Tommie Harvest Time

They took their time but we're now enjoying ripening tomatoes and owing to a warmer summer they're much earlier than last year. Did a bit of a bruschetta taste test the other week with the Burke's Backyard and the San Marzanos. The Burke's Backyard impressed but I was really taken with the San Marzano which are a little more tart than other varieties. I added some to my fettuccine with prawns, tomatoes and white wine recipe and worked wonderfully well. I think they're a real winner and they'll definitely be going into the garden next season.

Work on some new steps at the side of the house is going well, if not slowly as it also involves constructing some dry stone walls.  I'll also install the LED garden light set my mother gave me. These projects do have a way of absorbing all your time and I tend to have to remind myself there are other things to keep an eye on in the garden.

Oh yes, we picked up four big clumps of Strelitzia reginae or Bird of Paradise. A work colleague of my wife is renovating her unit and dug them out from the backyard. Strelitzia have leaves a little like a banana plant and striking flowers that resemble a showy tropical bird. They should do well here originating in southern Africa. In fact if Agapanthus (another southern African native) is anything to go by then Bird of Paradise should do extremely well in the Dandenongs.

I can't believe summer is nearly over, but that's not a bad thing. It's harvest time when we get to enjoy the fruits of our labour.

A selection of Apollo, Grosse Lisse and San Marzano tomato varieties. Yum!

Cheers