KT and Coffee

How could I forget Kevin

The tree I brought in a pot three years ago has been in a sad state for while but I think he may be making a comeback. I do hope so

Clearly I need a project like 'The August break' to keep me blogging. What can I say. So nearing the end of the year and blimey it seems to be gathering pace at this point. Maybe more later on that.
After years of shift work and never really minding that we worked Christmas and/or New Year, we appear to be off...no work....at all...indeed.

Started Christmas Day with breakfast in the garden.

Christmas day had a sunny start, so breakfast in the garden, then a pop into work to deliver baked mincemeat goodies, then off for lunch. We had a great Christmas day lunch with friends, with all the right ingredients; food, bubbles, silly games, kids, food, chat, all rather good I must say. We had loads of cards and presents and are very grateful to those posting stuff to us. I need to apologise as I was rather late this year and with a resolution to be better in 2012 I say thank you.

A snapshot of the cards

More photos to follow, as Adam took some great shots of the crowd at lunch and I haven't even got started on the decorations at work.

Smiling and thinking of you

Each time I get into the garden I have fond memories of my nan and granddad warm me. They had a great garden and maybe my pure luck in growing stuff is down to genetics - or it maybe the volcanic soil I have the privilege of gardening in, but either way it makes me happy. I wish I could spend more time in the garden and mainly it's neglected and left to fend for itself.
Gardening has made me much more aware of the seasons, this warmer weather and spurred on new growth for sure, but patience and wonder seem to be the common themes in my mind, we are getting through veg I planted for winter, however the broad beans are looking just about ready. I seemed to have failed at winter carrots, I remain determined and more seeds are in.

Broad Bean seedlings go in back in August.

Now look at them.

Red cauliflower and red cabbage seedlings.
Rather proud of these as grown from seed

The sheep pellets are an attempt to deter the cats

More cauliflower in this bed, along with some onions (protected by the bottles)

Time to pick

This is so impressive, all from seed. Genetics or soil, or maybe both

These look so fab, and so organised, I don't normally manage to plant in rows.
I seem to have almost mastered the 'give the plants enough room' trick

Planted back in August lettuce and radish, now a mental concoction of salad stuff.

As the strawberries didn't do brilliantly in the baskets I thought I'd go flowers this year

Another basket, but this has no plan, I just chucked in random seeds loose at the bottom of my seed box!

Herb patch in an odd spot of the garden is going well. The borage is actually growing though a crack in the driveway. There is also a jasmine plant in there which has flowered for the first time and smells so wonderful.

The front patch of flowers has burst into summer madness, rather pleased about the foxgloves

Love them

The latest seedlings in. Sunflowers.
Will wait a little before I plant them out and hopefully the wind will ease up a bit

Sculpture in the Gardens

A brief interlude to the always wonderful Auckland Botanic Gardens, the sculpture trail is on till February 12th. Do seem to be loving the iPhone and the photo apps that make my pics a little bit tastier.