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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High Tea and Birthday Cake - Spring Fling

It cant possibly be a week since we celebrated Arlais' 6th birthday surely?
The week has slid by very smoothly, and Missy is enjoying being six. She has asked constantly what she has to look forward to, being six now. What will happen in the next 12 months? Heck, I dont know... I ve stopped asking that myself... Apart from losing more front teeth, and learning how to read and write, what else happens habitually as you turn from six to seven? ...
We had cake, of course. We all love cake.

Thank Goodness for family - while some forgot, the others did her proud - they gave her some beautiful gifts, including a biscuit (cookie) maker. It wasnt about the gifts for Arlais, it was about the FOOD! Pink Lemonade, and High Tea in cups and saucers. Crackers and Dip, Chips and cheese.

Arlais' Lemon Cupcakes

Arlais made the perfect Hostess, she offered food around, and kept her visitors engaged with her excited chatter.
Missy chose her cake, and we had butterflies and big balloons.
Who doesnt love cocktail sausages  with their chocolate gateaux, topped with six pink and purple candles ?

The Birthday Girl was exhausted by seven oclock, and Im sure it was all the chasing of balloons.
The tea set gets carefully washed and packed away, and as long as there are no more big earthquakes, it will be brought out again next year for another round of High Tea.  Happy Birthday Darling Girl! You made a fantastic Five Year Old, and you make a Gorgeous Amazing Six Year Old! We love you so much!




As it gets lighter, at nights we have been going for bike rides - Arlais has a shiny new bigger bike, her birthday present from me. She isnt yet as confident as she was with the older one, but it wont take long Im sure, as this girl is an Amazon - tall, beautiful and fearless :) Blaise rides like he is master of the chariot, in fact I some times wonder if hes awake at all, he has a very relaxed pose on his bike :-)

Hmm, why dont I believe this?

She loves being out and about too, naturally curious, and absolutely loves being near the river and seeing what is happening in our neighbourhood. Of course, theres plenty happening, as usual!
It is *that* time of year when change happens - Spring brings new ducklings, goslings, cygnets, in the River.

Miners lettuce - Full of nutritional goodies!

 Then theres the bulbs - a whole band of new plantings along the Avonside area, the Red Zone - where all the houses are being pulled down. Someone has very thoughtfully planted daffodils and narcissus along the walkway. They are a beautiful memorial, and of course in September, we pass another memorial date.


Planting is underway here, Ive sprinkled seeds everywhere... Some more later in the month when things warm up a little. Even inside, Ive started my tomato seeds, with greater success now Ive done it before. Im so looking forward to eating fresh tomatoes. We have missed them!

Foxglove

Poppy  Seedlings

And Basil - nothing goes  with tomatoes as well as Basil. I love the smell, its lemony zing. Theres lettuces everywhere... Ive photographed everything as usual... Bear with me :-)

We have sprouting borage seedlings, some poppys self sown, foxgloves peeking from unusual places, violets creeping down bricks, and cats lying in the sun next to the catnip. Its my favourite time of the year because it brings with it, so much promise. Potential.

Loving My Garden
Love to You
E Butterfly
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Cracking the Whip ... Sending Free Seeds!

Thanks to Sophie, Im just about to send the second wave of free SISTERHOOD seeds...
We still have lots left, so if you're reading this and you want some (NZ ONLY SORRY) We can send you a selection. You need to send us a wee note here DONT FORGET your address :)

Our seeds include vegetables, some herbs and a few companion plants...and the odd tree.
The list looks something like this ... Flax, Chamomile, Tansy, Sunflower, Poppy, Hollyhock, Pyrethrum, Echinacea, Broccolli, Capsicum, Kowhai, Tagaste, Chilli, Pumpkin (3 types) Squash (2 types) Angelica, Parsley, Carrot, Onion, Silverbeet, Radish, Lettuces (4 var)...Lg Marigold, French Marigold, Calendula, Tomatoes in 15 different varieties...
Im sending in lots of five pkts, and what you get is what the munchkins packaged this weekend, while I cracked the whip (made them a yummy pizza and supplied treats (bribery?). They even made the envelopes, bless them... So there you go, Cockeyed stamping, gluing and sticking all included, totally made with love and devotion... They did a fabulous job!

Any questions about how to grow what you get, dont hesitate to write, I should be able to help, as Im growing most of what Ive sent myself or have done... Just remember, seeds need the soil to be warmed up a bit, and most like some kind of compost. Love em, and they will grow!

Hope youre keeping warm, its been a gorgeous sunny day, but the wind chills you to the bone.
I found my teeth chattering this morning, whilst waiting for things to happen...
Star Jumps... and warm coffee... that ll fix it :)

Love to You and Yours - Happy Growing,
E BUTTERFLY
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Awesome Autumn... My Fruit Rant :)

Harvest

Well its Autumn... and its been awesome so far - not too much of the wet stuff, but lots of the windy stuff, which we anticipate at this time of the year anyway. It would be great if todays low cloud could blow away and the sun could climb through.
Have been thinking a lot this week about Japan and her people. Im hoping theyre slowly starting to heal and rebuild. I know how we feel here, and the numbness takes a long time to abate, the healing is slow, and time ticks away before you know it. The memories of our Events come back. And we are so lucky we didnt have the complications they had in Japan. My heart goes out to them, I wish there was more we could do, or say, that would help.

Winter Deluxe Pie - Pie Pumpkin

I was washing dishes (arent I always?) yesterday, and I washed a lid of a jar that had 3/12 scribbled on it. I had a flash back to last year, all my preps were covered in the date 3/11 because it was then I had started to prepare in case of emergency. I thought back to my confusion. Then, it was so obvious to me. I have grown since then. I actually AM better prepared than I was. There IS less confusion. I DO know what Im doing, and I am well guided, by whatever that force is that motors the Intuition.
I looked through the Preps. We could do a short stand-off (LOL Like theres going to be a Siege?)
Now to prep for the mid-length stand-off... Its all a part of my plan, to down-size, live harmoniously, but to live SIMPLY. Thats the hard one.

Cornucopia of Tomatoes!

This week, I heard on our TV news that Parents have been criticized for feeding their children too much fruit in their bid to feed their children their 5+ a day... which has been leading to accelerated rates of tooth decay.
See, I worry about reports like this. Firstly, parents DO THEIR BEST. With whatever knowledge and resources they have available, for the most part, parents DO try their best. Criticism hurts and doesnt change a thing, nor teach us how to counteract the problem.
Secondly -Why do the media choose such a strong way to get this message across? Responsibility. They have no accountability for what they write, its ok to take a negative stance... and it sells. And everything has become about the dollar.
It is also about educating Parents about the problem and how to solve it, without that condescending attitude.
People need to want to learn new things at any level  - Educate people on the importance of Milk and Water being offered with every serving of fruit, or put fruit after the main meal. Argh. Its NOT about criticism, it is about CHILDRENS HEATH. It is about Educating people, so they can make strong decisions based on good information.
PUT OUR CHILDREN FIRSTHave we forgotten the art of diplomacy and tact? I think as we fracture in society, we are becoming Islands. It is sad, but it is happening. Who can you depend on to give you accurate information about the things you need to learn? Do you learn something new every day?
We get out of the way of learning, but sometimes, it is just as important to REFRESH OUR KNOWLEDGE about important things, and not stop learning all together.



Broccoli - Waltham Seeds in Pods

 Prepping this week involves saving more seeds for next season. I have brocolli, lettuce in three kinds, soon to be four if Im quick :) And beans galore. I love the pink scarlet runners... Happy Beans!
We have Lollo Rosso, which is dark red, and likes low light and cooler days, a frilled green which grows everywhere and makes an attractive addition to a mixed salad. Theres a traditional buttercrunch, and Im waiting to see if we can catch up with seed from Little Gem who is a one-person sized  lettuce, compact and sweet. I often find Miss 5 hanging around the Little Gem, the leaves are very tasty. I have iceberg growing too, and it seeds later. I love watching the lettuce towers as they grow tall and then go poof! The seed is like dandelion fluff, the seeds at the bottom of the fluff go everywhere. Great for self-seeding.
Finally collected seeds from our carrot flower which seems to have been there for forever. Its taken a good four or five months, but we finally have some Nutri-Red carrot seed. These are our favourites, so theyll be replanted. Im trying to keep other carrots to seed, but it is so hard when the kids prey on them :)

Lettuce Fluff!

Well I best be getting on with it. The sun is making an appearance!
This week is shaping up to be a very diggy one.
Lots of weeds to evict... and poo to shovel.
Hope all is well with your world,

Scarlet Runner Beans - 3rd year!

Take care,
Love
E BUTTERFLY
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Happy New Year Everyone... Rock n Roll Around The Clock in Christchurch!

A good nights sleep? Seriously, dont come to Canterbury for one of those at the moment. We get good nights, and then theres Last Night.
We went to sleep just after elevenish. I say ish, because I cant quite remember when, but a goodly time after eleven. Wouldve gone earlier, but with these new type of *creep-up-on-ya* type Eqs, we got a 4.0 at ten pm. It raises the bp a bit, so we sat on a little.
Two pm, and all hell breaks loose. It was a 5.1 and in the dark of night, theyre quite nasty.
Two of us hang on and wait for Number Three to join us. Thank God, she slept through. I have not. Its been a Rock n Roll kinda night.
The unusual thing is, the weather, yesterday was gorgeous - this morning we are in a grey wash of drizzly rain and low grey skies. From the *Earthquake Sky* we  talk about, with high blue sky and weird clouds, to THIS? Odd.
But. The Garden loves drizzle and grey clouds!!
Just not too much of it please, cos we need the heat for our fruiting plants... And our growing ones.
The Pumpkins are looking great, the fruit of which there are two at the moment have other buds appearing...
The Tomatoes are looking promising, some are quite sizeable, though no sign of the blush of red yet.
Speaking of red... Scarlet Runner Beans are blossoming everywhere. I have borlottis sizing up, but they are somewhat hidden by  enthusiastic Albenga Oxheart tomatoes at present.
Our Sunflowers are doing their thing, getting taller and taller. One is well over six foot, and has grown considerably since Christmas Day when we measured.

So while the Earth turns, and the weather changes, and we Rock On, its mainly all good...
I can do without the five oclock starts, or the rolling and rocking, but it does make you realise how lucky you are!

Happy New Year,
I hope 2012 brings you Joy, and Peace, and Happiness.
And that your Garden brings you much the same, and your Gardening Year is fruitful and trouble-free.
Oophs there we go again, Rock On Cantabs!

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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Early Morning Shake Awake!

Time for an Update.
It seems like ages since I sat down to write...
And why not write now --- I cant sleep. I dream of Gardens lately, but this morning my dreams came to a standstill by way of a 4.3 that just seemed to go on for a while, and Im not good at settling again. I tossed and turned, but meh. Im up now. Early Bird, ME!!
Things have gotten quite busy, and we are making good progress with the new garden and other things.
Since the EQC people put us on the *Critical Fix* list, we have had a few visits from people doing things. First it was the Landlord putting in new curtains and filling in holes and gaps... Then the Heat Pump was installed. Ahh, instant heat!
Well, we have since had two or three visits, and we now have no chimneys, just the spaces where they were. Yesterday and today saw our second chimney being taken out, giving us back the corner of a room and soon our second heat pump will be installed. We have a big *gap* where the old fireplace/wetback was, and our room looks so much bigger! Theyve gibbed it all, and are replacing the tiles in the roof and its hard to imagine there was ever a fireplace in the corner at all...
The front room too, is quite appealing now with the extra warmth, the kids love it.
We also have a new instant hot water unit, thats powered by gas! The landlord put it in, and changed the size of the pipes, so we have added pressure in the shower, which is like hot massage needles... Awesome when you get in from the Garden in the evenings!!
So thats inside.
Outside...Another gorgeous block of Winter weather here in Canterbury.
We got through the snow, and came out the other side with gorgeous days full of high blue skies, no cloud, but frrrreeezing cold frost in the mornings.
Almost like Spring in fact! Wheres the rain gone? I dont know, but I hope it catches up soon. We need the cold snap to help kill off the bugs in the soil, so towards the Spring, the plants can grow furiously... In my new Garden!!!!!!

Im going to take photos *of course*, but for now, just imagine bricks. Lots of them. All lined up in rows ... beds of soil... full of Compost, Mulch and other good growing stuff...
Canterbury has a dearth of bricks at present, given all the chimneys that have been removed! We have edged our gardens, and it looks nice... but will look better when things start growing over the edges of the bricks...
Ive started some seeds off. Planning beds of herbs and flowers like Parsley, Marigold, Calendula, Basil and Heirloom Tomatoes... Some wildflower mix in the front garden will add colour to our bland expanse at the front
Amazingly enough, after me thinking it was too early, the seeds I have sown are already poking through the soil mix at four days old! Maybe theyre just really keen to be here, or my luck is changing!

Have had a wonderful week, a bit stiff in the shoulders, have raked, bricked, dug, weeded, planted, sown, sighed, slept, and thunked about Gardening... and really enjoyed it all.
Even the kids got in on the act yesterday, out there with shovels and forks... Giggling and helping.
Nice family unit we have going on there...
I love it. This is definitely where I belong.
What is it they say --- *Bloom Where Youre Planted*
Im glad I was planted here. Im grateful for what I have.
I love them all.
Just been reminded of where I belong.
Firmly planted with my family, which is where my home is.

Keep Safe and Warm
Love til next time,
E Butterfly
Gardener!
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Camera-licious Weekend!!

Im baaa-aack!!
Complete with camera and lots of photos... Who'd have thought I could take so many photos in two days... My poor hard drive is groaning. Time for saving to disc (Can hear Mr EB nodding, he said this yesterday) ...
Heres my new baby here

And its awesome...Simple, inexpensive by most standards, but PERFECT for me and my need to blog, to photograph, document... AWESOME - it makes me sooooo happy! (I think you get it!)
Its SUNDAY again. 
This week was crazy. Lots of the positives, but more so some negatives.
NZ suffered the loss of another young soldier serving overseas in Afghanistan.
My heart goes out to his family and friends, he will be sorely missed, heaven just gained another good 'un!
Petrol hit the $2.02 per litre mark this week, which cripples those of us who have tight budgets and need to travel for work or to see family. That seriously puts things into perspective...
We barely use the car, being fortunate to have all things we need within reach or a good walk, but there are Family who come in from the farm, and it is $50 a round trip approx.
Missing the visits, the coffee, the chats and the cuddles terribly!
And I doubt the prices will ever lower, it just doesnt work that way.

Also, Milk prices are horrendous here in New Zealand.
We are a country who, because of our beef and dairy exports should be able to reduce these prices, making milk affordable for families. It is so sad that a two litre of coke is currently HALF the price of a two litre of milk. Sad for our children and their health...Greedy Milk People!! And the prices of basics like butter and cheese should follow.... Then Id work on flour prices, then rice... and sugar... sigh...all the basics.

Vote Earth Butterfly for Government! Ha! just kidding about the votes, Id run a mile...

The Garden is BLOOMING! 

Tomatoes everywhere... 

Bowl of Tomato Goodness! 

Non-Acid pear shaped heirloom

 

This is our first of the season - a pear shaped beauty!
We have quite a number on the plant, and theyre all in different shades of orangey red as they ripen... Loving it! Theyre sweet and firm to taste. Going to be saving some of the seeds for next year too!

Uncle N has been growing toms too, and this is another heirloom.

 

(Black Kirrin I think!) 

Beans Growing up to the Sky! 

Weve eaten our way through the lettuce patch, still more to go.

 But theres some gorgeous colour still in the garden.

Ive started some geranium plants off. I love the vivid colour and distinctive smell. The basil plant seedlings have taken off, and I have so many basil plants, I think Im going to have to sell them/barter them.  We have some more BRIGHT LIGHTS silverbeet coming along (coloured chard) and there are borlotti beans growing nicely... Pumpkins are trailing slowly but steadily... Thyme plant is bushy - very healthy! We have lemon balm, echinacea and bergamot. 

The Garden is full of promise...Lots of Growing still to do,

The biggest ones of these is fist-sized! 

Loving it!! 

The bees are busy, the flowers nod wisely in the sultry seasonal breezes. 

Life is good here at the Lazy A. 

Giant Marigolds that have grown up to my waist.

Our Soldier Cat, Zandy

 Well, thats this post... on to the next one... and the next one...

And all the next ones thereafter!

Long live The Garden

and all who muse, whilst pulling weeds within Her.

Love from My Hearth to Yours!