November in the Garden

Today is a very special day - as this day, 14 years ago, we welcomed 'Salina into our world.  In fact, at this point in time 14 years ago I think I was dealing with my first major nappy eye-opener!!

Obviously she is well past that stage of life (as is her little sister) and has grown into someone I am pretty darned proud of - and she has a keen sense of humour.

We had her friends over yesterday for a beach visit and barbeque - this morning, we have had breakfast and been to the beach - there is a theme.

Although, apparently, her day also consists of some homework - as does mine...

Its hot here - very hot.  It has been hot AND windy approximately 80% of the last 3 weeks, and the garden is showing the effects of that, I am afraid.

 The front flower beds are desparately in need of some serious deadheading.  This bed is virtually all antbed, so one day the dream is to remove it and create a hedge and/or some sort of privacy in this area - it is evolutionary.

This bed, that was created completely from deadheading and random scatterings, is looking very sorry now that the sunflowers have been removed.  There are plans afoot to put an orange tree in on this side.

I love the hippeastrum, but the display this year is fairly paltry because they were lifted and separated fairly late.  I am going to try and leave them in situ for a season or so before the next lift.  That being said, I did manage to give away over 100 bulbs for others, with the instructions "they are compost if they don't strike" - but the strike rate is apparently pretty good out there.

 

It is anticipated that this corridor at the side of the house will get paved one day, with some shadecloth and potting areas under contemplation.  Another wonderful idea is to possibly move the fence/gate back to allow Ergon access (and more sun to some of the bed) - that is the great thing about a garden, the dreaming of possibilities.

Unfortunately due to the massive winds we have had for the last 2 months, my blossoming promise is basically three little fruit on my lime tree.  Fairly devastated about that.

 

The plan is that this bed will change the wind issues (and privacy) with the bamboo, and while it is growing like wildfire (as are the marigolds and borage) it will be a few seasons.  My Vietnamese  mint died and Eddie (the cat) is a serial offender in upsetting the hope for the eggplant as, instead of seedlings we find offerings...

 

Luckily the back corner garden is pretty sheltered, which means that it continues green and lush - snowpeas, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, basil, marigolds and whatever else lands a seed there grow in abundance, although setting fruit is an issue with the lack of direct sunlight.

 

We still have hope of the corn - it was rather trammelled by the wind but V did straighten it after the last big blow and it seems to be steaming ahead.  

 

The chilli bush is prolific - we are currently at saturation point with chilli sauce and, while I will harvest and contemplate preserving these, the long-term plan is to demolish this bed and create a larger bed in conjunction with the corn bed.  The strawberries (that are feeling the heat) will be renewed once that renovation is complete.

 We harvested one bed and planted beans and beetroot - something I have since learned is a no-no, but we were saved from consequences by the complete failure of beetroot!!  The beans only have a 50% strike rate as well, so will revisit this garden again today and contemplate the next move.

The bed beside it, however, is going great guns, with both zucchini and cucumber flowering and setting fruit, the silverbeet being prolific and the self-seeded snowpeas already forming pods.  Love bonus plants!

 

While our vegetables have fairly well dried up now that Summer is upon us (although officially we are still 1 month off), we do get some pretty special floral displays.

We have 3 frangipani trees in our garden - the dwarf pink, the cream (above)  and a newly planted cream are all flowering their head off (the bit that  broke from the latter was shoved into a pot and is flowering also).

 

These sunflowers in the side bed are greeting each morning (and the neighbours) and just starting to get to the stage of droop and harvest - if anyone has any sunflower recipes I am open to suggestion (or you want some seeds - if it is legal to send them from me in Queensland to you - let me know)

The "herb" garden is still going well, although we are bereft of coriander (due to the spread of a voracious oregano).  We have pineapple sage, parsley, thyme, oregano, sage, chives and rosemary available to us in this hot little corner.

So - it will be spending a bit more time down in the garden (early morning and late afternoon) and praying for rain like crazy for the next month here.

 

Go visit Liz at Strayed from the Table to visit other gardens in The Garden Share Collective