its decision time in the vegetable plot

I only have a small vegetable plot despite having dreamy thoughts of rows upon rows of vegetables and flowers.  I certainly dwell on the concept of those wonderful plots at Chateau de Chenonceau (hectares and hectares)  and West Dean's neat rows of vegetables in English countryside......awe-inspiring that they are and definitely the stuff of day-dreams....Of course these are serviced by lots of gardeners which I have no access to.....but they look great and give feel good abundance that is hard to emulate in a small vege plot.

Rows and rows at Chateau de Chenonceau in Loire France for both flowers and vegetables of every description.

oh for hectares of space and a team of at least 10 full time gardeners! (Chenonceau)

Rows of varieties in the walled garden at West Dean.  At least 3-4 varieties of each vegetable is planted to show the difference and the variation.  It covers over a hectare and is inspiring.

25 varieties of basil, sourced from all over the world,  planted out early in the immaculate glasshouses.

So having put some of my dreams aside, I have to make some tough decisions this year.  I have only 4 1.2x1.2m plots to grow my greens at the moment...the flowers and herbs have moved into the main gardens and can make a mess there for a while. There is only limited space so how do I decide out of all those wonderful vegetables in the seed catalogue of just the few that I am going to grow. 

Of course I need lots of salad leafs of every description - rocket, spinach, tat soi and mini cos.  I am hampered for some of the space by the crop of broccoli coming on that was slow taking off this year so will have to wait for that to finish, and i do love to grow a big crop of broad beans.  There is nothing like fresh radish for fresh vegetables and spicy olive oil platters through summer.  

I want to grow stripey beetroot again this year and i have to have at least two varieties of carrots because they are such fun to grow and you can use them for garnish when little to thin them out.

And summer wouldn't be complete without snap peas, snow peas, fresh peas and two varieties of beans.  I think we will have green and purple ones this year.  I had thoughts of borlotti beans this year - but I think there just isn't going to be space......I need a much bigger plot obviously.....

But I'm going to just fit as much in as possible in what I have and remember this year to plant salad crops every three weeks to make it all work.  

Or come up with some new ideas of where to grow things.....up the walls maybe...I have  a few sunny walls.....
or maybe some large willow planters at the sunniest spot near the back door for the overflow...

big red ....composter

If you enjoy gardening, then that usually means you like to get your fingers a little dirty,  feel really good about recycling and especially about creating compost.  Particularly when you get to use it yourself all around your vegie garden or on the newly planted seedlings. 

There is something very satisfying about creating compost :- turning smelly peelings and fruit bits into thick black unctuous soil like compound - and then actually using it.....its a little like the magic of alchemy.  It's also deceptively easy to do.

But like a lot of gardening things it can take up a bit too much space in the essential part of the garden and really composters can be an eyesore.  So a creative solution is often needed...

Well I have a solution....   I saw these wonderful composters that are reminisant of bee hives and work just as cleverly when I was in the UK a number of years ago.  Now we are having them made right here by a lovely local firm in Tasmania.  And we have a lovely red one that looks great in the garden. (We do have some plain ones too or you can paint it any colour you like really).    They come apart bit by bit at each level when all is ready, so you can easily access and remove your compost onto the garden and then start the process  all over again in exactly the same spot if you need to.

Perfect for large or small gardens or just for gardens that don't have space for having things hidden away.

Our big red composter in store......looks great in the garden

This is a very practical application with the small vegetable and herb garden, the pizza oven and the composters all up one end of the garden away from what could be at the other end.......the next picture shows what could be up the other end.....

 

Or put this great looking composter in amongst the flowers and grow whatever you like in your compost.  It could be good for for an enormous pumpkin plant this summer.

A few tips to make composting easy.....  add all your veg and fruit and organic kitchen scraps.  Go lightly on things like oranges, lemons and other citrus,egg shells and particularly meat scraps.  You can include tea leaves and coffee grounds.  Every now and again add some mown grass or pea straw or similiar to the compost bin especially if your compost tends to be a bit too wet.  You don't want it too wet or too dry.  Natural decomposition needs a little moisture to operate effectively. 

The best way to compost is in a pile in a container that creates the right conditions for breakdown....don't be tempted to throw your vege scraps straight onto your garden beds...its not effective and just attracts rats and mice really.

Have some fun....

the tallest of trees

I snuck off again today for a little excursion....off to the derwent valley.  It was crisp and clear and fabulous at first until the rain caught us and it was wet but not really grey.  Still colourful and interesting.
We took the Russell Falls walk in Mt Field National Park and I was completed delighted by the dripping green lushness of the forest as we walked through it.  It was inspiring and almost like being in another world.  An enchanted one at that.  Its only a short walk and we had the place all to ourselves and as we came out the other end towards people and cars and normality it was a bit off putting.  It was so enjoyable looking at the plants and the trees.....not everyones cup of tea but I don't say this as a horticulturist.....just as someone who really enjoyed the experience.  If you haven't done it, then definitely do.  Its unique and wonderful.

lush green moss over every surface....this may not be moss...I may have it wrong.  Its on the ground, on the trees, everywhere.  its soft and lush and you could almost lie down in it.

a slightly enchanted wonderland...use your imagination here.... it was romantic and enchanted at the time!

  this is how Dicksonia antartica (our well loved tree fern)  should really look.  We see it often plonked into front yards but this is in its glory.  If we are going to use them in gardens they should be in this shady slightly wet environment forming a wonderful canopy of fronds with dappled light.

 fat bottomed trees make the rocking world go round!!  And they were so tall we could barely see the tops

We also ventured to the salmon ponds as the light and the last of the sun finished for the afternoon and watched and fed the marvellous fish.  It just makes you laugh to go and feed massive mad fish.  The salmon ponds gardens are beautiful especially with their late winter branches and green lawns.  Its a parkland setting and I am so looking forward to my picnic in the park that I am going to embark on in summer.  I am already planning the menu.

this was up the driveway with its skeletal populars.  Wonderful.  I am going back to take pictures of contrasting green in summer.

A trip to New Norfold/Derwent valley wouldn't be complete without dropping into the Drill Hall Emporium.  As usual beautiful things, superbly presented.  We picked out two things each that we would love to buy.  I think I may have to go back and get something.

The only thing missing is somewhere fabulous to go for lunch.....!  Is there anywhere good in the valley??

What a great day out....

a day out to MONA...!

With school holidays happenning and spring skies encouraging a little outdoor activity, I snuck a day off to go and play.  We went to MONA (Museum of Old & New Art) at Morilla,  as despite lots of promises, I hadn't made the effort to get there until now, and its long overdue.
It was fantastic....of course......doesn't everyone keep saying that. 
There were some amazingly clever contemporary installations as well as great collections of antiquities.  Things that really do make you go Aaahhhh! 
David Walsh has put together an amazing and interesting collection that is unique and awe inspiring and is presented to the ultimate degree.

The weather being truly Tasmanian meant we got all four seasons in one day - fairly normal for this time of year.  We caught the ferry up the river Derwent to the MONA dock which was great fun despite a few drops of rain on the way home and climbed the 99 steps to the top. 

The outside roof garden is doing fabulously well - it needs a little weeding but overall is impressive.  In fact the whole thing is impressive. 

 ships ahoy....on the ferry up the river.....  beautiful view down the river. 

the roof top garden with a fabulous view.  doing really well.

amazing artworks and installations everywhere.....

And then on the way home I had time to go and have a look at a few things I have been meaning to do.  I dropped into  Bottega Rotolo, a newish Italian inspired cafe, food shop, and cheese room.  They also do cooking classes.

I couldn't resist these little floral icing titbits.....

which then inspired one of my daughters to make little cupcakes to pop them on.  They got gobbled up very quickly but I just had time to snap a lovely picture. 

What a great day out....
Note to self.....do it more often.......

a few new favourite books now in store

...I love books and can't resist having fabulous garden and home books in store. 
I look to books and magazines and blogs constantly for inspiration and ideas and to see all the latest things. 

Two of these books are relatively new releases that have crossed my desk lately and are really lovely. 

Luciano Giubbilei does formal but tranquil gardens in the true Italianate style with layers and layers of green.  They form wonderful formal oasis to live in and make life easy in terms of maintenance!.

The New Eighteenth Century Home is full of absolutely fabulous things.  You could look at it for weeks and see something new everytime.  I love the use of outdoor things brought inside to create beautiful but simple panoramas. 

How's that for a dovecote!!

True Form has been around for a while but I go back to it again and again for its simplicity and constant source of ideas.

  

hampton court

After visiting England,  I am now a convert to the extravaganza that is  THE Chelsea Flower show (see my blog about it if you missed it from May).   I finally understand what all the fuss has been about for years and have embraced the inevitable show fever. 

But with summer in full swing in the northern hemisphere it seems I need to broaden my horizons a little I think......

I have it on good authority from an lovely well connected English lady with a fabulous English accent, that really the best place one should go is to Hampton Court Flower Show.  Chelsea is all well and good but its crowded and full of "wanna..be's" apparently.

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show on the other hand is almost certainly guaranteed better weather,  is much more fun, less crowded and all the important people still go.

I unfortunately am languishing back in the Australian colony again, so am having to have a peak at all the gardens and winners on their website. 
Not quite as fabulous as being there but it gives you the idea.

I want one....or two

I want an indoor plant wall....and I think I have figured out how to do it easily.

Indoor plants are making a come back. Definitely lush. 
Great for indoor spaces and creating clean air.

These are all from woolly pockets, made from recycled plastic and felt and water proof for indoor plant walls. The ideas for their uses are endless and they look great in any situation.

We have done one in store just this week and it worked brilliantly.
This is a 3 pocket in black newly planted and it was easy to do.  

We needed two peolple to help hang it.We now have the 3 pocket and 1 pocket in store ready to go for the adventurous person wanting to do their own planting. 

These are a great way to have a wall feature that is green and inspiring.

It really does look like living wall art........
I love it and I am going to do one for home now. 

One for the kitchen full of herbs would be great also.