Our Sunny Corner

Orchid

Just a short post to show you a pretty native orchid in flower now. The flowers are about 3cm across and massed in bunches. It is an epiphytic orchid and is growing on some old tree trunks.

Tracy

Christmas in Australia

Most of the blogs I read here are from homesteaders in the Northern hemisphere.It sounds wonderful, snow and a real white Christmas.In Australia, it is hot. We have a green Christmas though this year with the drought, it is more like a brown Christmas. Our Christmas trees are usually artificial because they don't last very long. Some people have a live tree in a pot and then reuse it each year.

The funny thing is though even though it is summer here, most people decorate in the traditional Northern Hemisphere style.

Here is a picture of our Christmas tree which my daughters decorated by themselves.

Merry Christmas

Tracy

Storms

We have had a few storms lately with alot of wind and hail too.

This is a picture of my daughter holding one of the hail stones(I think her hand is a bit cold).I am very thankful that my fruit trees and gardens were mostly spared.We have lost some fruit bu the trees themselves are still in good shape.I am also grateful for the rain which has come with it.

I am challenging myself to not waste any water though.Everytime I do laundry,I collect the water and use it to water garden plants.I don't use it on edible plants and everything seems to be flourishing with the water.I will also use it for the lawn if nothing else seems to need it.

Now that I have figured out how to put photos on the blog,I will add some more in my following entries.

Bye for now

Tracy

New Computer

I am back againafter my computers hard drive expired.It was 6.5 years old so I guess it had served us pretty well.

I now have a new computer which will take some getting used to.

The homestead is still hot and dry.I have radish ready to eat and our first tomatoes are red and delicious.The raspberries are also nearly ready to pick(I hope the birds don't get them first).

I will plant some more zuchini,corn and lettuce tomorrow and do some much needed weeding.

Tracy

Weird Weather

The weather here is a bit crazy this week.We had a hot day on Monday 32DegreesC,and a storm in the afternoon with severe wind and hail,Tuesday waas an average spring day about 28 degrees C,Wednesday was about the same with winds up  to 80km/hour and my husband had to help fight a bushfire on a neighbours property.Today,it is sleeting and light snow is falling.I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

I also wonder why we are having such bizarre weather conditions.Is it just a freak ccurance or is it due to climate changes?Whatever the case,I will continue to do my part to help the earth and keep at least this part of it ingood condition for future generations.

The garden certainly doesn't like the wind,but the cool change today is making up for the blustery conditions of yesterday.I have been planting more seeds of summer vegetables to have successive harvests to late in the season.

We also have music lessons today so we have to make a trip into town.I would much rather stay at home but I love seeing(hearing) my children learn music.

Bye for today

Tracy

Back to Blogging

It has been almost one month since I have made an entry.I have not had the internet at home and have only just signed up with another server.

We have had some rain since that time,almost 2 inches which was wonderful.Nothing waters the garden like rain,the plants somehow know the difference.

My pumpkins are growing well and we have harvested the cherries.There just weren't enough to preserve in any way,they were eaten as they came off the tree.

I have some Thai basil to plant and also some Stevia.My Stevia from last year died back but has new shoots.

Today I am going to bake some muffins and also make a chilli beef casserole.

I am going to say bye now.I am going to turn the compost.

Tracy

Drought

At the moment we are in a terrible drought.At last report,92% of our state was in drought.It has been this way for a few years now.We have enough water and I recycle what water I can.We have a creek on our property which is slowing down at our place to a trickle.In most other places it has been dry for months.

I have had the internet turned off at home so have not had a chance to blog.Updating my garden news.I have pumpkins and melons up.Also we are growing decorative gourds this year as something different.The corns and tomatoes are growing well and seem to like the mulch around them.I have also planted peanuts and am interested to see how they grow.

The roses are blooming at the moment and the olive tree has plenty of tiny olives.The mulberry is nearly bare after being raided by children.

Bye for now

Tracy

Compost

I have just made a new compost pile this morning.I have used the last batch to plant the pumpkins and melons.

I planted my new white wisteria along the driveway and hope that it grows and flowers in the next couple of years.I akready have a purple one on our old shed and thought a white one would be pretty.

The vegies are all doing well and the strong winds have settled down.

The calves have settled in and are becoming very quiet.they know to follow me to be fed.

I might do some sewing this afternoon.I wil make a batch of muffins and sew some quilt blocks while they cook.

Tracy

Weather

The weather here this past week has been quite warm.We have had days in the thirties and high twenties(celsius).It is the wind that is the problem.It has been blowing a gale and very dry,plants are wilting and need a drink.

Tracy

Calves

Today we got three new calves.They are Angus cross heifers and need a little bit of tlc.They have come to the right place for that.

I planted some eggplant this morning and also planted out my new pink rosemary and purple basil.It is my birthday tomorrow so hopefully,I will receive some more plants.

Tracy

Todays plantings

Today I am planting out some new strawberries.The last ones didn't survive last years extreme heat and dry.I also have some more tomatoes to go in.

I will put some new calendula and marigolds in the flower beds too.I will also start my loofah(luffa) seeds by soaking them overnight.I never seem to have much luck with those though.They have been run over by the lawnmower two years in a row.I wasn't driving.

While I'm outside I will take some photos for the fall(spring) tour.

Tracy

Garden Journal

I think that I will use this site as a garden journal of sorts.For the moment anyway.I will probably end up rambling about other things.

Today I have put a roast in the slow cooker so dinner is taken care of and I have been weeding.I have weeded the rose bed and it is looking lush without the distraction of the unsightly weeds.

I will probably go and do a little watering in the vegie garden.Probably only the new plants need it.

I received my first seed order today so I have some more planting to do as well.

Tracy

Back again

I can't believe it has been 7 months since I last wrote something but it has.I am going to be more dedicated to this now especially since I had to get a new password because I couldn't remember the last one.

I have been busy in the garden now that the weather is warming up a bit.I have planted out a couple of early tomatoes and corn hoping that there are no more frosts.

We have a new batch of chickens,bantams and a couple of Isa Browns to make sure we have a good supply of eggs.The bantams are cute and my favourites but aren't  as reliable with the eggs.They make wonderful mothers though.

Our property is now mostly free of blackberries.With just a few more to follow up, maybe with the help of the goat

I have been harvesting brocolli,cauliflower,peas and snow peas lately.

Happy gardening

Tracy

Lazy Day

Today is a lazy day at Sunny Corner.The wind is howling and it is nice to stay inside sewing,cooking and crafting.The girls are outside letting their imaginations run wild with the wind.

I might join them soon to do some work in the vegetable garden while the weather is unseasonably cool.

I have done some sewing this morning (finished off a bag),baked some muffins and fed the sheep and goat.I think the cows were a bit jealous,they missed out.