Categories
Barbie's garden Bloggers Harvest Day Gardening Home page features

January Harvest

The year started with so many projects on the “TO DO” list, that we saw January come and go. We have successfully completed our Solar Geyser project and even though it is not a real gardening project, I really want to share the experience with you!! So I will make my next post a project post!

But January still managed to delight me with lots of wonderful flavour and colour! See what my garden harvest was this January…….

Kale, Spinach, figs, lemons, grenadillas, and yellow sweet peppers!

Even though we are experiencing water restrictions, the fig tree managed to gives us super sweet and unusually creamy fruit!

Bursting with sweetness!

Grenadillas are falling off the vine every day!! I have to give them away!

The Kale is so crunchy and very edible. I was not a fan but if you sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice and rub it in…..very yummy and wonderfully nutritious salad addition!

Lemons are always used and welcome in my kitchen. If not for cooking then for cleaning. GREAT TIP: I take a used lemon slice and rub my cutting boards to clean it and remove stains and when rinsed they come out washed and fresh!

My Sweet Yellow Pepper – did you know that your green pepper will either turn red or yellow – depending on the type!

[one_half]My January Harvest[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Tons of figs[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Grenadilla or Passion Fruit[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Love all the flavours[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lots of kale for juicing as well[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Need to make Fig Jam[/one_half_last]

 

Thanks for sharing and enjoy your garden this 2016!

Happy Gardening xxxx

Categories
Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Trees

Bountiful fruit

Wow!! I have joy in my heart! We are enjoying the bountiful harvest of fruit from our garden!! One day we will have apples as well!!

[one_half]Passion fruit[/one_half]

[one_half_last]So sweet and delicious![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Passion fruit vine full of fruit![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Hanging fruit a plenty[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lemons!!![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Figs!![/one_half_last]

[one_half]This year the tree is chock-a-block full[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Eat to your hearts content[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Peaches are next![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Small tree with plenty of peaches![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Guavas have a while to go[/one_half]

[one_half_last]QuinceQuinces are abundant[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

Quinces galore and a fig tree that needs a scarecrow!! His name is el-sha-fig!

Happy Gardening xxx

 

Save

Categories
Christine's garden Gardening Home page features Trees

First lemon and lime

Remember my gorgeous new Lemon and Lime trees I planted in July? (you can see the post about them here). What a pleasure it was today to find the first ever fruit on my new Lemon tree!

Both trees have been covered in blossoms for weeks already and today I found a good size fruit on the lemon tree. Both trees are covered with what I think is the beginnings of fruit (is that what the little green things in the photos are?)

[one_half]First Lemon on the Lemon treeFirst Lemon on the Lemon tree[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lemon tree blossomsLemon tree blossoms[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lime tree blossomsLime tree blossoms[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Are those the beginnings of Limes?Are those the beginnings of Limes?[/one_half_last]

The trees have been remarkably free of any pests (aphids and white fly) and notably full of bees.

I will be thrilled to have viable limes to pick off the tree as we use them a lot in our kitchen but they are not readily available at our local Woolworths. What joy it will be to have these two fruits available in the garden whenever we need them!

Happy gardening
xxx

Categories
Christine's garden Gardening Home page features Trees

New Lemon and Lime

For the longest time my Darling Daughter has been asking me to plant a Lime tree. She uses limes in cooking, a lot. One of her specialities is Thai cooking. On a holiday to the Far East, she and her other half did a course in Thai cooking and on their return all sorts of previously not heard of ingredients found their way into my pantry and fridge as well as “limes” regularly making an appearance on shopping lists. She also says she finds lemons to be a little too “tart” in some dishes and prefers to use lime. Limes are not always readily available in the shops here. Woolworths stocks them but more often than not, just when we need them, they are out of stock.

So I bought a lime tree and for balance, a lemon. I bought them from a fabulous tree nursery here in Cape Town, the same nursery I bought the Pittosporums from. Quality, prices and service from Indulini are excellent, I’d recommend them to anyone in Cape Town and surrounds looking for good sized trees for their gardens.

So without any further long stories, I’ll let the photographs do the talking … (you can click to enlarge)

[one_half]The trees arrive …The trees arrive ...[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Complete with fruit …Complete with fruit ...[/one_half_last]

[one_third]The pots arrive …Complete with fruit ...[/one_third]

[one_third]Trees placed and ready …Pots placed and ready ...[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Pretty pots, right?Pretty pots, or no?[/one_third_last]

[one_half]The planted Lemon TreeThe planted Lemon Tree[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The planted Lime TreeThe planted Lime Tree[/one_half_last]

The final look … the back patio with Lemon on the left and the Lime on the right …

The final look

I hope you approve?

Happy Gardening!
xxx

Categories
Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels Trees

Guavas and all

I think the garden is all about growth and life and new beginnings and nourishment for the body and soul. There should always be time to take a walk in the garden. To look at it through the eyes of a fellow garden plant. To see how all plants work together to give each other shade or nutrients or help ward off pesky pests or bring the welcomed insects. I look at my new lemons on my tree and I think of the pleasure and pain to see these ripened beauties. I look at the lemons on the grocery store shelf and I can see and feel the energy that went into making one simple lemon. I delight in my new guavas – even though I was not a great fan of them, I have learnt to enjoy them fresh off the tree.  So I appreciate all my trees and plants that bring me joy and sweet treats!!

Here are some new photos of my garden walk about!

Enjoy! x

[one_half]New LemonsNew Lemons[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New GuavasNew Guavas[/one_half_last]

[one_half]End of my FigsThe end of my Fig season[/one_half]

[one_half_last]OnionOnion forrest[/one_half_last]

[one_half]New tomato plantNew tomato plant[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Rosemary blossomRosemary blossom[/one_half_last]

 

 

Categories
Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Trees

My Lemon Tree

Lemon TreeI have to brag about my lemon tree that is looking FABULOUS! As you know, I have been nurturing this tree – pest control, fertilizing, deep watering, composting, mulching and pruning. And it has proven successful. Have a look at how green and lush it is and there are lots and lots of lemons!

I have to admit though that the Nastirtium seeds you gave me I only now planted underneath it! It will prevent the aphids from infesting the tree. I did spot a few leaves with these nasties starting again, but I immediately sprayed with my Biogrow Neem organic pesticide and they just fell off! I’m getting the hang of it and listening to the needs of my plants! Or, I guess, I know what to look for now!

Happy gardening xxxx

Healthy Lemon tree