It's bean a while...

It's bean been a while since I last posted, a little over six months now. Winter was mostly occupied with weeding, clearing the odd fallen tree, planning and working on smaller projects around the place. The patio area is nearly complete - I had to rethink the design keeping grading in mind. I just need to put in a small drainage grate and bring in some Dromana gravel as a topping.

I must confess sport on the TV has kept me away from the blog. On top of three weeks of the Tour de France there was the London Olympics of which I watched more than planned followed up La Vuelta a Espana...you get the picture.

Now that Spring is in full swing it's time to prepare the soil and plan what to so. I've head a head start. Cos lettuce and rocket seedlings went in a few weeks ago protected from the ravages of slugs and snails with 'beer traps'.

Some potatoes started sprouting in the kitchen cupboard and instead of tossing them into the compost I put them in the ground. It said 'not for planting' on the bag but I thought it couldn't hurt and the label is probably there to discourage people from growing their own potatoes. After a few weeks some healthy plants have popped out the ground. Would be good to get some nice potatoes of our own.

Top of my to grow list are the San Marzano tomatoes that were star performers last season compared to other varieties (with no help from the tree loppers who dropped a a branch on them from next door). Then there's the usual on the list including dwarf beans, basil, capsicum, sweetcorn (which I didn't plant last season and really missed) and cucumbers.

I'm so looking forward to getting the veggies in, the ground is still a bit cool but it won't be long before the heat is on!

Cheers.

Nothing says 'Spring' like a tulip, except a daffodil, but I don't have daffodils so these will just have to do.

Some orchids by the side of the house. They never cease to amaze.

 

 

 

 

The azaleas have been wonderful this year and the colour seems to intensify on a grey day.

The heat is on...and then not

Welcome to 2012! Hot weather arrived with the new year which meant tending to the veggie patch with a watering can. These hot days were a real contrast to Christmas Day. Areas to the west of Melbourne and the northern suburbs were hit with severe thunderstorms which even spawned a tornado at Fiskville on the way to Ballarat. Belgrave thankfully was spared the damaging hail and torrential rain, however, I feel for those who've had their summer break ruined by nature. Today Melbourne's been lashed by strong cold winds, showers and hail. Summer's taken a break!

Back in the garden the veggies have been powering along. The first batch of cos lettuce is nearly finished and a new crop of seedlings has gone into the ground.  The tomatoes are bearing lots of fruit and picked a ripening San Marzano. Last evening we ate the first lot of beans that went into our traditional bean salad. Delicious!

Being on leave has given me the chance to get stuck into some projects. This week I've begun re-modelling some steps to the backyard. They were little more than tired old sleepers holding back dirt with weeds growing out of then. I've re-levelled the runs and new sleepers will go in along with proper paving. I'll put up a photo when they're done.

Dwarf beans in flower.

San Marzano tomatoes coming along nicely.

Cheers