There is much happening at Frog Pond Farm … Sally has gone clucky and is storming around the place ambushing the sheep and performing circus acts on their backs.
The chicks who are now mini hens have been discarded by their mum Gladys and are now having to ‘tough’ it up in the chook world. Our garden is on steroids which I guess may have something to do with all the homemade fertilisers that I chuck liberally about. And that ‘to do’ list is growing …
What’s more, it is Garden Share Collective month the first for 2015 … a beaut initiative where a group of global bloggers share their veg patches. The trials and tribulations of gardening. Pop on over to Lizzie’s blog from Strayed from the Table and meet the crew!
So what has been happening … oh dear how long have you got?
A variety of nameless sprouting spuds have been poked in trenches in a raised bed lined with comfrey leaves (think of a soft green potassium / nitrogen blanket). This bed was prepped with a host of things, coffee grounds, food scraps, home made compost, sweet smelling and crawling with worms, rok solid, wood ash.
As I’m a twit and over plant I learnt a nasty little lesson a week ago. Whilst ferreting about in the allium garden, I noticed with horror that our red onions were starting to rot in situ and some of the Egyptian walking onions were doing the same. Some quick action was required other than to grab a hanky .. so I hauled out those red alliums and thinned those EWO so they could breath and enjoy the air and sunshine.
I’m removing laterals from my Cherokee toms and propping them up as they flop about the place. But they do look so very happy planted amongst basil, coriander and marigolds. I’m a firm believer in flowers growing with my vegetables.
Cosmos planted in the salad garden
Needless to say, I have been sloshing about volumes of seaweed brew and comfrey tea. Questionable as to whether I wear as much as my garden does.
‘His and her’ farm vehicles
I even zoomed around the orchard the other day spraying seaweed brew over those fruit trees … and yes the possums are back!
Harvest
- Purple heart and Cliff Kidney spuds – I have decided that I will leave them in the ground and we will dig them up each day as needed. Are they delicious? You bet
- A few bird pecked plums
- Lettuce – lots of them and I have been juicing them as well
- NZ spinach – over the fence to the chooks and into the juicer
- Herbs – our garden is bursting with them
- Spring onions – enjoying sharing salad bowls with the lettuce
- Red onions – as above
- Egyptian walking onions
- Garlic
- Beetroot – a juicing ‘must have’ and I will start roasting them when I remember
- Lemons
- Sorrell – into salads and sandwiches (oh divine) and over the fence to the chooks
- French dwarf beans
- Tomato pot variety which should never have been planted in the same bed as the cuc!
- Our wonderful eggs
Dwarf tom – pot variety
Scoresby dwarf
To Do
- Throw a rock at the rat that keeps stealing my strawberries – nice to know the netting is not working
- Net more fruit trees this is an tedious task
- Glare at the wild turkeys waiting around the orchard
- Get hubby onto the possum problem
- Weed, feed and water the garden, pots and flower beds an endless task
- Preserve more lemons
- Lift Sally off the nest morning and night and give her a cuddle
- Grab more comfrey leaves for fertiliser tea (not the teapot kind)
- Stop gloating at the size of the red onions
- Get ready for the onslaught of family visitors and get out the work clothes! LOL
- Wait impatiently for the last bed of spuds planted to shove aside the soil and get that greenery out
- Prop up Scoresby dwarf tom as it tumbles over its neighbours
- Keep trimming back the NZ spinach it is choking stuff
- Watch the painted lady runner beans sway in the breeze their blooms promises of lots of green lengths
- Plant the Blue Dawn blueberry
- Feed the cutting celery
- Get ready for the invasion of green shield beetles I have spotted and squashed a few nymphs
- Stop grumbling living in Auckland means black spot on the roses
- Wear gardening gloves my hands look atrocious!
- Get a worm farm
- Thin out my carrots big time!
Planting
I’ve never been great at succession planting, but there is always a first time for everything isn’t there? So I just happen to have a tray of chioggia and Detroit beetroot plus a variety of lettuce seeds by the back door.
There is much activity in the orchard too …
Crab apples
Doyenne du comice pear
French sugar fig
Fluffy Turkish quince
Luisa plum
Unknown plum variety ..
More bananas are on the way
Orchard madness
Thanks for stopping by
Happy gardening!
Whew…After all of that I am tired..lol! Looks fabulous Julie!
Oh thank you Roberta! Gorgeous day .. time to get outdoors and get cracking 🙂
Everything looks wonderful! I am amazed at the array of crops you are able to grow. Is NZ spinach anything like our native Warrigal Greens?
Thank you! We are so lucky with what we can grow in Auckland. I have a feeling that NZ spinach is exactly the same as Warrigal greens 🙂
I know there are different seasons between northern and southern hemisphere, but this garden is so luscious compared to our rain and freezing temperatures. I can look at all this and dream about warm sunshine while shivering.
Hi Beth … I know it seems odd to think that you are experiencing winter while we are enjoying blue skies and sunshine. Still it is nice to know that we can share it with you! Take care and thanks for stopping by 🙂
Great photos and writeup. While we’re freezing on our side of the world, you are enjoying your summer. The chicken on the sheep reminded me that I had a pigeon a long time ago that was in love with our big old tom turkey. It would strut around like the turkey and was always with the turkey. We butchered the turkey for Thanksgiving, and the pigeon was heartbroken, so it took up with our chow chow dog, Sandy. The pigeon would coo to Sandy and rub all over her. Sandy would act embarrassed if we saw the pigeon loving up to her, but Sandy tolerated the pigeon’s affection and never snapped at it the I saw.
Thank you! Ah, your pigeon sounds like a character. Oh boy, how did you feel after Thanksgiving. Whoops! Interesting isn’t it when they team up with other animals. We had a rooster Dennis whose best buddy was a goat! Imagine … 🙂
We’ve had some animals who were real characters over the years.
My goodness, everything looks so good! I hope you have plenty of folks to feed. I can vouch for the Detroit beets. They are worth planting if you can find room. They will do good in your fall. It looks like you are having beautiful days and you have the hang of the new camera. Lovely post! Now you better get busy thinning those carrots! Bob
Hey Bob. Oh the garden is great, except for the cucumber and NZ spinach choking things. I’ll let you know how I go with those beets too. Beautiful, hot days .. and I’m loving my new camera. At last I’m off auto! LOL Glad you liked my ramblings. And yes, I do have lots of thinning to do. Take care 😀
Hi Julie, that’s great to hear about the new camera. You will have to tell me more about it. If you are shooting on manual don’t be afraid to shot on the + or – side of your light meter. Take care!
Hey Bob … Not 100% manual yet, but I’m on Aperture so it’s a starter! Will keep you posted .. and thanks for the advice! 🙂
Stunning photos Julie. That is a mighty fine to do list. I really need to work on my to do list, the change over from summer veg to autumn veg is crazy. It is just so overwhelming at times. Hope you had a wonderful New Year. Oh and nice harvest pics too.
Thanks Lizzie … your garden always amazes me! You have so much happening .. sigh 🙂 Always overwhelming isn’t it?
Your photos are always so amazing – I especially loved the purple potatoes and red onions…..
Thank you ..nice to grow your own isn’t it? 😀
Wowsers! so much going on. I love visiting your garden each month. Sally is hilarious, although maybe the sheep doesn’t agree! Stunning images of your wonderful garden to drool over 🙂 I must remember to wear gloves too. It is so easy to duck outside to do one thing and end up a couple of hours later still out there with stained and dirty hands but that is the joy of gardening isn’t it? Happy New Year Julie. I look forward to seeing your garden again next month.
Hey Krystie .. I’m so pleased you enjoy the visit. 🙂 And yes Sally is hilarious. Gosh I can’t imagine someone wanting to ‘drool’ over my garden .. I know the pests do LOL! I’m a shocker, I forever have dirty nails, and hands that look like they belong to a bloke. Oh dear. Happy New Year to you … I so enjoy my visits to your garden too!
a nice world 🙂
Hey Joshi … yes it is! We are so lucky … thanks for stopping by 🙂
That’s quite a “To Do” list! I agree that flowers should be grown amongst the vegetables – I think it makes both more interesting. At present we just have bare earth and frost on the ground in the morning so it’s wonderful to wallow in your beautiful and vibrant garden.
I’m nuts with my lists! I’ve been out and done a couple of things this morning though, so I’m patting myself on the back 🙂 So pleased you can enjoy our summer garden Anne!
Wonderful pictures Julie, the colours are so fine. You know perfectly deal with the new camera! 🙂
Hey lovely … oh thank you! Glad you like those colours. The countryside and garden is alive! Loving my new camera … woohoo 🙂
Good to see your summer is in full swing, here in Crete we have high winds rain and and slips and tomorrow a forecast of snow at low levels so your pictures for us are a ray of sunshine. RR.
Hey guys, hope you are good. Yes summer is definitely here at last. Hot and humid! No snow is sight 🙂 So pleased you are enjoying the garden. Best wishes and a very happy New Year!
A very nice world you have created. I particularly love the sheep jockey! 🙂
Oh thank you so much. 🙂 The sheep jockey is being a tyrant lately … clucky and no idea what to do and when! Oh dear .. LOL
This all looks lush and lovely – a garden of Eden…with a little fun thrown in. I have to say your to do list was a bit overwhelming.
Oh thank you so much. It does seem to me like a garden of Eden. Hard work but so worth it … Yes that ‘to do’ list always overwhelms me too! I must stop writing one LOL …
Magnifique : tous ces légumes et cette abondance de fleurs et de couleurs. 🙂
Oh thank you so much! The garden is alive with garden and loads of growth. Wonderful! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Am amazed by and envious of your bananas. If only, if only I could grow them here!
Hey Helen … so am I 😀 Amazed that is .. Love taking photos of them and munching on them when they are ripe!
I bet you do!
😀
Julie, your farm leaves me breathless in awe and eny- it is so inviting. And the list of jobs, starting with your strawberry stealing rat! One year we had a rat living in the strawberry patch, and occasionally went next door to munch on low hanging tomatoes. Maybe a trap or two? I also have tow silky hens to move- but the question is not when but where! I can see your pine trees in the orchard photo. Maybe they provide a wind break? Trying to be positive here. I love the idea of lining the potato beds in comfrey and using comfrey tea. Back in old ( hippy) days, now I am giving away too many clues re age, I used comfrey for all sorts of things. And also Yarrow- which is meant to activate compost. Time to return to these days- must acquire a comfrey plant. And as for teh purple onions- just too good to eat.
You may have a few pests but your garden doesn’t seem to show it.
Happy Gardening Madame Kiwi.
Hello lovely lady! Gosh I love your comments. Thank you so much. I’m so pleased that you enjoy Frog Pond. Our little slice of heaven. Yep, I’m going to nail that rat, damned thing. Cheeky too. I think traps are on the agenda. Ah, you saw the pines .. those are a small stand, but the bulk of them are on a hillside. Must pop up a pic for you. I’m still trying to be positive with them. Although I did plant a blueberry today and they love acid! LOL Yes do line the trenches with comfrey the spuds love it. In fact, 2 have shoved aside the dirt already. I was shocked! Pleasantly mind you! Ah, so you used lots of comfrey .. Great stuff. And as for yarrow, I would love to grow some as it will certainly crank up the compost! Francesca .. you my dear are a treasure!
Not to mention that Yarrow plants aslo have fabulous flowers in white, red and yellow, and look so lacy amongst the veggies.
I noticed that my last comment had more than its usual quota of typos. No, I am not drinking Prosecco at 9.30 AM but am still struggling with the fact that these wordpress comments don’t come with a spellchecker! And my fingers don’t seem to work in harmony with my brain.
Ha ha Francesca .. you sure about the Prosecco? LOL No I know they don’t do spellcheck damn! Sometimes I see with horror what I have typed and posted on other sites. Oh yarrow does have pretty flowers too doesn’t it? You take care Miss .. great as always to chat
Julie your garden is looking delightful for January. Your Beetroot and tomatoes are superb. You are so lucky to grow crab apples, pears and those dleicate carrot fronds peeping through the earth are a lovely green carpet. You have been busy and your garden is a credit to you. Don’t you love comfrey!? It is such a versatile plant, from fertiliser, to chook food to a home made salve for bruises.
Oh thank you so much. I do love comfrey, wonderful stuff and it makes the best fertiliser tea as well as heats up the compost. I have never used it for salve, but I believe that it is good for that too! We are very lucky with what we grow, I just wish I could stop over planting things 🙂
Surprise, surprise, your garden photos made me hungry. Great shots Julie. Thank you for sharing them. Take care. -Max-
Hey Max … thank you. Love sharing Frog Pond Farm .. now if you lived closer, I would send over some veges! 🙂
Hi Julie. I love your photos and can definitely relate to your to do list – there really doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day at the moment. Cheers Sarah : o )
Hi Sarah, thank you. yep, I know you can relate to that list … but at the end of the day, there is so much satisfaction isn’t there? 😀
Hee hee! I can relate to having clucky hens! Cluck Cluck 7 was found on a secret nest hidden in some long grass. She was guarding 16 eggs! The Figlets put the eggs in a wheelbarrow, got distracted and wondered off. You guessed it. Cluck Cluck 7 hopped in the barrow and carried on with her job! Love chickens and love your garden 🙂
ha ha ha … oh that is hilarious! I can just see that happening. So funny! Sally was at it again. I was falling around the place laughing this morning. She was scratch, scratch jump back and look while standing on one of our sheep’s back and then she sat down as the sheep started walking off – a jockey chicken! LOL
Glad you love the garden – so do I 😀
All this lushness, just adorable, Julie. You must be in heaven! And your own bananas…think I may have to consider moving to NZ. Just nominated your blog for the One lovely blog award, my dear, and hope you’ll accept it. You can find the details in my latest post. Best wishes 🙂
Hello lovely … I think it is heaven too! I think you would enjoy living here! 🙂 Hey Annette, just tried emailing you through you website with no success. I am absolutely honoured and flattered that you would think of nominating me. I hope you won’t think bad of me if I decline though Annette? I just cant commit to this at present. So very sorry, but thank you so much for thinking of me it means a great deal indeed! Your blogging friend Julie
No problem at all, Julie, I do hope you’ll get lots of visitors though :), best wishes
Thank you so much Annette 🙂
Such a lovely long post with beautiful photos as always. It must be wonderful to be able to grow bananas.
Thank you … I was worried there were too many pics 🙂 loving our bananas. We are very lucky!
Amazing pics and amazing gardens, Julie! I’m completely jealous.
Thanks so much Dan .. and don’t be jealous 😀 LOL I can’t wait to see your garden …
Wow!! A humungously (did you like that?) wonderful post!!
Everything looks amazing and phew, so much to do.
Did you throw the rock? – if not our pears will do the job 😉 They still produce fruit, but are old and rock hard – always.
The orchard is very old though.
Hope you are both enjoying your well deserved spoils Jules.
Have to laugh at the animal antics – they’re always such a hoot to watch aren’t they?
Please forgive my tardiness in arriving. Somehow life got busy all at once and even our holiday was busy with a house full.
Back to work Monday, but I need a holiday 🙂
Once again, Happy New Year Jules xox
Hey lovely … gosh now I feel bad. I shouldn’t have said that – but I missed you 🙂 … Still to throw that rock, but your pears sound perfect! 😀 Happy New Year to you bubbly girl. So nice to see you at Frog Pond as always!
…Love the fluffy quince….!
Me too 🙂
You have an inspiring blog Julie – I feel like I have just had a lovely holiday in the country (and I live in a semi rural location in Australia). Thank you for sharing – I am now following. 🙂
Hi Sarhn … oh what a lovely comment. Thank you! Nice to know that you are following .. and enjoying a wee bit of NZ. 🙂
Wow. A lot of wow’s! I can hardly imagine having a to do list like this that co-incides with holiday to-do lists. Fantastic over-view though of what’s to come for us in the other hemisphere… dreaming and sitting around on our arses. I just had fun ordering new seeds and my greenhouse is clean and ready to start new little plants:)
And the bananas! how cool is that.
Hey Wendy … so good to hear from you. And thanks for stopping by. Yep a nutty to do list – way too long. No playtime allowed 🙂 Oh I love ordering new seeds and getting everything ready for the new season and planting. Yay!
Your summer looks great. We have had the most gloomy winter so far
Thanks for stopping by .. Really appreciated 🙂