Christmas time

I think Christmas time is the best time of the year.

Even though we do not have snow in Sydney and usually it's around 40 degrees  we still love it.

It's time for the children and grand children as they get very excited around the Christmas tree and
try to look at all the presents, checking to see who they are for.

In our street all the neighbours have some sort of lights around their houses and it looks very pretty.

we just have the simple cute lamb and see-saw and other little lights.

We always have a cold meal for Christmas  being seafood, ham, turkey, pork and Salads as the weather is always unpredictable. (this year I think it is only going to be 26 degrees) the coldest summer for over 50 years.

For sweets we will be have the predicable Plum pudding, custard and fresh cream or a choice
of Trifle made of sponge cake jelly and peaches with cream.

This year we expect to have around 16 people uncluding children for Christmas lunch
so it it will make a lovely day for us.

Our Grandchildren growing up

Here are a few photos of our grand children. Hayden is four and Claire is two and a half. Hayden is a good little boy and loves preschool. Need I say any more - Claire is .... a  two and a half Both our faimilies live very close to each other so  we get the see the childen often. Here is a little story about our Son and daughter -in-law. Our son Paul met Devi through work, he worked at a large confectionery company and in his job he had to ring around the world getting prices for new ranges of confectionery. One day he happend to ring Jakarta, and Devi answered the phone. Paul spoke to her in indonesian and she was quite impressed. (Paul has been to Bali many times). So Devi said "next time you go to Bali, call into Jakarta and meet us." So you know what happened next they fell for each other. About  a year later after many expensive phone calls between them they decided to get serious.  Paul was invited to meet the "parents". He flew up and met the whole family around 60 people, Uncles auntys cousins and sisters. His indonesian language failed him then, as everyone spoke so fast. After about another six months or so we were invited to meet the parents as its the custom is meet the parents to see if we are good type of people for their daughter to move to Australia for to care for her just in case. So we also flew to Jakarta and Boy! we couldn't speak a word of indonesian and the parents couldn't speak english, so it was a bit tense waiting on the offspring to translate for us. Boy! we couldn't speak a word of indonesian and the parents couldn't speak english, so it was a bit tense waiting on the offspring to translate for us. So the next thing Devi had to do was to get a Visa to come to Australia to Marry Paul. It was the exact day she went to the Austraian embassy that it got bombed! Without a lie she was walking up the path ahead a indonesian lady with a baby who got killed by a bomb the day the Australian embassy got bombed aprox 7 years ago. Her ears were ringing for about 1 month but we she was so lucky to have not got bombed. We were all so worried about her. one of the major radio stations tried to interview her - as she was so close to death but she couldn't hear very well to talk to them.   So once we all got over that we planned the wedding. It was in a suburb of Sydney. All the family came down from Jakarta  and it was just beautiful.  Everyone enjoyed them selves sooooo much.
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Vegetable Gardening

The first thing to think about when planning a garden of any kind  is the soil. one of the main things to look out for is -  drainage.


To test your drainage,   dig a hole about 30 cm wide and 30cm deep fill it to the top with water and keep track on how long it takes for the water to drain.


If the hole empties in an hour or less your drainage is fine.  But if it takes  longer, you will need to take steps to improve your soil.


In many cases simply  mixing  organic matter, gypsum or one of the other soil  conditioners into the soil will be sufficent to correct a drainage problem.


There is nothing in the world nicer than a fresh vegetable from a garden.


Here are a few easy vegetables to grow. 


Beetroot -   very easy to grow from late spring to early autumn. sow seeds in shallow furrows and cover with     1 cm of soil. 


Brussels sprouts-  One of the most satisfying vegetables to grow They like well manured ground . Plant seedlings  deeply and very firmly. 


Carrots - the seeds are very small- mix with some soil before planting  1-3cm apart. Sow under a frame in the colder climates.


Potatoes- need space, plant 30cm between plants and 60cm between rows Shallots- has a milder flavour than onions. Small bulbs can be planted about  20 cm apart .


Tomatoes- in warm climates sow seeds  into a container until about 7 cm high then plant into the soil to probably reach up to 20cm high.  


It is a nice  idea to  get  your children involved as well. You can give them a garden section of their own, they can grow baby new potatoes, baby carrots, strawberries etc.


Raised beds are a good idea ,  (You don't have to bend down too far)


Fertilization is very important. There are three elements that are the baxic for plant growth… nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.


Nitrogen stimulates early spring growth and promotes deep green color and root and leaf growth.


Phosphorus  strengthens stems and root growth and flower and plant production. It alson helps in resistance to pests and diseases and increases the rate of vegetable crop maturity.


Lastly Potassium helps regulate the plant's metabolism and contributes to early growth , strength, vigour,good flower color and is essential for the proper development  of root crops.


The perfect fertilizer containing all three of these elements (N,P & K) is the perfect Fertilizer…                                                

COLOR

Color has always been important to a lot of People. 

Everything has color in our life from a traffic light to a tree.


Flowers especially, have many colors  they brighten  up our gardens and give joy to many people.


Warm and cold plants:


Yellow, orange, brown  & red  are warm colors.   Blue, Purple, violet  & green are considered to be cold plants   but they go beautifully together.


We then  go into other shades  like-  Apple green,  lilac, cherry red  & mauve to name a few.


There are hundreds of different variations of color.


We sometimes take Color for granted  but as you can see by my pictures of the flowers and their colors there is much to be enjoyed.


The wealth of color in summer is almost overwhelming, Perannials Annuals & Bulbs  create   excellent displays while climbers and wall shrubs cover walls, trellises and pergolas with bright flowers .


Opportunities abound during summer to mix plants in colorful combinations  Cinereas, Lilies, Rhododendrons, Primulas, Hydrangeas & roses make wonderful  colorful displays.  


Even white is beautiful…………….              

PERENNIALS

A perennial is a plant that lives more that two years and usually flower every year.


Perennials have so many different variaties of flowers and every color you can think of are represented as well. They have different shapes and sizes and they flower at different times of the year.


Perennials have a wonderful scent which makes it pleasant to walk around the garden They also attract bees, butterflys and birds. 


Most perennials are easy to grow, and need not too much attention and are easy  to propagate. You can dig up a plant when its dormant and split it in two to replant  again . They are also look good with other plants like shrubs and bulb type flowers.


Some of the perennials names are - Gaillardia,  bluebells, asters, Lobelias,  cinerarias, wedding bells. birch hybrid, floro Pleno, bellflower, camelia , marigolds,Calanthe,  Bellis daisy , Begonia, astrantias, disporiums, cornflowers, chrysanthums,  geraniums,(come in so many shapes and colors) Baby's breath, crocosmias, hellopsis, lythrums,monardas.lavander  just to name a few   


The american horticultural society encyclopedia of Perenials is a fabulous book on the subject of Perennials.                                                   

INDOOR HOUSE PLANTS

A plant for indoors is usually destined for a cetain position whether it be a window sill, shelf or table . Things to consider are light,  warmth, humidity and space  when deciding your next indoor plant. 


Most indoor plants need around 60-71 degrees F (15-21 degrees C) In winter plants on the windowsill may get too cold  move them to a warmer spot .


In summer, plants need more attention than winter.All indoor plants even cacti need a humidity level  of between 40-60% . The warmer and drier the conditions are the more water the plant loses through the leaves.

In the very hot months of summer- improve the humidity by spraying the plants using a fine misting spray. You can also fill the saucer with water to let the plant take up the moisture 


Here are a few pictures of plants suitable for indoors


Angel wings, have a beautiful color and like a warm area to live in. Keep the potting soil moist in spring and   summer and ferfilize every  two weeks as well in summer.


Peacock Plant, is a tropical plant but likes to be kept moist in spring  to Autumn and slightly drier in winter. Do not put plant near bright light as it will fade the color the leaf markings. Water with standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks in spring to summer.


Star of Bethlehem, Italian bellflower, looks better in a hanging basket as flowers will tumble out showing star shaped flowers… keep thoroughly moist during spring and summer  water with standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks from late spring to autumn. remove flowers as they fade to prolong the flowering period.


Ornamental pepper, produce tiny white flowers in summer followed  by the attractive fruits which are green turning to oranges , red or purple  over the weeks as they ripen. keep thoroughly moist at all times  and fertlizer every two weeks if you touch the fruit wash your hands as you may come in contact  with your eyes and they will sting. 


Poinsettia, is a cheerful brightly colored flower. It doesn’t have a long life but it's nice to have around the house at Christmas time Water thoroughly  but not too often  - no need to fertilize.


Scarlet Star,  lastly this plant is usually grown for its beautiful star like flowers  keep moist at all times also add a little water to the central cup. High humidity is essential so keep plant on a tray of damp pepples and  mist the foliage every day.  Water with half strength liquid once a month on  the soil surface and into the cup.  


All this knowledge was gained from readers digest guide to house plants 

A little color in your Garden

Adding color to your garden brings cheer and joy to others - Color influence our emotions even though we may not even be aware of it.

Why do leaves and plants have color? because color is part of life.

Even white flowers play a beautiful part in a garden.

Warm colors like yellow  go great with cold colors  like purple
you will find warm colors are more brighter than cold colors that is why
they contrast nicely together.

I will add a few pictures I have come across with beautiful colors

Combining  color with yellow flowers could be bright red, and of course green,
along with cream flowers like "foxglove" and purple flowers like "bellflowers".
you would be surprised how nice it looks .

Orange looks warm and wonderful in a garden as well.

Rose gardens

Planning to grow a rose garden... roses like light, air, shelter and rich deep soil. So for a start you need to be sure you have the right sort of plot. Plan carefully, choose the colors that will look nice  together.


When spring starts  and new growth appears fertilize roses with a complete fertilizer such as specially formulated rose food. The main season for roses occurs in late spring through to summer an autumn.


Prune roses in winter, remove dead wood and cut branches back so you are left with three to five main stems. Cut to just above an outward facing bud that grows away from the center of the plant.
use a pruning saw to remove any thick growth. 


If well looked after, many roses flower continuously right up until  early autumn.


Plants that look wonderful with roses  are  delphiniums, trumpet lilies, Violas, geraniums and lavender 


The great thing about roses is they look pretty and leave a lovely fragrance in the garden.

All about moving

If you’re a gardener who has to move house and wants to take the garden too, winter is the time to do it because this is the best time to move plants.

When plants are dormant, or growing slowly, you can dig them up with little damage occurring, and transport them to a new garden or position.

The cooler temperatures of winter also mean plants come under less stress during the move – and so do you emotionally, it is also easier to leave a garden in the winter when it is slumbering.

Most deciduous shrubs, bulbs and perennials are easily moved. Some evergreens such as camellias are also easy to move, but many native trees and shrubs resent a move. If the plant you want to move grows readily from seed or cutting, consider collecting seed or taking cuttings, rather than digging up the entire plant.

Plants that are worth moving are any that may be destroyed if they are left – perhaps by a house extension or changes to the garden layout – any that you feel are irreplaceable. Any plants you’ve put into the garden to help sell the house may also be easy to dig back up, repot and take with you to brighten up the new place.

To prepare a plant for its move, first dig around the root system. If you have time to do this several months ahead of the move, dig a trench around the plant at the extent of its leaves. This severs the main roots, which begin to form new, fine feeding roots that will help the plant adapt to its new location. Fill the trench with sand or compost and give the root area between the trunk and the trench regular water. Apply a seaweed tonic every two or three weeks.   

AROMATIC BASIL OIL

Preserve Basil the Italian Way....

Layer the leaves in a Jar and sprinkle each layer with salt.
Top up the jar with a good -quality olive oil.
Seal Jar securely and store in a refrigerator.

Allow several days for the oil to be infused
with the flavor of the Basil.

Drizzel over salads and  pizzas.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is in many fruits and vegetables. 


You will find it in or course in Citrus but also Parsley , Berries, Red Capsicum, Apples, Broccoli, asparagus & cabbage.


Vitamin C is one of the best immune-boosting nutrients for treating  chronic diseases . It protects cells from free --radical damage.


The recommended daily intake for adults id 45 milligrams up to 60 milligrams.

My Garden

Here is a photo of My Garden ,   we had a jungle while we worked through the years and it took until we retired
part time to fix it up.
It took around  6 months of hard work - buying new plants - laying soil and new grass - but  it was sure worth it in the end- as we have a lovely nice place to enjoy.

Here is a photo of part of our Garden.

A little break

Next Sunday we are off to the North Coast for a few days - Son and daughter in law and children are coming with us.   We hire an apartment with a pool at the back section of our two story townhouse and the kids love it.
The resort we stay at has a wonderful surrounding pool of the whole area, its not real deep but it is also great for the kids (and us).    We are not far from a place called Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay so we also go there swimming as well. We don't cook much -  mainly eat fish & chips etc but we have a lot of fun together.

Small Gardens

Some of us do not have a large garden area, and some of us live in apartments and smaller dwellings
so I have placed a few container pictures on my blog to show you how good they could look on a balcony or
front porch.
Containers can also be added to a Garden area to enhance the surroundings.  

Storing Garlic

You can freeze Garlic for  around four months,   make sure it is fresh  - cut the cloves in half - crush the cloves  with a knife and place in a piece of  cling wrap.   wrap like it is a cigar  and twist the ends,  freeze and use as you require ............