summer update

Rain with occasional burst of intense sunshine, but never enough to absorb the volume of water lying on the ground. Some early retirements to report: corn, cucumber, lettuce, beans, coloured spinach. Some survivors to commend: eggplant, capsicum, volunteer cherry tomatoes, berries, spring onions, globe artichokes. In an effort to repair some of the leaching damage done by the rain, I have planted a green manure crop of mung beans and millet. These crops like rain - sigh, I wonder if they LOVE rain? - and should do some good for the soil.

Still, no point in complaining (although I will, make no mistake!). I am planting the autumn/winter crop this weekend, but only in seed trays so they can get a good start without battling all this rain. Thanks Green harvest, you always give me plenty of new ideas: Massey Gem shelling pea, Raab Broccoli, Cabeza Red Cabbage, Purple carrots (a personal fav), violet cauliflower, Deep purple spring onions.

on this wet day, what are the workers doing?

let's ignore the rain and it will go away....... 

this day in the patch

My lettuce is on a mission - global domination. This is Royal Oakleaf, an heirloom lettuce. I bought the seeds from Green Harvest and they really are a winner.

I have also planted a wormwood and it has really shot up this summer after a slow winter start

And my coloured chard is also a picture in the late afternoon sun......

open sesame....

My wonderful gardener came in and pruned the peach tree. It is a beautiful pink blossom in spring and because I love it so much, I have let it get a bit out of control. This meant there was too much shade on the patch and also over the fence on the neighbour's yard.... so it was pruned.

a smaller peach tree than before......

Now there is light.......

see my little sunflower..... she finally sees the sun!