Blueberries are in the Ground

So I have been thinking about the lack of space on my deck because my blueberries had gotten quite large in the pots. One I know has been in it's pot for at least 5 years. I wondered if putting them into the ground was a bad idea as I am on quite sandy soil but I figured if I feed up my soil enough for vege to grow perhaps the blueberries would work.

Here was the site I thought might work

Anyway I have added peat moss, cow, worm food, compost. Took out the ordinary plants that were there and left it for a few weeks.

they are in with extra acidic food and mulch

Looking down from above

Hopefully they will grow so well they might hide the wire fence??

And now once I move my pots I will almost be able to dance on the deck....

who dunnit?

Here is my best flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia) back in January. She sure is pretty huh? The flowers attract bees and birds alike. The flowers last about 2 weeks and are followed by gorgeous big gumnuts.

This morning after Diba's walk this is what I found!

The main part of the tree has been severed

Yeap it is broken. The best shaped gum out of the three is reduced to a third of its former self. I had to saw the main trunk as it was too thick after a good 3 years of growth.

The 3 gums along our front

I am not so sure it was an animal although I found feathers on the broken part...

Lorikeet or perhaps possum?

I suspect human foul play at it was a sizeable stem. It is just so frustrating at it was the main growing stem so now it will end up looking more like a mallee than a tree. I will have to consider getting a replacement, sigh.

The last of summer....

Well I thought I was lucky to get a second flush of tomatoes but I think it has really come to an end.

But they were delicious in the homemade pasta, homegrown pesto and spinach, by V.Gave me time to water in the new babies that seem to be taking and age to grow, not that i would be impatient at all....

the end of...

Well that is it summer is really over now as we turned back the clocks this morning so it was light early. I secretly do a little dance of joy being an early riser I don't really like it when it is dark until nearly 7am it is too hard to motivate yourself out of bed. Of course it is quarter to six in the evening and still light enough for Mr R to harvest the last of the tomatoes and basil for dinner. V can see rosemary, sage or thyme depending on which herb he wants to put into the popovers (which i think are just like a yorkshire pudding, but this is an American recipe).

But enough of that as this post is really about the "end of the camellia in the garden". Yes I have taken all the camellias that came with the garden one at a time. It seems cruel really and I actually do like camellias. They grow so happily in the leafy and sandy soils of my area. And I might even have left these lasts ones in if I liked the colour of the flower but I wasn't enamored.

Not awful but there are far prettier ones. And this was the prettier of the two that came out

I know my neighbours will be shaking their heads at these ones. Whoever planted all the camellias in the garden put them in such crazy places or the full sun spots (which I have turned into vegetable patches). And the only reason I left these on in so long is they were acting as a screen from the street behind. We are quite elevated so we do have a commanding view of the street. Now as luck would have it (or not) there is an absolutely enormous privet down the slope that does that job. A far bigger job to deal with down the track as it is actually on our block just.

So I figured a couple of citrus which should grow to at least the same height are far more productive. I do have some concerns about the amount of sunlight they will get which won't be ideal. Morning sun, dappled light through the day and late western sun. What do you think? Am I dreaming? Can you think perhaps of a medium sized fruiting tree that might do better in lower light conditions? Here is the documentation of the removal. First three were in the afternoon (overcast day), fourth this morning bathed in light then last tonight. 

first tree nearly gone

Second tree is now a stump as well

And despite having tennis elbow the lovely Mr R has dug out at least one stump, yay

Hmm now I think I may have to find a new spot for the compost bins? How fast do citrus grow?

Easter break

I've been in a bit of a fog lately and haven't chatted online so I thought I should get on, talk and  post up some of the photos from the big Easter event in Ulladulla. Each Easter Sunday they have a blessing of the fleet (an event that has been going since 1956). St Peter the patron saint of fishermen comes along with the Catholic priest to perform a ceremony to ensure the fishermen will return to port with bountiful catches throughout the year.

First the have a parade in the streets with floats that hold princesses, who are I guess involved in the community in some way. I do know they have a ball on Easter Saturday which is quite a highlight for the year. I am still uncertain as to why they have princesses and their function to this event but they were all dressed up looking quite splendid on the floats. A couple I do know are involved with leo's (lions for young people) so I guess it is community involvement.

So at 12 o'clock 22 floats with 36 princesses paraded up the main street. I expect the theme for the floats was classic movies including, Aladdin, Shrek, 101 Dalmatians, Tomorrow when war began(?), Grease, Rio, Peter Pan....

African Safari

Alice in Wonderland

From behind

Dr Seuss

Rio

Rio

Madagascar 3. I thought this one was the best But then I do love the movie :0)

The crowd heads off to have a ride, some lunch, watch the blessing ceremony or join in the games

It was quite a fun filled day and super for kids as they had all sorts of things set up for them to do. But we walked over to check on St Peter

Even the boats dressed up with bunting for the day

St Peter casts his watchful eye of the harbour

It was a nice day and we managed to get down and back up the coast without all the traffic which was a bonus. Then spent a day in my garden which is so nice.  Hope you all had a fabulous Easter break

What to do?

I have been thinking that my blueberry pots are getting a little to big on the deck and I am considering the garden. Of course all plants really grew in the ground long before pots were invented. The thing is my soil is remarkably sandy so I haven't wanted to pop them in without really working the soil. I did once have a blueberry in the ground but it just didn't do so well and they have been very successful in pots. Oh the decisions... Have you had success in the ground?

Above is the location for the blueberries. It almost faces north so it get reliable sun and the neighbour grows his vegetables on the other side of his fence. And now our fence has fallen down and been replaced by a wire one it should get more sun.

Exciting news I found 3 cucumbers! It has been a long time between harvests. About 3 months since the last 3. Damn rats and heat have not been at all kind. But goodness me these were so crunchy and sweet well worth the wait.

One last note I found masses and masses of callistemon saw fly caterpillar over my elaeocarpus edmundi. I sprayed it with rose shield after cutting most of them out. But I fear the worst and will have to keep an eye on them. Bugs are out to challenge me I am sure. How is your garden going?

Bloggers bloom day, March 2013

So over at May's Place She is coming to terms with it still being winter although there is a glimmer of hope that spring is on it's way. Here in Sydney I can hope, pray and beg that the worse of summer has finally passed and the early autumn days have much to offer. Lets take a look

Autumn crocus doing it"s thing in the raspberry pot?

Euphorbia "Diamond Frost: in the front with a blue salvia I can't remember and my Murraya 'Min-a-min' ball

Pentas and lirope

Pink and purple Plecthantus

This a cute white ground cover Pletanthus

This evovulus needs to grow but it is doing ok in a spot I thought might be too shaded

Rubeckia berry delight (I think)

Naked Lady bulb pafrt of the belladonna family

The sedum has been thrilling me for sometime

My client wanted me to bring this back to health. It is thriving on neglect with me, wonder how

Love Catnip. Blue and silver are so complimentary to each other

So wondering how the vegetable garden is coming along?

Pumpkins are flowering madly but are they forming fruit???

At least there is one the rats haven't found. Shh don't tell them

And what looks like a field of Jerusalem Artichokes

Fancy looking at beautiful blooms around the world then click here to be transported. Then go enjoy the blooms in your neighbourhood...