I guess to anyone that reads my blog it is understood that I’m a bit of a nutty gardener, who adores her chooks, loves composting, worms, growing soil and smelly homemade fertiliser brews. I don’t wear heels anymore, but live in my gumboots. I’m super passionate about photography and can now admit that until only recently I was a complete bore and shot in auto! That was then … LOL
As it happens I also love fishing. My brother has a holiday home at a town called Whitianga. It’s a gorgeous seaside location on the east coast of NZ. One of those beach holiday destinations that during winter is quiet and full of locals, but over summer months, the place is frantic with holiday makers, tourists and Kiwis like myself who enjoy a spot of fishing (I’m not too bad either, I just need to stop squealing when I have a biggie on the line!).
View of the Firth of Thames and the Coromandel Peninsula in the background … just lovely
Ah, but back at Frog Pond Farm .. we have been busy. We are enjoying a gorgeous summer which means watering gardens daily (thank heavens for our duck pond). So standing with hose in hand day dreaming, I will spray veges and flowers alike, not the cucurbit or tomato leaves mind you, no point encouraging any fungal diseases and believe me with Auckland’s humid climate that is always on the agenda.
Morning light at Frog Pond …
We have been removing zucchinis daily .. and wondering at their ability to grow so darn fast, snapping off French beans, enjoying eating those lemon cucumbers which I suspect we will be doing so for quite some time. I have also opted this season not to spray against powdery mildew something I have always done with homemade organic concoctions. I have come to the conclusion that while it may help to reduce the fungal spread – it doesn’t stop it, so I have decided that removing infected leaves is the way to go. Watch this space 🙂
I’ve also sown more beetroot and lettuce seed which have germinated and now the seedlings need to be pricked out. Oh I’m enjoying this succession planting .. and don’t mind patting myself on the back either.
Florence round eggplant …
Spud greenery seems to be everywhere and at last those lovely painted lady heirloom beans are boasting lovely green lengths.
Chook yoga
Sally is still clucky and jumping on the sheep backs daily – she has turned into a nutty tyrant, who seems to delight in zooming around the yard screeching. Andrew dispatched our oldest chook the other day who was incredibly unwell (and no we don’t eat our chooks). I was so sad to say goodbye but suffering isn’t on my list. Her closest buddy a lavender Orpington spent the day grieving something I haven’t really observed before ..
A line of pines
Our neighbours baled hay the other day, a big job. There is such sense of community in the country with people ‘lending a hand’. Think, sneezing, laughing, grunting, dirt, hay in boots, but good times with people that matter!
Happy gardening