Wednesday, October 16, 2013

THE ROSE IS BRIGHTER THAN EVER .... and a little bit out the back as well.

I mentioned in my previous blog that we'd moved the Chameleon rose from the front verandah to the back of the house where it gets more sun.  Yesterday himself called me out there saying "Just come and look at the colour of your rose today."  I am now showing the picture taken on Monday and the one taken the next day. I couldn't believe how dark and bright it has become:


and this is the same bloom today just a tad closer (I had to hold it 'cos it was quite windy):


While I was taking the rose photo I decided I'd take some snaps of HIS vegetables.  Years ago when he was younger he used to grow so many different types of vegetables but now it takes much more effort so daughter and I bought him two raised garden beds and here's what he has done with them so far:

We've really been enjoying silver beet and broad beans (the leeks will take a little longer to be ready):



There are 4 different varieties of tomato.  He first put them in 5 inch pots to get them established and now they're in the garden bed and already have flowers and even a couple of tomatoes as well. There are a few leeks in here as too.


We have curly leafed and flat leafed parsley growing under shade and now MOH has decided more herbs are needed so here they are in pots.  The tiny flowers you can see on the extreme left side of the picture are violets that grow all over the place, particularly in pots.   They came from my mum's place in a pot prior to 1985 and we've had them growing every year since then.  They are always so welcome 'cos they remind me of her.


Just to prove a point, these 3 tubs on the front verandah had nothing but soil in them and here you can see how those tiny violets have taken over.  There are other pots, with plants in them, that also have the violets sharing and in the garden beds themselves.  I've never before known a plant that is so voracious (except weeds of course).  That, River, is that little daisy behind it.  You can see how thick it has grown.

11 comments:

  1. What a productive garden you have, that's on my list for one day, when I'm not working and have more time. Having a grassed area of course would help. Your rose is a beautiful colour. xxx Rae

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    1. Thanks Rae. When Phil was younger he grew lots more vegies than we have now but these raised beds have got him going again which is good (for both of us). I love this rose as it changes colour and you have 3 of 4 different blooms on the one bush. Lovely to have you pop in again. xx

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  2. Oh Mimsie you have such a beautiful garden and lots of produce way to go. Love the Rose it is beautiful. Lots to eat here I love veggies. Hug B

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    1. Thanks Button but I only show you the good parts of the garden and keep the rest hidden!! That rose is special as it is a floribunda so doesn't grow too large and can stay in a pot. We eat so many vegies but can't grow brassicas 'cos of the white cabbage butterfly and we don't like using chemicals and yet I guess the market gardeners do. It's just we don't know about that I guess. xx

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  3. haven't had good beets in a long long time...the ones they sell in the grocery store are way too big and woody.

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    1. Silver beet grows like a week here and we pick it regularly so the leaves and stalks (which we also eat) stay nice and soft. I've never bought any but doubt they'd be anywhere near as good as the home grown variety.

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  4. Love that chameleon rose. And WILL get one.
    And yes, we have violets from Christmas to breakfast and I love them for much the same reason you do. My father grew them.
    Our vegetable garden is also in. Looking forward (so much) to home grown vegies which taste so much better than the store bought varieties. Particularly tomates. And this year I have planted rainbow beetroot - and hope they do well.

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    1. I am sure you will have a chameleon rose before too long. They are a floribunda so can be grown in pots or if the garden where they don't take up much room. I doubt though if you have much spare space in that beautiful garden of yours.
      Rainbow beetroot? A new one on me. I must admit I buy my baby beets in a tin although years ago I always cooked them and sliced them. I think we added sugar. Would that be right?
      Those little violets are real tricks the way they keep on keeping on decade after decade. Other things like lachenalias and bluebells stay for several years and then disappear but these wee violets seem to last forever. My freesias also decided to call it a day after coming up each year for simple ages.

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    2. Oh yes! Rainbow beetroot. They are a heritage variety, beetroots used to come in yellows and whites years ago, now all you see is the red unless you buy heritage seed or seedlings. Same with carrots and potatoes....

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  5. The rose is beautiful and looks exactly like one in the gardens here. Your seaside daisy looks lovely all thick and green with little flowers, I can hardly wait until mine look like that.
    I have tomatoes started too, three of the seeds I planted have sprouted! I'm quite surprised since the seeds I found in the old box were labelled plant by 2011. I also have seeds where the plant before date is 2008, I took those from my daughters house, if they grow I'll share the tomatoes with her.
    We have the tiny white violets here too, not near my flat though.

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    1. I am sure your daisy will spread quickly and they are very hardy. They do need some water but not too much which is great.
      Phil cheated this year and bought tomatoes in tiny pots, potted them into 5" pots and now in raised beds.
      I've had success without of date seeds in the past. Had some nasturtium seeds that were years out of date and popped them in a tiny bed in the front garden and they all came up. Now we have nasturtiums back and front each year. They actually take over but are so easy to get rid of and make good compost when they are finished. Good luck with your tomatoes.

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