It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

In some parts of the world,  the lead up to Christmas is  heralded by a change in the seasons.  

Here in Far North Queensland we have 2 seasons - "the Wet" and "the Dry".  "The Wet" usually runs from Oct/Nov to April and the "Dry" May - September/October.

There is nothing significant to mark the start of the "Wet".  One day it is hot and dry and the next.... it's hot and raining (and raining....and raining!.....).   That simple really. 

So instead of a change in seasons - Mother Nature has devised a cunning plan to alert us to the fact that we are fast approaching the end of the year. 




Just like clockwork - at the beginning of November every year - tiny red specks  begin appearing on the magnificent Poinciana trees here in the Valley and by the end of the month the trees are literally dripping in vibrant red/orange blooms.

When my children were little they used to call them their Christmas trees and used to squeal with excitement to see the footpath covered with petals.  "Look... it's snowing!!!" they would say.  

I must admit, there is something quite magical about seeing all those red "snowflakes" fluttering through the air.....

Although I wish someone could have reminded me to shift the car!

 

PS - A big thank you to Michelle and Melissah for becoming my 51st and 52nd followers!
It constantly amazes me that anyone would find my waffle about everyday life here in the Valley  very exciting - but Yah! there are now 52 of you.  I feel so privileged.

Thank you ALL for popping by and leaving your little comments - it really does mean a lot to me.

Some Spring Colour

Some days it feels good to be alive!

Whilst the rest of the house slept - I was out and about making the most of the crisp tropical spring morning.   How I love the the quietness of the garden particularly as the first rays of morning appear.  A magical, glistening shimmer making everything sparkle in its way.  

I was lucky to share the moment with a couple of cheeky sunbirds who spent the time darting in and out of the fine mist of water spray coming from the hose whilst I was watering.   An early morning shower before flying off to look for some breakfast.   

Just like clockwork - these cute little orchids come into bloom the 2nd week in September.  Never fail.  I  wonder how they know just when to bloom?  Magical!

The colours from these Cordylines are just so vibrant and with the sunlight behind them - just makes the leaves look translucent.

My little window box of petunias on the front porch looks so welcoming and cheery.

And the bougainvillea is simply stunning!

How is this for a splash of colour!

Sometimes you just don't need any words...........

Ah yes....... good to be alive!

My Transportable Herb Garden

Just had to share this nifty little idea for a transportable herb garden - Job #4 in my recent  "7 Tasks in 7 Days Challenge".

Now as I mentioned,  here in the Valley we are blessed with lovely warm, sunny days - just perfect for growing all sorts of things.   Only problem is that much of my garden is shaded by a canopy of palms and rainforest trees/shrubs which makes the growing of herbs and vegetables a little bit tricky.  

You see, herbs and vegetables need (at least) 5 hours of sunlight a day so I needed to devise a plan whereby I could position my herbs to take full advantage of all that beautiful sunshine.  So for me, the obvious choice was container planting.

Step 1 :  Selecting the Container.

Now I really dislike plastic pots but I needed a container that was lightweight enough for me to be able to move around.   I toyed with the idea of a wooden barrel or a large terracotta planter but I figured that once the soil was added they would just become too heavy to move.  

However whilst wandering through Bunnings I caught sight of this galvanised Drinks Cooler and immediately saw its potential.   Not only is it lightweight and deep but it also has handles - great for being able to grab onto.    

Better still, it only cost $14!

 

Step 2 :  Good Drainage

With my trusty drill in hand (how I love power using power tools!) I quickly set about drilling some draining holes in the base of the container.   (Unfortunately the battery pack on the power drill decided to "die" at about this stage so I had to end up using a good ol' hammer and nail to finish the job).

Step 3 :  Soil Mix

Previous experience has taught me not to skimp on potting mix.  ALWAYS use the best potting mix you can afford  - preferably something with water crystals and a complete plant food.   The cheaper potting mix just doesn't seem to have all the nutrients the better quality mix has.

Fill the container right up to the top and pack the mix down well.   You don't want the mix to be loose otherwise it will drop down too far after a couple of weeks.

Step 4 : The Plants

Decide what herbs you want to plant.  I guess it really depends on what herbs you use regularly in your cooking.   I can't ever remember using Tarragon - so therefore can't see the point of growing it.  However I do use a large amount of Basil and Parsley - so they were obvious choices for me.

I decided to go for Coriander;  Dill;  Basil;  Parsley;  and Thyme.   I bought the smaller size pots - (around $3 per pot). 

Step 5 : The Planting

Space the plants out evening around the perimeter of the container and then put one of the larger growing plants in the middle.   Plant them to the same depth in the container that they were in their little pots.  

I ended up putting Coriander in the middle of the container because it likes to spread out a bit.

Step 6 :  Fertilizer Even though my potting mix had a complete plant food in it - I also added a couple of handfuls of a Starter Fertilizer just to help it along a bit.  

And I also gave it a drink to Seafood solution just to lesson the shock of transplanting the seedlings. 

"Miracle-Gro" is my all time favourite Seafood solution.  It just gives everything such a boost and comes in a concentrate so it is not expensive to use.   I usually give my plants a seaweed drink every 3-4 weeks.   It smells a bit like fish actually.  Dixie Chick and Dolly P get quite excited when I start spraying the seaweed around!

Step 7 : Mulching

Final step is to give the plants a good layer of mulch.  I use sugar cane mulch which comes in a bale.  I put a good thick layer around the seedlings.  It really is fantastic in retaining moisture in the soil and keeping the roots cool.   It also reduces the soil splatter effect when watering!

So there you have it - my Transportable Herb Garden.  

I've popped it on a little table on my side verandah where it catches all the early morning sunshine.  It looks so fresh and lovely and glistening.    Fragrant, delicious little green jewels basking in the sunlight.

Perfect!

The Sweet, Sweet Smell of Herbs

Day 4 of my "7 Tasks in 7 Days" Challenge  - over half way!

So far...so good.....  

Had a very productive day yesterday.  Not only was I able to get a good start on my little Sunflower painting but I also managed to dust and clean some blinds and wash some curtains!   How's that for multi tasking?

Although I would love nothing better than to spend the rest of the day painting - my list of  "To Jobs" is beckoning.    So onwards (ever onwards!)........

DAY 4 - PLANT  A HERB GARDEN 

Given my love of all things gardening - this is another one of the jobs that I have been looking forward to tackling these holidays.   (In fact I feel a little bit guilty including it on my "Jobs to Do" list.)

Fresh herbs - absolutely fantastic in cooking but equally as stunning to look at.   The beautiful shape and glossy colour of Basil;   the delicate frilliness of Parsley;   the randomness of oregano;  the rigidness of chives.....  And the glorious smells - Pineapple sage;  curry leaf;  mint;  lemon grass; lavender........ 

There is no better feeling than being able to pop out into the garden and pick a handful of fresh herbs.    They even look fabulous in an old teapot sitting on the kitchen window ledge!

So today I am off to the nursery to pick up my herb garden supplies.

I have decided to plant my herbs in a large tub rather than directly into the ground.   Herbs (like vegetables) need quite a bit of sunlight throughout the day and although we live in one of the "sunniest" places on the planet most of my garden is covered in a dense canopy of palms and rainforest trees/shrubs.   So, the idea of having a "movable" container of herbs - seems to make a lot of sense to me.

Hopefully I will be able to find a large wooden cask (of some type).  (I do have a bit of an aversion to plastic pots!)    Even terracotta would be nice - although they do tend to dry out a bit here in the Tropics.

As for what to plant?  

Well, I'm thinking - Basil, Parsley, Chives, Chilli, Thyme and Curry leaf.   Yes, I think that will do me just fine.


Oh - by the way.  I am ALWAYS misplacing my gardening gloves!   Doesn't matter how careful I am about putting them somewhere "safe"  or tucking them into the waist band of my shorts - they just seem to vanish.  I can't begin to tell you how many pairs of gardening gloves I have lost over the years only to come across them months/years later rotting away under some bush in the garden!  (Oh - so that's where you got to!!)

Anyway, I just happened to see this fantastic idea to keep my gardening gloves safe and sound.

This is such an ingenious idea (Martha's of course!) although I could never imagine my gloves looking like this pair of gorgeousness.  Seriously, what self respecting gardener would have a pair of gardening gloves that looked like these!

So - that's something else to add to my shopping list today.    New gloves, magnets and ........

this beautiful little blue enamel bucket........Sigh!

I'm a Woman on a Mission!

Day 1 of the school holidays and I am a woman on a mission!

There will be no rest for me these holidays - no Siree!   No long leisurely breakfasts.....no curling up on the couch with a novel......no catching up with friends for coffee and lunch......no retail therapy.........

I have set myself a task (well, a series of tasks actually) and I absolutely determined to complete each and every one of them.     So - here is my ingenious plan.

By committing my plan to paper (Blogland and the world!) - it will be virtually impossible for me to fail - right, eh?    Every day I will do a wrap up of what I achieved and then list what my task will be for the next day.  Brilliant (I know!)

So here I go........

7 TASKS in 7 DAYS!

DAY 1 - TAME THE JUNGLE!

You see that lilac creeper delicately sunning itself in the first rays of early morning sunlight.

Well, that is Bougainvillea and it is the scourge of my life!  
When I first came to live in the Valley just over 14 years ago - I made the mistake of planting a number of these beautiful tropical creepers.  Big Mistake!!

Bougainvillea (and some other tropical vine which I have yet to discover the name of?) has virtually taken over my garden and it just has to go! 

Just look at this horrible vine literally choking the life out of my glorious Crotons.  Begone with you!

So my task today (Day 1) is to Tame the Jungle!

My tools of trade are ready and waiting - gloves, secateurs, long handle loppers, brushcutter, chainsaw and long sleeved shirt!  (The thorns on the bougainvillea are seriously lethal!)

Time : 8.30 a.m. (I'm already 1 hour late!).  Off to do battle.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see how Day 1 went and to find out what my task for Day 2 is!

Wish me luck!

My Vege Garden Inspiration

Today I'm linking up with my friend Sarah at Modern Country Style with her Inspiration Linky Party.
Sarah has provided me with so much inspiration - in fact it would be true to say she is one of my main sources of inspiration!   Why not pop across and see what inspires her (and a whole heap of other inspiring people) - you will be amazed (and inspired!)

I didn't have to think very hard of what inspires me. 

Gardens of course!

However much and all as I love trees, flowers and shrubs I am finding myself drawn more and more towards the idea of self sufficiency and the opportunity to be able to use the land around us to grow fruit and vegetables. 

In this part of Australia we are limited to about 6 months of the year when we are able to grow veges.  This is usually between the months of April - September.  The rest of the year is either too hot and humid or too wet!  So with peak vege growing time fast approaching I have been busily thinking about my vege garden.

Whilst I want my vege garden to be productive, healthy and bountiful - I also want it to be beautiful!  None of this pop a few seedlings into a bit of dirt for me - oh no...... It has to be planned (but not too structured)  and it has to look fabulous.

So this is my Vege Garden Inspiration.   

This is the place I dream about at night and day dream about during the day.  It is how I would love my vege garden to look.  (I would also love that cute little cottage!)

Gorgeous raised beds with row upon row of luscious goodness. 

I  love the randomness of this garden and the way in which the vegetables have been incorporated within the overall plan.  The companion planting of flowers and herbs is certainly something I would like to include.

Totally organic and herbicide free.

I love these gorgeous little garden features.  They add so much interest and uniqueness.

Pumpkin vines cushioning the little wishing well.  Just perfect!

A seat to sit in at the end of the day.

And a short stroll through the archway to the greenhouse.

This is my dream......my inspiration......the images that make my heart skip a beat.

Thank you Sarah for letting me share my Inspiration!

My Aussie Tropical Garden

 

One week ago I didn't know if I would have any garden left at all.......

One week ago Cyclone Yasi crossed the Far North Queensland coast devastating communities and townships to the south of my Valley........

My garden has been left a little battered..... a little bruised.......but it will bounce back.
And so will I........

Thank you to the fabulous (and ever inspiring)  Sarah at Modern Country Style for hosting her
English Garden Linky Party. 
(She must have known I was in desperate need of some serious prettiness right now)

So......
Welcome to my Aussie Tropical Garden!
  Pop your hat on........Come in and  take a look around

/

My garden is (and always will be!) a work in progress.  It is the first thing I look at in the morning and the last thing I look at in the evening.  

 It is what makes me happy!