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Hope you can join us on our garden adventures

Make over in the Nursery

It's Nursery make-over today (read: avoiding weeding ).
The apple crates are getting a new look while the weather is warm and dry.

For some unknown, and obviously logical reason, I proposed doing this little job last Winter 

What was I thinking - it was another wet and soggy season

no weather for painting

my only thought was  - I'll have time to do that then . . . .

Using Salad Burnet

SALAD BURNET

(Sanguisorba minor)

Salad Burnet is a lovely perennial green with the dual purpose of looking pretty and tasting great.

Having a mild cucumber flavour, use the most tender new foliage in any salad recipe.

How to grow Salad Burnet here. 

Rice Paper Rolls

use salad burnet instead of pea shoots

pick when needed, and won't be slimy from cool storage

Tea Sandwiches

Sliced Bread

Cream Cheese or Quark

Thinly sliced cucumber

salad burnet leaves

salt/pepper to taste (or diced dill, or dried sumac)

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese or quark onto bread slices

layer thinly sliced cucumber

top with salad burnet 

(which will help reduce contact of cucumber on bread making it soggy)

salt and pepper last

(salt draws moisture from cucumber so best to add it last!)

PIMMS and SODA/DRY/LEMONADE

use leaflets to add colour to your Pimms & Dry

(along with orange, lemon and cucmbers)

Pimms Original

E-STORE FEATURE PLANT "Dropmore" Catmint

 "Dropmore" Catmint 

(Nepeta × faassenii syn. mussinii)

A slightly larger version of Faassens Catmint, with bluer flowers. 

Mid sized at 70cm in flower, with a similar spread by Summer end. 

Not as lanky as "Six Hills Giant" !

Full sun in a drier part of the garden. 

Herbaceous perennial will die down to a leaf crown in Winter briefly. 

Prune back in Late Autumn.

Flowering in Mid Spring, but if spent flowers are pruned will flower

again in Autumn before dormancy. 

Available at our new e-store nursery

So little means so much

 

 We were warned the vines would be marginal when they were acquired

Hard growth, old vines and not much in the way of cuttings to take

So it was  a bit surprising to see these little poppets

and it became obvious that every little stick would count

these are the only vine of this type in Tasmania

one for the history books

meet the future of Petit Meslier in our state

I've tried the wine this little stick will produce

and trust me its going to be worth waiting for!

Follow the journey of these little sticks over at 

Domaine Anthony Woollams

Tasmania's newest vineyard

from the grass roots and beyond

Botanical Exercises with Ann Blockley

Cherry Blossom

 Class this week got into the garden

with a bit of Botanical work following the teachings of Ann Blockley in her book
Experimental Flowers in Watercolour

 Great technical experiments with additional texture mediums such as granulation fluid, rock salt and cling wrap. 

Still a bit of a way to go with timing when to apply additional mediums to get the right texture I am after, but not to unhappy about these first attempts.

Ann isn't afraid of a depth of colour, 

or even a conflicting tone which suites the style

 I one day hope to achieve with my work.

Would love to get to a workshop

but alas she is in England !

Anemone close-up

Anemone

Choose-Your-Own Christmas Tree ?

"I'm not sure you are cutting it right ?"

 Just picking a tree for show & tell at the Tasmanian Craft Fair this weekend.
I had a little help . . . . 

Bernard the Pioneer in Sheep Tree  Selection

We choose . . . . this one

 

 

 

We'll help! (Stomp on it, eat it . . . )

Herbs in the Garden - Chamomile

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is one of my favourite annual herbs

a little left field for a perennial Nursery

but it performs for so much of the year that it is a worthy addition to 

an integrated and productive garden

Very fine seed can be direct sown (or self seeded) to the garden in late Summer

Do not mulch the soil, but leave it exposed to allow the delicate seed to germinate

Failing that open sow seed in a tray outdoors pressing seed to soil, but not covering

Full frost hardy seedlings will grow gently through Winter

once the days lengthen so will the seedlings

and by mid Spring you will be harvesting flowers

pick flowers constantly to ensure more flower production

dry flowers on a piece of paper towel and store dried flowers in a jar 

place in a dark cupboard

Keep adding dried flowers through the season and you will have plenty for Winter 

Make sure to leave some flowers to set seed at the end of Summer 

to start the process all over again

German Chamomile prefers full sun, well drained soil

Establishing naturally in gravel and poorer soils

but water when the weather heats up or plants will wilt

We pick the freshest flowers for tea with petals still horizontal
Let the boiled water rest a few minutes so as not scald the flowers
and tarnish the sweet flavour

Petals can be sprinkled into salads


German Chamomile, like all herbs, should be consumed in moderation
any potential health effects researched for implications in their application
(e.g. consumption during pregnancy, other existing health issues)
LINK TO HEALTH IMPLICATIONS HERE

Scarlet Bee Balm

 

Scarlet Bee Balm (Monarda didyma "Mahogony") 

is one of those versatile perennials 

we really seek out at the Nursery.

Frosted seed heads in Winter

• Flaming blossoms atop tall strong stems
• scented foliage
• seemingly rabbit and wallaby proof once established
• Winter prune with a brushcutter
• Full sun and moist to well drained soil
• edible flowers
• edible foliage
• bee attractant

It does have a bad reputation for being prolific in its growth

so we treat it mean at the Farm growing it in poor soil

to contain its enthusiastic growth

Perfect for the new gardener as it is very forgiving of mis-adventures

Scarlet Bee Balm in Summer

Trouble

This.

This is the face of trouble.

"Cherry" the matriarch of our small herd of Wiltshire's decided to take her entourage on tour when they discovered the gate to the paddock had fallen down (along with a wet rotten corner fencepost).

After all the rain we have a LOT of rotten posts

Another job to the list, fairly high priority really

But there is no dignity chasing sheep down the road,

especially in steel capped boots, and not a high degree of sprint fitness

Our small herd of sheep are Wiltshire Poll's

They came to us last year as weened lambs

everyone a girl with one purpose next year

into the mix a few merino x's - the lads (well partially)

for the freezer

We chose the Wilties as they are moulting sheep

no shearing, no crutching, high worm resistance

good mothers, hardy meat breed

they are also cheeky as !

"the girls" as they are known rule the farm

the cows hate them, chasing them across the paddock

but the combined livestock make great use of the pastures

having different feeding preferences

they follow the kids from paddock to paddock

its more about food then friendship I suspect

but the kids pet them and sit in the middle of the small herd

having sheepy tea parties which has involved many packets of milk arrowroot

and a goodly number of my salad greens from the vegie patch

Winter Garden Perfume

Dutch Hyacinths

My garden has slipped into a highly scented place with Winter flowers coming into full bloom

Back in May I planted out the first Dutch Hyacinths we have had in the garden since moving here

A big brown paper bag of 100 bulbs picked up from Dave of Van Dieman Bulbs at the 

Launceston Horticulture Society Show in April before we closed for the Season.

The bulbs hadn't been forced (like those you would have seen at AgFest),

so are flowering naturally now

Fire King Wallflower

 Last year I grew hundreds of biennial wallflowers

we sold only a few so the rest went into my garden in May

After a few setbacks from the rabbits they are now big shrubs cover in perfumed scarlet flowers

and are one of the first flowers for Late Winter

Ruby Gem Wallflower

 I have a few special perennial wallflowers (the yellow one below)

which are now big enough to pick and bring into the house for vases

A scent so strong you only need the smallest quantity in a big vase mixed with 

Daffodils, Bluebells and Snowdrops and the very first cherry blossom pinched from town

where it is warmer and a bit further advanced into the Spring Season

 

Yellow Wallflower

Dusty Miller

 

Senecio "Vira Vira" in flower

A glorious day at the Farm today

Sunshine and the crisp breeze that tells of highland snowfalls

My poly tunnel is warm and the plants are jumping at the bright daylight

Cuttings are being run over the work bench today

silvery and feathered is the theme

Senecio "Vira Vira"

Last Summer I trialled a few new Senecio's

chosen of course for silver foliage to be a beautiful back drop to pretty much any colour

They have survived -7oC, flooding, water logging and the heat of last years Indian Summer

So that ticks all the boxes for us to propagate them

They will be nicely ready about late November at the Nursery

fully hardened and garden ready

 

Senecio "Cirrus"

Common Name: Dusty Miller's

Botanical Names: Senecio "Vira Vira": Senecio viravira syn Senecio leuchostachys

                                      Senecio "Cirrus" :  Senecio cineraria 'Cirrus'

Height: 65cm (85cm in flower)

Spread: 50 - 75cm

Flower: white / pale lemon in Summer, repeat flower in late Autumn

Uses: ornamental

Aspect (Tasmania): North, North West, East, North East

Sun: Full Sun only Soil: tolerant of poorer soils, free draining Water: not much water need after establishment, may need a splash in high Summer if soil moisture is not retained through mulching or extreme heat is expected
Maintenance: prune spent flowers back, light prune to encourage regrowth in late Summer
Problems: occasional Cineraria Leaf Miners, and grub borers in stem, but can be easily controlled through a bit a pruning for the borer and healthy growth.

Only myself to blame . . .

LEAF not LEAD !!!!!

We write all our own labels for the Nursery.

No bog standard labels mass produced for the whole of Australia

My labels have details for growing them here - in Tasmania & similar climates

Certainly not for maybe Darwin or Sydney, even Canberra

I add to the labels little peccadilloes that we have experienced when growing, 

they may not always be nice

like "Clary Sage" old name was Milkmaids Armpits

yes beautiful, but don't smell so good

we didn't add however - don't plant under your clothesline as your washing will brush through it and stink !

My rule last year was "No plant labels while tired" given my habitual period of free time with no interuptsions was usually around 1am

add to that now "Not while sick in bed !"

So I have only myself to blame when my plant labels come back with not so much spelling mistakes but clearly a lack of editorial rigor 

Black Cahosh - Actaea racemosa

One of our new trial plants - Black Cahosh or Cimicifuga (Actaea racemosa).

Its certainly not one of our regular uber hardy plants, but it does like a damp shady spot in the garden, puts up with extreme cold and seasonal waterlogging - pretty tough after all !
Certainly sounds like it will suite a few places in our neck of the woods. 

Think Southern aspect, shady - hydrangea territory.


Common Names: Black Cahosh, Cimicifuga, Branched Bugbane, Black Snakeroot
Botanical Name: Actaea racemosa syn. Cimicifuga racemosa

Height: 75cm plant, 120cm flowering
Spread: 50cm
Flower: white / blush pink
Uses: ornamental, bee & butterfly attractant, herbal (medicinal)

Aspect (Tasmania): South, South East
Sun: Dappled Shade, Semi Shade
Soil: retained moisture, free draining, enriched organics
Water: regular, do not allow to dry out , mulch well


Image from here: http://www.studiogblog.com/grow/plants/summer-in-new-england/

Open Gardens New Listings

OPen Gardens Australia image

It looks like a good date for an outing on the 19th of October

Open Gardens Australia has just published its first schedule for the new Season
and the North East is the place to be with four gardens open around Scottsdale.

Look around the region on the way there: Lilydale Falls Reserve is great for a picnic, Cuckoo Falls Reserve near Scottsdale and a wide range of farm gate & village stops for wonderful food.

Game Pie Anyone ?

You know how I said we had an "Edible Garden" now at the Nursery ?
Well I didn't plant it for these to eat !
Looks like my next "project" is to get some more fencing done.

When given the opportunity, my husband is a dab hand at rabbit pie

made a la bourginon style or simply slow cooked with a pint of Guiness thrown in

He has delved into pastry making, something I've never had the patience for

and the combination is superb.

Other visitors to the garden (not destined for pie, though not for lack of potential)

black birds do they daylight shift of garden destruction

and the wallabies take the main garden by dark !

(Anyone interested in wildlife monitoring in their garden, contact NRM North )