here be dragons

any county mum will tell you

seeing scaly things in your garden isn't a most desirable thing

but at the moment we have a community of blue tongue lizards

it seems a day hasn't passed when i haven't ushered one away from the dog

or spotted one in the flower beds

yes they do bite - i KNOW !

the tell tale empty snail shells is the first sign

and then the bite marks in your strawberries

and then they like a snack of slaters

so then you'll spot them amoungst the pot plants

an old wives tale says

that if you have blue tongues in your garden

then the snakes won't be

hmmmm - like i said old wives tale given what i found at the back gate a month ago !

evidence - guess who has found my latest camera hiding spot !

Australia Day !

while TOH has had to work for the day

we at home have other agendas

its slip and slide time !

take one length of black plastic

a slope in the garden

some washing up liquid

a soaker hose

and off you go

(and it waters the lawn !)

HAVE A GREAT AUSTRALIA DAY !

field trip: oatlands

callington mill

Wee Hermann and I had a field trip to Oatlands

with the big kids off visiting friends it was just us two

he loved it 

and he loved the callington mill

much finger pointing was done

and scrambling about the drystone walls

callington mill and gardens

while we were there we dropped in on Rowena at Oatlands Handmade

we got to check out her new shop

do a bit of shopping

a lovely new upcycled ring made from an old teaspoon by supply bay designs

and some raw locally spun wool for a project

Rowena's cottage houses Oatlands Handmade

we also got to drop of some of my handmade goodies off

adding to the collection of great artisans and crafts people

all housed in Rowena's heritage listed sandstone cottage

natural tasmanian wools spun at waverley mills

we visited some gardens

and took some photos for the next project at the farm

hmmm - now to convince TOH to get his saw and drill out

project ?

garden visits: oatlands

callington mill

if you are at a loose end this weekend

try a garden visit

we have just gotten back from oatlands

in the midlands of tasmania

the new parterre

the village is magnificent

a construct of aged sandstone

and most of the village houses now sport wonderful cottage gardens

and they are growing on the hardest ground in very dry conditions

a french parterre garden is being constructed behind the callington mill

and they have wonderful espaliered apple trees

surrounded by wonderful dry stone walls constructed by local women

espaliered apples

so take a drive

enjoy poking about what must be tasmanians most beautiful village

a bit of history

sunshine in my garden

Helenium

Helenium "Dark Beauty"

an amazingly productive flower

heleniums are very tough once established 

only needing watering once or twice a week 

they grow to a good height of 120cm in full flower

making it ideal for a middle of the border display

planted enmasse provides a brilliant long lived floral display

Helenium "Dark Beauty" enmasse

heleniums seem pretty happy to establish in an only mildly improved soil

but the better the soil the bigger and better the plant establishment

so if you have access to good mulch or manure for Winter soil conditioning go for it

they do not like water logging, doing better on a well drained or slopped garden bed

(U.K. refereces say they need moist and constantly damp soil - but we haev not found this the case here on our harder drier soils)

Helenium "July Sun ?"

the unusual flowers have recurved petals curling down from the cone

this somehow deters people from these flowers in cutting bunches, as they mistake the recurved petals for wilting

just the same it is an excellent cut flower with a vase life of about a week
(longer if water kept very fresh and topped up) 

the flower works less well in arrangements
this is due to the slower water uptake caused by the foam

Helenium "Moerheim Beauty"

We mix our Heleniums into a hot and sultry garden bed full of dark and exotic colours of purples and deep reds. Lysmachia "Firecracker" with its deep purple leaves provides a wonder foil for the flowers.

Leave spent flowers to form dry cones for a lovely Winter display, white frost on the old seed spikes are lovely. Prune back the flowering stems in Mid Winter .

Divide established plants also in Mid Winter in Tasmania. I know that recommendations are to split these plants in Early Spring, but as our Winters are generally dryer then in the U.K. I prefer to get smaller split plants established before the wet and often water logged Spring. 

I'm not a fancy pants perennial splitter, I take to our Heleniums with a sharp edged spade once they are over 30cm wide - splitting a plant into fours directly down the plant middle.

cultivars we stock

"Dark Beauty" - a cultivar off "Moerheim Beauty" that has less of the orange streak infiltrating the petals, and great petal recurving. More vigorous and reliable then "Moerheim Beauty".

"July Sun"  - This plant was called "July Sun" when I bought it, but I tend to think it is another cross bred variation due to its orange petal streaks, rather then clear yellow that a true "July Sun" should have. However the variation we have is a reliable and vigorous plant, flowers readily and heavily.

"Moerheim Beauty" - the original favourite to come out of the U.K. it has less recurved petals then the "Dark Beauty", but has delightful orange streaks through the petals. Less vigorous, we have found its to be a lovely flowering plant but a bit "missish" - trying a few other locations to see if it can come right !

We are currently sold out of Heleniums this year. 

Pre order or get in early for next Springs stocks in September.

militant

yes that's me

militant

painful

pickie

this Christmas past we hosted my hubbies annual Kids Christmas Picnic

out at the farm

apples for cows

chicken chasing

eating EVERY raspberry in my garden

digging up carrots

and a neglected jumping castle

hubbies work pays for catering

just a bbq, nothing fancy

santa claus (aka a chap from the office) arrives with parcels

but this year i said to the organiser - no plastic

no disposable cutlery

plates and cups are to be paper

it was no big deal

we keep a big jar of cutlery for just such an event

we also have a big stash of op-shop plates

and some re-useable heavy plastic cups (i'd prefer tin cups though)

they all get washed at the end of the day

stashed in a box ready for next time

why ?

i paid less

i used less

and i can use it all again

and so could the next generation

remove self from soap box :)

i felt like a beer

hanging around a felt maker has obviously rubbed off

not content with yet another crocheted pen holder

i made something for my mannie

yup - its a stubbie cooler

take one crocheted jar cover

made from a non machine washable wool

soap, hot water and some bubble wrap

and oh....about an hour to make the thing shrink

(never seems to take that long when said mannie washes woollens)

a bit of fun eh ?

instructions to follow . . . . .

Beer Cosy How -To

making a crochet jar cosy is as easy as pie

everyone is doing it

i like attic 24's method (which i first learnt)

but getting past the girlie do-dads and trying something a little blokey

a stubbie holder, 

a beer cooler, 

what do they call them at your end of the world ?

i'm thinking fathers day

my fellas' birthday

maybe a wine cooler next for a gift ? ?

please note this pattern is in australian crochet terms
please adjust as needed to U.S. lingo

I used Panda "Feltable Wool" an 8ply wool with a 4.00mm hook.

base of the cooler

For the Base

Foundation: start by making a magic circle ,2 chain, make 7 trebles (first chain makes it 8), slip stitch to join (8 stitches)

Row 1: crochet two trebles into each stitch, slip stitch to join (16 stitches)

Row 2: chain2, crochet 1 treble into first stitch, treble into next stitch, *2 trebles in next, 1 treble in next* repeat** to end, slip stitch to join (24 stitches)

Row 3: chain2, crochet 1 treble into first stitch, treble into next stitch, treble into next stitch *2 trebles in next, 1 treble in next*, treble into next stitch, repeat** to end, slip stitch to join (30 stitches).

This is the base for a pilsner sized beer bottle, add an extra row if you have larger type bottles using the obvious pattern forming from Rows 2 and 3. This is also a  felted project that will allow you to still see the stitches at completion. So shrinkage of the wool is not at its optimum. If you wish to disperse the stitches more to a smoother felt, make your cosy larger - i.e. add two to three more rounds to the base in the pattern.

building up the cosy sides

For the Sides

I won't reinvent the wheel about building the sides of the cosy. Lucy over at Attic24 has an excellent tutorial so pick up over there. 

But change your wool colour if you wish and chain (x 2) into one of the base stitches (it doesn't really matter where). Now treble into each stitch on the way around the base (30 stitches including first chains), slip stitch to join.

I worked 30 rows of this to gain the height of the beer bottle. As you can see the cosy is quite baggy when finished.

So now the fun (?) part.  

I hand felted my cosy using boiling water, soap powder, bubble wrap to create the agitation and good old arm muscles.
And did that all over again (and again, icy cold water, then again !)

Good instructions on hand felting can be found here. 

Or if you make a few try machine felting.

To block the felted work, simply let it dry around the bottle you plan to use it on.
Place the wet cosy and bottle somewhere warm to ensure the wool dries quickly.

You can of course add a simple fabric stiffener such as a starch to make the cosy firmer.

There are many variables to this project, such as wool type and weight, hook size and pre-felt size of the project - so experiment and see what you invent !

its been a while since i did a "how to"

so please send me an edit if you spot a boo-boo or an improvement !

Share you wares ! Have you made a cosy ?
Link up and show us all your wonderful efforts :)

not quite a nursery . . . . yet

nice palettes stacked on firewood - very fancy set up !

since starting to sell my plants i've had quite a few enquiries

did i have the nursery open ?

well hmmmm

i don't quite have a nursery yet

i certainly seem to have enough plants and range

but i'm not even vaguely ready for the visiting public

it isn't for lack of wishful thinking

one day, one day

soon ?

i can only hope !

the good life: cherries and pesto

fresh basil

the seasonal produce into my freezer continues

next on the agenda is pesto

hands full of basil from mums vegie patch, garlic and parsley from mine

a tub of pine nuts and a big splosh of oil

i don't add parmesan unless its going to be a fresh pesto

i freeze my green goop in small snap seal containers

taking them out of the chill when needed

less risk of spoilage and fuzzy molds

and more room in my fridge !

pesto ready to go back to mum and dads

fruit this time is Everslie Cherries from Grindalwald down the road from us

at $8/kg for seconds the are the right price to buy lots of
cherries are great to freeze, just don't pull out the stems when you box them

black lapin cherries from everslie

more planting in the vegie patch

seeds for winter beetroot, carrots, lettuce and some late quick radish

the flooding of last week has spread my previous seeds helter skelter

now as they germinate on the clear ground it will take a few weeks to decide whats what

like having salad on a grand scale

more rain predicted for tonight - joy.

making

i have been a bit partial to jar covers since making my first one last year

based on lucys instructions, i then elaborated and added a base

i made a plain one

and a lacy one

so in an effort to get my crochet mojo back i embarked on a new project

it will also suite my joining in the felt fairies monthly make challenge this year

i quite like them !

an upcycled marmalade jar and an olive jar

some raw spun wools left from a knitting project

and an ever trusty red button

getting to market

colours of summer

last weekend i finally was able to head over to perth and attend the Ut Si Produce Market in person

fresh cut flowers from our farm

my flowers have been heading to Ut Si with suburban jubilee since december

 and at last i was able to reciprocate tanya's kindness by helping out at the markets

early morning set up

Held in the landscaped grounds of an old church converted to a cafe it was a lovely summery day to spend with new acquaintances and check out the kitchen gardens that supply the cafe

collette's grown ups choc crackles - organic dark chocolate !

i was a bit superfluous to requirements - tanya had the stall running hot with her salad greens

so i supped hot coffee and chatted with the other stall holders mostly

but what a great atmosphere and so many nice visitors

my lunch

stylin' it up

On Friday last week I had a most invigorating morning. Stitch of Love and Emma at Play both nominated me for a Stylish Blogger Award.

What a lovely surprise to be thought of so kindly. Especially after a stylish post that had my scruffy mountain bike shoes as the key photo.

It came on a good day, with T.O.H. down with a cold, two kids with almost colds and a market stall to prepare for. The Award was like having a very stiff espresso -  a great shake up from the drudger of the day.

So in keeping with the tradition of the Award I have to tell you seven things about myself.

Well, lets say I am a woman of elusive and discerning qualities . . . . . 

1. I find sleep elusive
2. I find a tidy home elusive as i am not a discerning housewife
3. A finished project is elusive in my neck of the woods
4. A discernible garden is elusive in my back yard
5. Parental Control over my progeny is elusive
6. Weight lose and fitness seem elusive priorities in my life (or maybe I am not discerning enough of my time ?)
7. A good hairdresser seems elusive to my discernment of a stylish haircut (being categorised as a middle aged frump certainly doesn't make for a good haircut by a pre-pubescent hairdresser)

And I am passing on the Award to a few bloggers that have inspired me over recent weeks. Both for Style and Content of their blogs. So here goes:

1. Elderberry Street  with Karen 
2.  from Beyond my Kitchen Window
3.  Wunderkrammer with Jessica
4.  Marley and Lockyer with Ness
5.  Suburban Jubilee with Tanya
6.  Nest with Natalie
7.  SIBOL with Sue
8.  Sew Ritzy with Dawn 
9.  Karin aan de haak with Karin
10.  erika.tricroche with Erika
11.  waste not want not with cherie
12. icrochet with sarah 
13. lalalizzie with lizzie
14. heldasland with helda
15. la belle helene with helene 

  To accept the award, you have 4 duties: 

• link back to the person who nominated you (happy if you do/don't); 
• tell 7 things about yourself (eek); 
• pass it to the 15 recently discovered bloggers; 
• contact them to let them know about the award. 

 
 

Himalayan Fleeceflower

Fleeceflower in Summer bloom

Himalayan Fleeceflower or Knotweed

( Persicaria affinis syn. Polygonum affine syn Bistorta affinis )

an unusual flower for the garden

it is suited to both full sun and semi-shade

once it is established it is a very hardy and dry tolerant plant

creeping across the ground striking down new roots this plant will quickly settle as a good strong ground cover

leaves are slender rounded blades 

deep green with slashes of reddish-purple for new leaves and Autumn colouring as well as an indicator that your soil is drying out !

it is a herbaceous perennial so expect dieback in Winter where you get heavy frosts

otherwise you can expect the foliage to stay around in gentler climates

reddened leaves for many reasons

 

spikes of dusky dark pink, turning to soft pink flowers appear in mid Summer

and continue to repeat flower through Autumn

flowers grow taller as the season progresses

starting at about 10cm and reaching 25cm in late Summer

Common Name: Knotweed
Botanical Name: Persicaria affinis
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Clay/heavy, Moist
Height: 30cm
Spread: 60cm
Time to divide plants: September to May
Flowering period: July to October 

full summer form

We have seasonal stock of the Fleeceflower. 

As we get heavy frosts leafed 14cm pots are available from late Spring (October).

Emilie Simon - Fleur de Saison

"Red Velvet" Yarrow

deepest red wine flowers

upon tall feathered stems

a hardy and vigorous perennial

showy flower display appearing mid Summer

best for a bigger garden

yarrow has a reputation for being pushy

growing to 120cm high with an equivalent spread

prune to ground level each winter as per regular perennial maintenance

benefits from a nice dose of manure through winter to invigorate foliage growth

mulching always helps to retain soil moisture, but will grow under poorer conditions

available through out the year from our nursery and on-line in standard 14cm pots or in Spring as Slimline Tubes

finding my feet

it has been some years since i raced a mountain bike

eight to be precise

a long breeding program overtook the training program

it wasn't unusual to spend something in the vicinity of 20+ hours a week training or racing

this was B.C. days of course

last year i agreed to dust off the bike to join a team

another cycling buddy and i would do a 24hr event known as kellevie

luckily my partner got up the duff with her first child - i was off the hook !

my hubbie, 

ever ingenious to my return to the saddle,

promptly lined up three new team members

 (all of them had had their kids too)

bum !

luckily breeding must be in the water the event organisers had also succumbed to parenthood - the race was off

yay !

little did i know that a 12hour event out at Blessington was on the cards 

(run by a single guy)

my warm up race it was to be

well it's still going ahead

so my new years wish of getting fit, loosing weight and finding some personal space shall all be met with an arduous training programme

spend days with kids, 

play dates, craft, swimming, riding

tidy vege and garden patches

weeding, pruning, mowing, 

vacuum, washing,folding, cooking

get dinner ready, 

set out p.j's for kids

get hubbie home - say hello, say goodbye

go out on bike

come home say good night to sprogs

eat dinner, shower, do the accounts, say goodnight to other half, fall asleep

yup - endurance training at its best !

(wonder what olympic competitors get up to ?)