At the home improvement store...

I needed to swing by my local home improvement store this morning and I had the opportunity to do so without my children.  As I drove into a car park that was clearly packed to overflowing, I was happily surprised to get a park with relative ease, as the first aisle I drove down had a car leaving.  It was right up the back of the lot, but without children the wander through the carpark was almost pleasant.  The sun was shining, the smell of the fundraising BBQ wafted through the air and the almost comical scene of people trying to fit their purchases in and on their vehicles when it appeared hardly possible was happening in every aisle that I walked down.

Despite a very busy store, my shopping was efficient and took minimal time with no child-led tangents into different sections of the store or negotiations about the playground or purchase of sausages.  I didn't buy more than I was out to buy and I had enough time and space to consider the correct items to buy. This shopping without children has something going for it!

The shopping trip had been quite nice, until I was actually leaving the car park.  I pulled out of my space and I could see the exit, just one carpark intersection away.  This is when the full effect of the busy home improvement centre took place.  I sat at that intersection for 10 minutes waiting for a break so I could cross.  I was chaotic!  There were cars and people everywhere and it seemed that they were all going across my path.  When there was a break in the flow of cars, a stream of people were  crossing on the pedestrian crossing instead.   It was like watching ants funneling in and out of an anthill, and all I could do was sit and wait my turn.  It was kind of eye opening watching the constant stream, looking at so many people and cars.  So many projects were happening in peoples' homes and it is the perfect time of year to get started.

November is strawberry month

November is strawberry month at our house. Our strawberry patch usually provides us with a healthy crop of berries. With the flowers in full blossom and some little fruits appearing, I'm already planning how we'll consume the sweet strawberries. That is, of course, assuming that they make it inside at all and don't get eaten straight from the plants!

Sprouting broccoli

We usually grow sprouting broccoli, which looks more like the broccolini than the regular big stems that we normally see in the supermarket. I often wonder if broccolini is just the commercial name for sprouting broccoli. I like the sprouting broccoli because it can be picked similar to a perpetual lettuce, where florets can be picked as needed and the plant continues to grow.

They are great in steamed or in stirfry. When the florets start to open into the little flowers, they add some colour to the dish. And with so much nutrients in the stems, we actually end up eating more stem with sprouting broccoli.

My children love broccoli, and the idea of eating flowers is rather exciting. My daughter is in kindergarten and has decided that she wants to bring in some of her amazing edible broccoli flowers in for her news at school. I love that she finds these things exciting (and tasty!) and wants to share them with her classmates.

Evenings in the garden

The warmer weather and start of daylight savings has given us more time available for gardening. When eating dinner outside, the garden is so inviting, calling us for a potter and a plant. Seeds are going in several times a week and meals are containing more of our home grown produce.

I can only hope that there is not going to be another frost before summer, but to safeguard, all frost tender plants are still in the green house or inside. Everything is starting to take off with gusto and I'm remembering the joy of warm weather gardening.

Right now, we are harvesting lots of lettuce, asparagus, carrots, radish, broccoli, snow peas and an array of herbs. It seems like at this time of year there are new varieties to start harvesting every few weeks!

The nectarine has masses of little buds and the apple has some buds and flowers. The raspberries have taken over the bed that they are in, and I am expecting a huge harvest this year. The strawberries, boysenberries and blueberries are flowering... I think we may not have enough freezer space to store the excess, so I may venture back into jam making this year. The little quince and cherry are a few years off getting fruit, but just having them there is exciting.

So I am thankful for my evenings in the garden and the serenity and sense of balance that they bring to my life.

Everything is happening at once...

It has been a very busy month in our house. While work hasn't completely taken me away from the garden, it has allowed less time for blogging. I have finished one big project now, and the weather is celebrating accordingly with gorgeous gardening weather.

This is a picture from in the shared vegie patch. It is coming into its second warm weather season, and the 'free or cheap' method is starting to pay off. We allowed plants to go to self seed, and I am in the process of moving the plants or seedlings into suitable spots. As you can see, the chard is going strong and giving a plentiful supply; we have enjoyed 'spinach' pie twice in the last two weeks.

I have planted a batch of potatoes that were unearthed from our children's garden bed when I was turning it over. I thought I had collected all of the gorgeous purple potatoes that they grew, but there must have been a few rogue spuds in there, because we managed to plant out 5 rows in the patch!

The herbs are looking delightful and even though there is far more than the three house holds need, they look pretty and smell lovely.

Inside, the windows at overflowing with plants in window pots. I love having them inside, even though they could equally be in the green house for frost protection. Unfortunately, they are getting quite big (well, I suppose that should be fortunately!), so the window adornments will soon be in the greenhouse or planted out into the garden. My children have taken ownership and pride in these plants from when they scattered the seeds and lovingly covered them in soil, so they will no doubt be very excited about the big 'plant out'.

And my garden... Well it is coming along slowly. More time and more sunshine will certainly help. I'm looking forward to the weekend already!