seven large fish,(7ft tank!) two of which are very clever. Theyre Oscar cichlids, and they eat like horses! Premium food too, cunning things. They jump to get their food off my pink plastic fork if Im not fast enough, and are clever enough *seemingly* to recognize when the fork appears and wiggle at me, pleased to see me. It may be the hot pink colouring perhaps?
Theres another guy (Synodontis)  who spends half his time cruising around the tank upside down. I find him a bit worrying, theres many times I go past the tank and wait to see him move, as he plays dead very successfully!

Well back to work tomorrow, digging the school plot, then out to pot up some herbs.
Hope the weather holds, I like this time of year, not too hot!
Happy Gardening when you get there
Take care

Love,
EB
XX
PS Ive  made some clay seed balls this week to try... Watch this space for some feedback :)

Happy New Year... 1 month down

Black Cherry Tomatoes

Happy New year.
We are already a month through - where did that go?
Wow, it seems like an age since I last blogged. Life has been busy, and Im enjoying the change in pace.
Have finally got the little people sorted into some kind of order, and now its my turn.
We had a full-on holidays, and it has been hard to settle into that back-to-school routine again!
I spent the day in the garden yesterday, amazed at how much it has changed.

Broccoli - Waltham

I have the garden in several stages at the moment.

Russian Giant - up to 12 ft

Lots of seeds still coming on.
Lesson learned - its messy when theres carrot seed, kale seed, mizuna and fennel etc all doing their thing. Each week Im turning out seeds to winnow and then package. It isnt pretty, but it has been productive. I have had more interest this year in seeds so far, than ever before. Long may it last. At present Im planning where to take this. I have started looking at packaging options.

Ive changed my focus, alongside the regular vegetables we eat now, I have started a juicing garden. Spinach, Kale, carrots, cucumbers, celery, silver beet and chard - all things I grow in my own garden! I  also have three or four lemon trees, and mandarins, and apples... for the fruit side of things

Im sure youve heard of Joe Cross? - Fat, Sick and nearly Dead -  he stars in an inspirational movie about how he lost weight and ended up healthier and able to come off his prescription medication for urticaria - and he started by juicing vegetables and fruit...
What better way to reduce the fats and sugars and reboot your health with a quick nutritious hit of vitamins and minerals!?

Joes favourite Juice recipe goes something like this

6 Kale leaves
4 Sticks of Celery
2 Green Apples
1.2 lemon (peeled)
1 thumb sized piece of ginger

Blitzed in the juicer, and drunk over ice.

And as I sit here, mine doesn't taste too bad...
Im not sure Im in for the entire sixty day challenge that Joe did... not yet.

Happy Gardening!

EB

Bit shaky Saturday... Lights and Things

Its been a bit shaky this week. Two of significance, but not huge ones, just little wobbly shakes to remind us we are still in Christchurch I think!
Its been a busy week. Classes finished for us almost - one more child to finish, and then we are off on holiday. It is a good feeling to almost be there :) We are all really excited about getting away for Christmas day. We have always been home, but this year we arent tied at home with visitors. Of course, with the older children doing their own thing, this could change!

Last night the children got to go into town with some friends to visit the Christmas Grotto. They came home well after dark (10.45pm) and the Littles were well and truly tired but soooo happy! Apparently it was awesome. Music, bright colourful sparkly lights and lots of Christmas things from blow up sleighs to Santa himself! What more could you ask for at this time of the year when you are six and twelve!
Weve had a day of laziness, just catching up after our late night at the disco - a good success - 70 kids and around 30 adults. It was so much fun - the dj was awesome, the music really went down well, and the kids were well behaved generally. My baking even worked, and the star shaped cookies we took lasted all of three minutes.

Have had a very good crop of strawberries this year (*Chandler* variety). Once the birds knew they had to move along, and the wind chimes were put in place, weve been taking between 20-50 off the plants every couple of days. Ive started giving them to the neighbours, no complaints there :) The Alpine strawberries are not as good this year, and I dont think I ll give them much room next year.

I have fresh swede, mesculun, foxglove, aquilegia, calendula, marigold, parsley and red kale seed. The black kale is still drying, as is the red cabbage. I have had a lot of fun trying to figure out the easiest winnowing method, and will keep working on it.
Have lost a lot of my taller plants this year to the mighty winds we have had.  I need to investigate adding further wind breaks, despite putting two new breaks up this year. I guess this is something we have happen every year in between spring and summer. I just have to work around it.
Because of the constant mulching, I seem to have found a good medium - the ground retains the water better than last year, and the strawberries and their solid growth is an indication of this. I will be mulching furiously again once the growing season has slowed a little.
The comfrey has gone native, and Im pulling leaves off to add to the main compost pile almost daily. It responds really well to the night showers we have had!

Ive realized this month, after watching things in the garden go from small to tall, neat and tidy to sprawling and untidy, that collecting seed means untidy mostly!
There are always going to be things that look untidy... none of that clipped manicured look of gardening here!
Still, it is colourful this year, theres a lot of places to hide (ask Miss 6 who loves hide and seek amongst things!) and Im loving it.

More later, once things get less crazy :)

Seasons Greetings to You and Yours
From my Garden to Yours
EBUTTERFLY
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First of the Season...

Lots happening here and there, it goes with the time of year I guess :)
We have some new faces popping up through the garden, it is so nice to have some good long hot days in Canterbury!

Harvesting the berries this week, we have had great success with the strawberries (Chandler especially!) and have a pottle or two of other mixed berries - black currant, red currant, raspberries.



Shame about the wind, but its what we are famous for I guess - the ole Nor' West wind!
The tomatoes are starting to appreciate the weather and are growing accordingly - slowly but surely.
A healthy dose of composted pooh and some seaweed is helping.

Have harvested some seeds in the past two weeks and learned how to winnow fine seeds successfully.  Swede, Red Cabbage, Mesculun varieties such as rocket, mizuna and mibuna, Black Kale and two varieties of carrot, and two of lettuce.

Sunflower - Giant Russian (6ft and still growing!)

Salmon pink Hollyhock

The first of my flowers are coming to flower this week - more of the red opium poppies, but after losing one to the wind, I have staked the remainder.

 I also found a purple variety which have just started flowering, and theyre quite smart - an unusual colour, so quite striking and very tall like their red cousin.

Thats all for now,
Happy Gardening!!
Take care
EB
XX

Marvellous Monday...

What a great Monday morning!
A drop of rain overnight, and a rather pesky wind out there, but its going to be nice later, so I can get back out and finish what I started yesterday.
I have a few new plants, so Im looking to get out there and plant them.
I have dug around and  found a pot large enough to put my nectarine tree in. It hasnt set fruit (yet), I dont know if it will this year, but thats ok. Its six foot tall, and Im sure its dying to get into the ground and get some growing done! I keep recalling the taste of  sweet juicy nectarines. I hope it does have fruit this year :)
Ive found that the chick peas are growing. Of all place, under the overhang of the potatoes leaves. About six or eight plants, which sounds good! Ive just read up on them, and I dont know if they will come to fruition given we are in the South, but they do prefer cooler temperatures, so who knows. I will try and see. It would be a real boon to be able to have chick peas on the menu, especially later in the Summer.

The first big opium poppy flower popped open on Saturday. It is always fascinating watching the bees, you can hear them too, buzzing inside the flowers, its really cute. The flowers never last long, but there is always another one or two in progress to follow along.

We are waiting for some compost to arrive, and then we can get sorted over at the school. The garden is in need of a  good weed, and  some companions planted alongside the plants. I see someone has donated some tomatoes, which is fantastic. They have a good system in place, that means all the children get a chance to help if they want to. Strangely, they all offer to help pick or plant. Not so keen to weed :-)
Have been reading about a community garden in Northland that has just planted a massive potato garden. What an awesome idea to support the families in the area. Ive been thinking on this, the idea is awesome, and can be expanded upon given more space... Love the idea that we can help each other feed our families!!

Well best get back into it,
The compost truck is here!

Have a happy Monday,
Love 'n' Shovels!

EB
XXXXXXX

Family Time... Warm Rain and Show Week!

This week is Canterbury A&P Show and  Racing (Horses) Cup Week. Bring on the Nor' West winds and high blue skies, the pollen that causes hayfever sufferers to retreat indoors, the sunburn for the Race-goers, and you have our usual weather to a T.
 It has been another really busy week, with dentist visits, school awards, Athletics Day, School Fundraising Meetings, and Chisnallwood Community meetings - oh and a trip to town for fishing gear, license and some Christmas shopping. It has been fun, and we are planning to go back soon, before the crowds appear.

Marginal Irises - I dont like them!

On the Garden front, the weather has been rather favourable. Im loving being up early and getting out there, its also very tempting to go out again after dinner while the light holds. But even the Dentist, who is a seasoned gardener, got caught up by the unexpected frost mid-week. He is lamenting the loss of a well-clipped hedge, and blames his *heavy handed pruning approach* - but who would expect it, a zero degree frost in November?... yes, they do happen...
Apart from a few browned leaves on my potatoes, Im lucky I didnt have much of an issue, but its made me wary :) Miss B lost her tomatoes, and I am waiting patiently for mine to grow big enough to be able to plant out. Almost there, but now Im waiting a couple of weeks longer to put them out.




Everything else seems to be growing well.
Ive put in a couple of extra marigold varieties, some rudbeckias and a tonne of carrot (Paris Ball/St Valery/Nutri Red) seed. The Carrot Thief will be delighted!

We have been doing some serious investigating to see when the strawberries and raspberries will be ready, and the boysenberry responded very well to a handful of potash a few weeks back - it is smothered in flowers. It hasnt grown like crazy (yet?) which I anticipated, I have sharp secateurs ready just in case :)

My pretty calendulas have morphed. Some have brown centres this year. They look quite different to the orange and yellow ones that have plain centres. Oh well, something a bit different is okay too.

A striking pink sky tonight, with a light breeze has lead to rain. Its big drops of rain and its not serious at this stage, kind of sporadic so after not getting home fast enough from Fishing to water the garden, its just nice... Not a lot of anything being caught, but there are still a few around. Cant expect to get something every time, and we have had much success this year. Still love the anticipation the lads have, and how they enjoy the thrill of catching something. Doesnt matter what it is, it usually goes back unless its required for the table!

As Im sitting here tapping away, I can hear the Fireworks. Im amazed at how many there are this year.

Its an interesting time, and I do wonder where we are headed - both as a Community, here in Christchurch, and as a Nation. Interesting times ahead Internationally too, Im sure.

Love to You
Take care and Keep Smiling :-)

E BUTTERFLY
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Great Gardening, lots growing!

What great gardening weather here in Christchurch this week. A shame, I havent been out there a lot this week. Monday saw us out and about in Rangiora, which made for a very interesting and fun day. Its a pretty little place, and we had a good look around, the children had a swim and did some fun activities, theres a neat skate park out there too... must go again!
Tuesday wasnt so quiet either. We had coffee morning with the community group, which is always neat. We got together and had coffee at Allshots, a brilliant little place for intimate chats and divine coffee (and chocolates that are handmade!)  It ended all too soon, and of course, we wont be back together until after the school holidays. I almost cant wait :)
The children had their Duffy books show, and some awards were given. The Garden Children and I planted out some potatoes, and put in the raspberries, a boysenberry and I weeded around the beds. The children have also planted 40 corn seeds. I hope they go well,  room 2 this morning planted their sunflowers next door, as companions. And their beans are already scaling up the wire fence. Yay! Theyve been having a race to see whose bean grew fastest. Im happy to report, all seeds grew, not a one missed which is awesome.
No sad faces :) They were very good at planting their plants and now have something to check in the garden when they get back from holidays.
 I notice we have a sneaky lettuce muncher (or 2)  in our midst. Possibly snails, I think. Theyve not missed a one, but thats ok, we can replace them if they dont rally! We thought last time it was hail stone damage. This time, I think its snails. Time for the good old beer trap.

Have taken some time to do some gardening at home seeing I have the afternoon to myself. It has been a really nice day, and the rain did threaten to spit earlier, but its backed off again. It is a really grey sky, but quite high and still warm. Love it. Perfect for planting out some of the lavender cuttings, have put out the borage seedlings too, and some of the new berry plants are ready for sale. I have about a dozen red and black currants that *took* and are growing well. Have sown quite a number of tomatoes. Not bothered as much this year, will take it as it comes. Have tried a couple of new varieties, but also sowing for over the road too.

Tomatoes for this year -  Yellow Pear, Reisentraube, Guernsey, Black Krim, Sungold, Tommy Toe, Black Cherry, Red Brandywine, Russian Red, Moneymaker, Black Zebra, White Cherry, Black from Tula, Albenga Oxheart and when I get some seed, some yellow Brandywine and Large White.

The raspberries are threatening to take over, so Ive potted up some of those. I think a market might be a good idea for selling them. The strawberries are generally all flowering. The plants are not as big as I had thought they would be, but the flowers are definitely bigger than last year. All except the little white Alpine strawberry. It is sulking, and wont be doing much until it gets a bit warmer, Im thinking. I hope it doesnt die, its Miss 6s favourite plant, and she loves the taste of the fruit.

Well thats it for me,
Hope your School holidays are happy ones, if you have them.
Take care,

Happy Gardening
E BUTTERFLY
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Friday Morning Sewing Club - Community Hub - Coffee & Chat

Had a brilliant morning with the Schoolie from the Salvation Army that we have at our  Primary, she is an inspirational whizz. A dynamo of a person, and one with a gorgeous heart. She has so many great ideas, and is so amazingly capable.
The sewing went sideways after a little while. It was a beautiful day, good coffee and a real desire amongst us to connect. We ended up teaching three of the mums how to knit. It was awesome, I love seeing people trying something new, and when they get what theyre doing, theyre away like a train ... Brilliance.
The cake was awesome (at this rate we might need the Zumba lessons after all!) and I went on to help with the childrens sausage sizzle. There, there was a need to learn what to do, and master the art of the sausage bread, sauce, sausage and wrap motions. I got there :-) Thanks Room 9. I hope you enjoyed them.

The Garden was abuzz at lunchtime with small and bigger people asking if they could help. Unfortunately nothing was planned, and I had one very keen young man helping me weed, compost and split the rhubarb, which had unfortunately started to rot in the crown. I hope we got to it soon enough, and the four pieces will take off. If not, I have a spare one in my own garden that I can place in the garden. The idea is to have rhubarb and custard at some stage. Im not sure they have enough for the whole school... yet. It will not take long if we continue adding the compost. The bokashi units look interesting. I peered into a couple today and wrinkled my nose. I know that smell (composting fruit) so this is good stuff for the soil.
We got some bread today from the leftovers at the sausage sizzle too, which will go down well in the bokashi. Ive seeded the garden with some of my worm farm inhabitants too, I know theyll love their new home, and work behind the scenes to bring the garden to success.

So thats me... all that.  A whole day doing fun things with neat, good people!
Im a bit stiff and sore, but there is half a babys hat knitted somewhere, and a whole garden dug over, waiting for its potatoes to go in next week...

Love to You all,
My Heart to Yours,
E BUTTERFLY
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Kaitiaki - Being a Community Guardian...

Im learning all about the meaning of Kaitiaki. Guardianship.
I want to be a Garden Kaitiaki who protects our soil, our plants, seeds, our gardens, our produce, but also, our children. Our Furture. Nurturing them, solidifying the relationships between them. Inspiring children to think about where their food comes from, how eating healthy can make a difference to their lives.

It is important that our children know about where their food comes from. And that they understand the relationship between good food and health and wellbeing.

Guide and teach them, so they can grow their own food, provide sustenance for their families, for their communities and make good choices for their health and wellbeing.
Bringing it back to where we are here in Christchurch, we need to network within our communities. Our families need to know where their support systems are, and who they can rely on. Not the ones who always want something in return, or demand repayment. It isnt always about repaying the kindness. Sometimes it is best if what is required is given freely.
It isnt about waiting for the next disaster, or feeling shy or embarrassed. It has been noted lately, that poverty in New Zealand is a fact. So no turning of heads, it is time to remedy this with what we have, what we can do. People have become very distanced after all the stressors, and some of us who feel we have something, even something small to offer to others, need to come forward and say - Here... I can help. And if I cant help, perhaps I know someone who can?

My Challenge  -Give something to someone who needs it - Ask for nothing in return... 

Every second person you talk to in Christchurch has a sad story... And there is a sense of helplessness when it is you, and you dont know where to go for help. With the women I sat with this last week, amongst us, we had many qualifications, different skill sets and assorted capabilities. And that was just eight women. Think what we could do if we, as a community, all put our heads together - offering assistance to one another.
The light goes on and the fear dissipates. If one cannot help, perhaps another can, or the suggestions to help the problem at hand may be like brainstorming.
I love Community Hubs, the things they offer that you can see, and the intangible things that they give, that we dont see, to those who need it - compassion, empathy, an ear, a cuppa, a hug, smiles, laughing...healing. Together, and as one, we can provide Kaitiaki. Guardianship.



Simplicity and Gardens
If our Children are introduced to food production at school, to understanding nutrition, composting, an ecological awareness, and cooking and preparing the food they grow -wouldnt this be an amazing start - strengthening skills, gaining independence and boosting self confidence/esteem ?
What an awesome way to supply our children with real-life skills that they will need for the future, that they can pass  it on.
It isnt and doesnt have to be complicated. Age-old solution - a patch of dirt and some seeds.

I am passionate about helping assist change in our communities.
We need to make a difference somewhere now, for fear our children will grow up blind.

From my heart to yours,
XX
EBUTTERFLY

PS FREE CROWN PUMPKIN SEEDS - email me or drop me a comment.

The word on Gardening...

God, Talking to St Francis of Assisi, said:   

"Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. 

What in the world is going on down there on the planet? 

What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons ago? 

I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. 

The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. 

I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles."

St. FRANCIS:

It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. 

The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD:

Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. 

It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. 

It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS:

Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD:

The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS:

Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.

GOD:

They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST.. FRANCIS:

Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD:

They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS:

No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD:

Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS:

Yes, Sir.

GOD:

These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST.. FRANCIS:

You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD:

What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.

ST.. FRANCIS:

You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD:

No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS:

After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD:

And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS:

They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD:

Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST.. CATHERINE:

'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about....

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

from

http://bwisegardening.blogspot.co.nz

Banana Bread Morning - Flooding - Road Work!

http://www.facebook.com/RumiQuotes

Another Mad Monday morning - its bitterly cold out there, the wind is whipping through and to top it off, its raining so hard, it is flooding in some parts of poor old Canterbury.  I cant believe how many places have surface water sitting on it. The parks around Avonside are soggy and very rice-paddy field-like. The gutters are all overflowing and the cars whoosh past. I dont mind the rain, in fact, I like walking in the rain, its the bitter wind that is with it this time that makes my eyes sting! Definitely hat & boots weather! The magpies were out this morning pecking for worms, but they didnt have to try hard, as the worms had made their way out onto the concrete path. 

Despite our energetic Family soccer game this weekend, we got up early and made Banana bread. Nothing better to use up the *tired* browning bananas that noone likes!
RECIPE HERE - easy!

No stiff limbs this week, just a yawn or two. It was toasty warm with the heat pump on and so banana bread just made getting up worthwhile. Little chick decided to snuggle in a bit later than usual, and it was only fleet footing that got us away on time. Cor, it was a different planet outside though... brrr.

We have a broken sewer main in the street, after another mid-street cave-in, we have our own bunch of fluro-vested Cave-in men to fix it... and their grotty caravan. It sits in the middle of the street - guess where - yeah, you got it, just opposite my drive way.

Our new purple sage

Have you been watching the Olympics? 

Its the closing ceremony today, and I think I might just get the chance to watch it. No point in going out to do much in the garden today... in fact, I see I have some surface flooding to deal with. I just might raise ducks... and if it continues, goldfish!  :) 

Tansy - the wandering companion to Raspberry

Popular Red Poppy

I have listed some more seeds, and we have made a whole lot more envelopes for the enslaught of new seeds that we are hoping to grow this season. I see the little poppies we grew last year successfully self-sowed, they were very pretty, white with deep crimson frilled edges. Fingers  xed I can get them through to seeding this year, and save some!

I have some deep purple Liriope growing now, and it will look lovely under the fruit trees.

The frilled Austrian lettuce are popping up now, and the buttercrunch are settling in. Our broad beans are almost 40cm high, and I see the boysenberry has curled itself around the stakes, so it is well over six foot tall now... gulp. Im always nervous about planting things that grow *crazy* so I hope I can contain it.

Hope youre safe and warm,

Bee Gardening Happy

Love,
EButterfly

XXXXXX

The Moving Pile...

Its been a busy and constructive weekend, we've dug down and discovered worms at work, lots of nice mulched soil, so the moving of the compost pile must begin... and the pile is rather large, so I started today.
Ive done about a quarter of it, and have put the nice thick mulch back into the smaller plots and topping up some new beds.
Ive got garlic just starting to sprout through, so Ive put some new mulched soil on top of it, and the yams and potatoes got some too...
The salad bed is finally starting to look like a garden, not a mud pie, so thats good! The lettuces are popping through and Im noting the different varieties as they grow and colour up, their leaves being distinctive, their forms too. We have a dark red oakleaf which is different this year, but it looks great against the greens of the other lettuces. I just hope we can get some seed from them too.

Ive got herbs planted everywhere this year, I split the thyme, sage and rosemary, but also marjoram, chives and coriander is interspersed with pyrethrum and borage, marigold, calendula, poppy and lavender. It will be a bees paradise once the monarda and the echinacea come out!

Someone wonderful gave me some Soldiers poppies for my birthday in July. They are red, and will look good amongst the taller red opium poppies. I have orange and white poppies too, somewhere, if they are going to self-seed from last year. I wonder if the nasturtium seeds will sprout, theyre usually pretty good at self-seeding though?

We have some purple ake-ake and griselinia to replace some of the privacy screen down the fence line now that the big beech tree has gone. It has left a huge hole in the skyline, being a very large tree, and a massive pile of wood (which Ive now cut and stacked!) Ive been told that the tap root had snapped after the succession of earthquakes, so it  had died and was rotting. The limbs snapped off with each windy night, so it made good sense to cut it down so it didnt fall completely. A big job, complete with cherry picker and large chainsaw!

Another  new garden addition is the pretty red-pink pineapple sage, it smells awesome when its brushed by, and then theres lemon balm and catnip which also smell great...
I have a couple of black cats who find the cat-nip hard to go by without having a drool...
This afternoon one in particular hung his head over it, whispering sweet-nothings as he lolled into a heap at the bottom of the plant - Zander finds it very hard to go by the garden without slipping into a trance at the altar of Catnip!

 Hoping we can keep the rain at bay so I can get this pile shifted and the chicken coop can be fitted into  place. That then gives me time to get some chicken greens sown so they ll have their own patch to scratch over.
New apple trees went in, a couple more blueberries put in, and a couple of red currants planted too, now the berry farm is growing nicely!!

Spring is almost here, its just got its raincoat on still.
Take care
EB
XX

Learning Circle

Always, Im learning.
Sometimes it can be from the smallest thing, and once you pull at it, the learning thread starts you off in a new direction. It can be big lessons, or small ones. None are insignificant, are they?
We had a great weekend together, and now the family are mostly gone again. It doesnt matter, they will be back. And they teach me a lot. About myself, about them, about their worlds. Number Two son is off doing what he loves, and has just got his first job. Hes on Cloud Nine. How he will enjoy his first pay, it will be gone in an instant, if that list he has is correct.
Im off in a new direction. Finally. Im back into the work force, a little at a time - still looking for employment opportunities that fit perfectly but Im enjoying the challenge. I have a sparkly new CV and a cover letter to play with.  If that perfect job doesnt come along, Im  happy - it means studying a little longer, but... its still learning, right? I also have taken up the challenge of group gardening. Not sure how that will go, but watch this space!
Never Too Old.

Some things I learnt this weekend in the plant world...

Plant descriptions and Meanings


Variegata - Variegated (leaf)
Scandens - Climbing
Chinensis - Chinese
Japonica - Japanese
Vulgaris - common
Rubra - red
Littoralis - shore growing
Coprosma - Unpleasant - smells like dung
Grandifolia - Large Leafed
Lucida - Shining (leaf)
Robusta - Stout
Repens - Creeping
Acerosa - Sharp leafed
Rubus - Bramble
Australis - Southern
Parvus - Small
Squarrosus - Prickly

Im sure there are others, but this is a start.

Ive also heard that a boiled infusion of  flax  root is good for settling your stomach, and that a quietening tea can be made from boiling the bark on a manuka tree... but dont take my word for it, I have not tried it... yet!
Im reading this wonderful book by Andrew Crowe...   My copy hails from the library, and its not often I take a good book to bed, but there you go... Learning!
I love it, the book on Amazon is so new and shiny. My copy is from before I was born, and is in great order, but well thumbed and it is a testament to all things 1960... I bet it has seen many gardens, been flicked through by many gardeners and referred to with great interest many times!  Ahh if a book could speak, it would tell rich tales.

Well thats me. Ive just realised the night is not so young,
and I need to get up early to crack the whip!

Love to All,
Sleep Tight
Keep Warm
XXXXXXX
E BUTTERFLY

Diggin Deep... Dirt Flyin! Seed sowing begins...

Im delighted by the weather.
However as I write, it has changed drastically, the wind is blowing furiously out there and Im picking there will be rain to follow. But today was gorgeous... Oh wait, Ive sent Mr 12 out to check. No - no wet stuff, very cold though, and bright skies...It has to clear up quick cos the past couple of days have been awesome.

Blue Borage

Heading back into the garden has meant weeding ensued everywhere. Ive dug, weeded and shovelled, composted, weeded some more, and been covered from head to foot with goodness knows what - and I loved it :)
I can barely walk for sore muscles, of course, but its done.

Starting off... 

The final dose of horse poo has gone into the compost, the raggle-taggle ends of the spent tansy, echinacea (*Magnus*), stevia, borage costmary and anise hyssop are cut back, and Ive seen the first Spring bulbs burst into flower. Theyre brave. Im sure there will be a back-lash of cold stuff still to come, say mid September - lots of wet weather - is that Spring showers maybe?

Last year we had a couple of drops of snow about then too, didnt we? I cant remember exactly, but I know once I mention the seeds Ive sprinkled, the weather will hone in...

The lettuces will grow through the year and this year I have lots -  I have a mix of  Ice King, Canasta, Frilled Cos, Buttercrunch and Danyelle - oh and a red one - Red Flame.
I cant wait for the mesculun to spring up again. Missy cant wait for the new carrot seeds to arrive. Ive dug out all of our last years varieties (St Valery, Nutri Red and Paris Ball), and the onions (Purplette, Borettana and a bunching onion) will follow tomorrow.

*Pams Choice*



Ive found so many precious little sprigs of this and that throughout the garden. 

I sprinkled foxglove seed last year - *Pams Choice* and they have only now made themselves known. Theres red opium poppies self-sown everywhere, but thats hardly surprising given the number we had last year and they have a lot of seed per head, the bumblebees love them! and Im delighted that the Echinacea has successfully split into five parts, so I will encourage the honey bees everywhere with some pretty pink shows. I would like to add more blue borage to that, some orange and yellow calendulas that self seed, red french marigold for companion gardening, and ... oh so many other plants. I want drifts of colour this year. I worked on the vegetable garden last year, this year Im encouraging the flowers for bees, but also for picking.

Calendula - Pot Marigold

Berry Berry Nice... Oranges & lemons...
Lots of strawberries have self-sown, jumping from clump to clump as they do. Im quite fond of them, as there doesnt seem to be a lot to weed around them. We have some nodules on the sticks that are rumoured to be black currant bushes so I think thats great news...
We have three of those, and four blue berries. A couple of red currants and a zillion boysenberries and raspberries... Im cutting back some of the canes, so I can hand them on to others to enjoy and we can avoid looking like a bramble farm. The boysenberries take no prisoners. I keep reminding myself its the berries I want, so I have to bear with the scratches,  and boy they do scratch!

Hazelnut trees with buds!

I think the most astonishing thing Ive seen, is under cover, the mandarin fruits have coloured up, making a pretty show. We got 12 off one, and have about another 7 to come off another tree. Theyre rather small, but taste ok. Success :) The oranges are still small, and rather hard, and Im going to remove them so the goodness can go back into the plants. The lemons have got through the winter so far, so good, and Im pleased to say, theyre fruiting well. I have seen flowers on two of them. Yahoo!

Have a whole new pile of firewood to chop. Im sure thats what I have children for, no?
Oddly enough, theyre all busy when I mention firewood, so Im getting a man in to do it *evil grin*.
He may or may not know about it yet. Ok, so he will know once he reads this.

Leeks

Ive had a big crop of swedes this year, although I wasnt sure what it was that I was growing. Im not sure Im going to be so successful giving them away, as noone likes them. To some, theyre cattle fodder, to others, they have bad memories of how they were given swedes as a child - usually the method of cooking them was what was awful. Its a shame, the humble swede is a good base for stew or soup. Handy to have IF YOU LIKE THEM, not so easy to give away if you dont :)
The lesson there is - Grow what you will use. Got that. Tick!


Well thats about it from me for now...
Im going to go out and see if I can find my washing. Im picking it will be about three blocks away now with that wind.

Love to You
E Butterfly
XXXXXXX

The History of Carrots
- The carrot museum... Yes, theres a museum :)