I thought I'd pop in here before heading to my GP, so this ends up in my threads.

I've inherited my mums plants and have really gotten interested in gardening over the last year or so. I now am the owner of elephant ears that are in approx. knee height/60cm diameter pots and they are around six feet tall...I can't believe that I did that. they were sitting at around a metre when my mum was alive getting closer to 14 years ago, with nothing more than shade cloth, potting mix, osmocote pot slow release fertiliser and some effort...

I have 2 garden beds and am planning a third for vegies at some point

Hi Music_Freak thats great you got plants they were your mother's.Spmething to cherish for you.Their is a few plants called Elephant ears even Taro is called Elephant ears.I had a heap of indoor plants at my mother's that were growing amazingly.Sadly I left most of them behind when I moved as it was 40 degrees when I moved and ran out of energy moving.
Happy gardening,
Mark.

Hi everyone, hi musicfreak, I look forward to hearing more about your garden 🙂

I just read something and wanted to share it here.

When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.🌻

How true.

I'm off to do some composting for my soul! And continue to agitate for change in our world.

Cheers,

J*

It is such diverse country weather wise.Some people are a terrible heat wave while others are experiencing cold weather.Makes gardening interesting .

Hi all,

So it's definitely not cold here. Had some lovely afternoons 'storms'- a bit light on with the rain to be a true sub-tropical thunderstorm, but slightly reminiscent of the weather I grew up with.

Matchy the potatoes we/he chose were sebago's. A bit boring, but he's the one who LOVES potatoes. I definitely prefer rice or pasta :)

Now I have a question about storing them. Does anyone know? I mean, I won't have enough to store this year, so it's purely an intellectual exercise, but something I'd like to know more about. Carrots too- I don't know how supermarkets can store stuff for so long, it just goes limp in my fridge.! Also, I don't have a cellar.

About to watch the last Harry Potter- again- with the child for movie night, and eat KFC, cos no one can be bothered cooking. We went to our local market today and she climbed a climbing wall thing- did so well! I could not believe how easy she made it look! Never done it before either. I've always been fascinated by rock climbing- this could fit in with my desire to get the family bushwalking! haha- worlds apart I know, but still.

I keep getting these urges to do the whole olive branch thing with certain family members, who have been .......hurtful, deliberately..........in the past. Repeatedly. I guess it's Christmas. Full of indecision. Protect myself and my family, or olive branch, again. I'll keep you posted.

The birds are loving the rain, quite a scrittering going on out there.

I hope everyone is well.

Cheers,

J*

Hi Jstar storing your home grown vegies is a great question .Potatoes are best stored in an open container in a cupboard and leave the dirt on them as they will keep longer.This is how my mother did it for years.
Carrots should be stored in the fridge wrapped in damp paper towel and take the tops of.If you leave the tops on they will go limp quicker .The tops are edible but have a bit of bitter flavour to them.You can make a pesto out of the tops to.
Happy gardening ,
Mark.

Jstar the variety of patatoes is Nadine.I had to look it up as I couldn't remember and planted them on the 20/9/20

Hi Mark,

Wow, thanks for those storage tips- I shall try! So just checking- no plastic bag around carrots?

I love your sunflower pic btw- my fave flower of all

Cheers,

J*

Hey gardening peeps!

Lovely posts to read.

Music_Freak - HI! A warm welcome to the gardening thread! Your Elephant's Ears sound gorgeous! I'm so jealous lol. I have monsterios growing in my garden and they're pretty similar but they get a big fruit on them which I like to see. Then the native animals come and eat them lol!

So nice to have you here.

Hey Mark aka Matchy - thanks for your wise words about potatoes and carrots. DEFINITELY have to lop the green off them to store. Same with radishes too and beets etc. The green drains the veg.
LOVE YOUR SUNFLOWER pic, so sweet!

J* - the easiest name to type lol... yay seeing your daughter climb to the TOP! We have indoor climbing centres here and my grandchildren LOVE LOVE LOVE them! lol. My cousin was a world class rock climber and has his photo in an International calendar and he was UPSIDE down so high up! I couldn't look at it without getting dizzy lol..

Yah contacting family... aha. I JUST wrote about that on my thread. I followed my impulse and phone 2 aunties tonight. Out of 40+ relatives on that side of the family, I have no one contacting us anymore. Not even them. But I did it. I'm pleased I did. I won't contact any others.

My best friend since 9yo lost her mum last week (funeral this Thursday) so at times I think I just want to contact certain people. I love them, that will never change. But it's not the love as in a VERB... just the faint emotion every now and again.

My love as in a verb needs to be directed to my own family, myself included hence me starting the self-care thread. I've neglected myself far too long and that won't get any of us anywhere.

The overtly abusive members of my family, I'm strict NC with.
Never ever ever again. I don't enjoy phoning police on my family (or anyone for that matter) but it seems the norm with them.
Not OUR norm in my own family, so I'm done there.

As for gardening lol.. I need to fill my green bin after work tomorrow so it's full for pick up!!
It was either raining or almost 40 degrees on the weekend, so darn it, it didn't get done.

I have leave soon but usually it's monstrously hot over Summer so gardening is hard.
Still the dreaded lantana needs another long tackle.

EM xxxx

Hi Jstar wrapping carrots in paper towel prevents condensation from forming.You can use a perforated plastic bag but I don't like using plastic bags if I can help it and think paper towel works better.

I have finished picking my corn and have been picking heaps of tomatoes and picked my first eggplant and started picking my golden nugget pumpkins and my watermelon fruit are about half grown and have heaps on them.My grapes are just about ready to harvest to.

Happt gardening,

Mark.

Hi all,

Has anyone grown mangoes?
We have an old mango tree in our yard and it’s developing some fruit. Last year we picked some and even after storing them inside to ripen further, they never became sweet enough to eat. A neighbour once told me that they are ‘no good for eating’ as in, not a good variety for eating. I’m not sure what that means exactly. Maybe it was grown for other purposes (eg pickling)?

Hi Lillylane I have grown many varieties of mangoes over the years.Where I live at the moment I haven't got any growing as it gets to cold in winter here.I just wondering water variety you might have growing, are the fruit stringy and green? And what shape are the fruit?If the fruit you find arnt real nice to eat a good option is to make mango chutney out of them or mango jam which is really easy to make.Plenty of things you can do with mangoes.

Mark.

Hi Mark,

Yes last year the mangoes were are a bit stringy and a bit sour. They were mainly green and yellow in colour. Smaller than the ones we normally see at the shops. And they didn’t go as orange/pink-coloured when ripening.

I’d like to have a go making jam or chutney with them though. It would be good to use them in some way as there are quite a few appearing on the tree. I think the possums got most of them last year.

Hi Lillylane I think you have growing is a common mango by the sounds of it.They make excelent jam and chutney as I have used them for that and the jam is delicious.

Their is over 500 varieies of mangoes grown around the world.I use to grow about 20 different ones including a couple of rare ones.

Mark.

Lillylane said:

Hi all,

Has anyone grown mangoes?
We have an old mango tree in our yard and it’s developing some fruit. Last year we picked some and even after storing them inside to ripen further, they never became sweet enough to eat. A neighbour once told me that they are ‘no good for eating’ as in, not a good variety for eating. I’m not sure what that means exactly. Maybe it was grown for other purposes (eg pickling)?

Hi Lillylane

Maybe it was an "accidental" mango tree like mine. It just started growing in my garden and I thought it was an different type of tree, from our neighbours, that grows very large so I potted it.

Do the wildlife eat your mangoes?

I'm not sure how much room you have but I did read that having 2 mango trees near each other increases the cross pollination and therefore the yield. It could be beneficial choosing another one and using the pickling / jam mango as a cross pollinator?

EMxxxx

Hello all you wonderful people,

I am feeling so .....relieved and set free! today as I have handed in my last assessment and so hopefully, bar resubmits, I am finished! And now I can let loose and drink wine tonite because I don't have to worry about getting stuff done! Have had to be super disciplined which isn't my forte, and hence haven't been here for much chat.

Wow, Em, it sure sounds like you have had a lot of practice putting boundaries in place. I'm so sorry. I guess that's why you sound like such a strong amazing person. It kinda sux, but as they say, it takes a lot of pressure to make a diamond 💕

I laughed when I read about love as a verb, vs a "faint emotion every now and then" Ahh lol. There certainly is a difference hey! And yes, that's kinda where I'm at too, keeping my active love for my little family, and others in my life who reciprocate, or else just need it for a period of time. After all, gotta keep the love circling around!

Mark- I'm really curious now about what your crisper looks like (uknow the drawer at the bottom of the fridge) ....... mine is full of the recycled bread bags I wash out and let dry and then store my vegies in. Its a bit messy but it works. I'm really not sure how I'd go if I didn't use plastic...I don't like plastic tho either so I'd love to do it differently if I can....I also use some tupperware vegie storage containers. They're good because they have a ridged bottom so any moisture doesn't sit on the skin of the fruit/veg.

Sounds like the rats left you some corn- I'm so glad! You lucky thing growing watermelons and eggplant. I really love babaganoush. The way some people make it is amazing!

re mangos- lillylane we have a huge mango in our yard- must be 100 yrs old by some accounts. We're told that it's a 1 in a 7yr cycle for mangos here, so we don't expect much fruit every year. When it does fruit well tho it's lovely. Our friend likes to get the mangos when green and makes a mauritian chilli thing- soooo yum! Sounds like your mangos would be perfect for that. I love making mango chutney too- delish with curries or bland foods. Well, I love eating it, but it's not too hard to make.

What's everyone looking forward to eating over Christmas? I'm making shortbread and fruit cake and a gingerbread house. I shall have to add some savoury food to that list ........Hmmm 🤔

Cheers everyone!

Love

J*

You’ve all inspired me to put ‘make mango chutney’ on my list - thank you :)

Glad I’m reading these posts AFTER dinner by the way. I’d be so hungry otherwise!

Yes our mango tree is a very lovely tree. Probably the feature of our backyard really. It creates a little microclimate and shades other plants from the afternoon sun. I like the plum-red blush of colour it gets with new foliage. It used to be half smothered by a spiny duranta (which we removed to get a fence put in) but it’s now doing a lot better. I had no idea there are so many varieties Mark! Do you have a favourite one?

Hi EM, Yeah the wildlife like to eat the mangoes. Last year we gave up picking them for ourselves and left them to it. Bit of a mess to clean up but that’s ok. This year I’m motivated to pick more for us.

Oh my goodness Jstar I can only imagine what a 100-year-old mango tree looks like! How awesome! Ours didn’t fruit in our first couple of years here, but fruited last year, and has heaps developing now. It’s good to hear you feel relieved about completing your studies. Hope you get to kick back and have a well-earned rest!

I’m feeling relieved that my twins are so excited to start prep next year and have loved visiting their teacher and class in preparation.

L.

Hi Lillylane thats great we have inspired you with your mangoes.The interesting thing with mangoes they are mainly pollnated by flys ants and native bees.Dont worry if you see a lot ants on your tree when in flower as they are pollinating it.

My favourite varieties include Nam Doc Mai, Florigon and Bullocks Heart which my mum had grown in the backyard.My grandfather had a mango orchard back in the 1970s and use to help in that.Their are trees there that I grew from seed still growing there 40 years later.The farm when he bought it in 1950 was originally a citrus orchard and he turned it into a small crop farm and later started a mango orchard.The owners of it now have turned it into an exotic fruit orchard and left the mango trees we planted there.

Happy gardening,

Mark.

I am hearing the beautiful sound of water running into my rainwater tanks with some good steady rain coming down here.

Hello everyone

I bought a little portable garden beg thing from bunnings so I could have my own little garden.

I've planted cherry tomatoes, mint, parsley and a edible flower (purple/yellow) and they are going well! Also planted from everlasting daisy seeds which have sprouted.

thinking about planting more cherry tomatoes.

its oddly relaxing tending to the garden :)

Good to see you on here Gambit.Gardening is so relaxing isn' it.I just spent early this morning before the rain came in the vegie garden planting some more potatoes and picking vegies.Cherry tomatoes are great just to pick and eat of the Bush.

Hi,

Gardening is sooo relaxing! I'm loving the thought of getting back into mine. All this rain pouring down will make it perfect- tho steamy- for weeding and pulling out old plants, ready for more planting. Now will be the real test of my tropical seeds. I've never tried to grow much apart from tomatoes, corn and pumpkin over summer. I'm looking forward to seeing if the cucumber and tropical beans works at all.

gambit I love that your everlasting daisy seeds have sprouted! You've got the knack!

Feeling a bit tired and worse for wear after letting my hair down last night lol.

Cheers everyone,

J*

Awww Mark that must be wonderful to know that all the work you and your ascendants put into that exotic fruits farm is still going on and on for posterity. Nice.
I'm happy it's RAINING THERE so my Prayers DO get answered lol!!!
I was sad to read your tanks were empty, we didn't need to do a rain dance after all... lol.
I used to say to my children during drought times, on their way to dancing lessons, "make these RAIN dances today please" and they would laugh and think that in dancing.

Hey J* I had a fleeting thought that I need to think about Christmas Fare pretty soon, but then went to bed. I had major dental surgery today & am feeling much worse for wear tonight. I read a full week to recover and omg I have 1 week left of work before my leave... oh dear lol. I slept for a solid 4h when I got home.
I'm pretty tired. My face looks like the Elephant woman not that I care... but the looks on ppls faces when I bought the antibiotics etc waiting for my daughter to pick me up... lots of sympathy lol. Anyway I think this is more for my thread lol.

Yes, sadly I've had to put extremely firm boundaries in place in my life. Even to go firm NC with my own mother, exH whom I call demon bec it is. But the ramifications of this means my "little family" (it's a fraction compared to the whole) is like a little island now. THE KIDS don't realise this as much thank God, but it's still strange for me even decades later for my mum... NC with demon was the healthiest thing I could do for ALL of us. In fact the kids begged me to do that through Courts and haven't changed tack on that for a nano second, so that's great.

Oh and WELL DONE YOU for submitting your LAST stuff for Uni!!!
That feeling of finishing was pretty numb for me.

Lillylane how sweet your babies loved Prep Prep lol. My work involves children and parents (and more). They are our most precious and beautiful beings. In fact I'm still friends with some of those children, still, well into their adulthood. I just called one just now lol. Gorgeous girl. I'm about to meet her 4TH BABY! yay. They call me Aunty. Sometimes we gather our family and it's not one of blood but only love.

Gambit congratulations! I'm so proud of you! Lol yes gardening IS relaxing. It's also EXCITING to see things come up that your own hands have planted.
That's gorgeous lol.

Best wishes for your gardening adventures.
Love EM

Hi all, just a quick note before bed.

I said to my H tonite that if I could I would invite you all to Christmas lunch- altho I may need a bigger house lol, esp with what sounds like a tribe of your loved ones Em!!

But shall be thinking of you. And these chats inspire me to find the lovely weeds in my own community, who sprout in the cracks despite the hardship.

Love

J*

Hi all we had rain overnight with more on the way well into next week so I just love hearing the sound of water running into my tanks.

Am I hope all goes well with your dental surgery.Not the best timing but at least you getting it done.Last year I had some surgery done Christmas eve and still waiting for another a lot of surgery which was suppose to have been done by now as it' category one.

Happy gardening,

Mark.

Hey J*

Well I had to go inside and get a box of tissues when I read your post. I'm in the front garden with my chickens.

I spent a real lot of time with one Nana in particular. She was VIBRANT and a real go-getter for the community; getting grants to build important services etc that are still here now. Working all the time for us all.

She seldom cried, so when I saw her crying it was a shock.
It was in these times she spoke of how much she missed people like her OWN grandparents... OH BOY I could feel her grief deeply.

A few things happened here over night and it's stuff I just don't know how to handle.

Nana ALWAYS SEEMED to know what to do.
She was an ACTION Nana lololol.
She brought the loneliest people together for FUN events. Even collecting them in a bus she got a grant for lolol... she was awesome.

Now I'm a Nana and I don't know what to do. I miss her guidance and deep love. Maybe this is what she missed in her challenging times?
Perhaps this is why she cried too.

I would LOVE to spend Christmas with you, it would be such a merry party!

Pushing into the JOY of Christmas is my focus.
Being GRATEFUL for what I have.
Including my wild and crazy garden lol.

I've been anxious about so much re: going back to FT work next year.
My children ofcourse.
My garden also.
I've decided to hire my gardener every 5 to 6 weeks on a rota lol.
Once when I'm here and once when I'm not.

I need a NEW SKINNY wheelbarrow lol. One that can fit easily through the side gates.
We gather SO much mulch at the top garden and I've carried it down to the back garden in buckets, so exhausting.
Being able to shovel it into a barrow and wheel it down the back would help immensely.

Time to absorb the life all around me and just do the best I can.

Love EM

Hey Mark

SO HAPPY to hear you're having so much rain lol!

My skinny tanks are doing okay atm. We had teasing sprinkles of rain last night but nothing substantial.

Though we're having cooler weather which is VERY welcome!

Dentists orders are not to do any level of activity but to rest for a week.
It feels like the only thing I can do atm.
I didn't realise this surgery would take such a toll.

But I'm pumping supplements on top of antibiotics etc. Hopefully I can bounce back to some form of normal lol.

I hope your surgery comes through quickly for you!
I'll be Praying for that.

Love EM

Oh Em,

Lovely lady, it sounds like a week of rest is just what the doctor ordered! In so many ways!

I don't know what's going on for you, but I know that you can handle it- God doesn't give us more than we can handle! I imagine tho, in your case, that quite a lot can get thrown at you because- forgive me if I'm wrong- it sounds like you have learnt to handle quite a lot....

I'll be thinking of you, and hoping that you are deep soul resting. Remember you can say no! You don't need a reason...

Your nana is still with you. She will still speak to you, help you, her wisdom is guiding you, in your cells, where it's like second nature. I truly believe that.

I love the sound of your nana! What an inspiration! A bus!!! perfect!

You are so much like her I just know it

Heaps of gentle 'love your decisions' hugs ( teeth represent decisions)

J*

Hey Mark,

as we speak rain is buffeting the windows. I don't think it stopped all night.

Our small shed tank is overflowing, as did the rain guage o/nite. It is such a lovely feeling. Although my H goes a little stir crazy being cooped up inside for any time. Me, I love it, and am sequestered in my sewing room with playlist on (Lord of the Rings included- fantastic music) beginning to sort out creative chaos thats been neglected for awhile.

What do you do when it rains? Have you a project to work on?

All this talk of dentists has me a bit concerned. I'm ignoring my teeth I know, but I'm not young enough to be able to do that lol. Everytime I go to the dentist they just want to do something.....

I had a friend once who just got them pulled out when there was trouble. She was an interesting lady. Not many teeth there for awhile, until she moved into town and realised it was affecting her self esteem.Then she got some falsies. Maybe I can just move out bush, and enjoy my crone stage...My 10yr old probably wouldn't like that. Not so good for the wedding photos. Oh dear. Dentists....I'm sorry that you Em and you Mark are experiencing this. It's very hard to ignore pain in the mouth. Mark I hope yours can wait until after Christmas at least.

Take care peoples,

J*