Hi Jstar that' great you got plenty of rain.I would love my 2 big tanks to be overflowing.My small tank is almost full.The surgery I am waiting for isn't dental surgery it' at the hospital and was suppse to have it before Christmas but all I can do is wait.

It is really windy here today and heavy rain forecast for tomorrow so hopefully some good falls come our way.

Yok would probably like my bush acreage I own that I keep for the wildlife.It is all natural bushland and is about an hours drive from here.

Happy gardening,

Mark

Hi mark,

Yeah we're a bit further south than you I guess. pretty wild.

Sorry about the misunderstanding. Will you need support at home after your surgery? I don't like hospitals much, don't have much to do with them. Necessary tho. I hope you'll be ok and it goes well.

Your bush block sounds lovely. So do you drive out there and hang with nature sometimes? Is there a shelter where you can camp out when you want to get away? I'd like somewhere like that. Switch off computer and phone, get out the swag, cook over the open fire. As long as there's water tho.

cheers,

J*

Hi Jstar I should be right to look after myself after surgery.I will be in pain most likely.I some surgery in August and some last Christmas eve so I am getting used to it.Its just the waiting and not knowing when it will be isn't good for my anxiety.

I use to go camping on my bush block or go for a picnic there.I last went there during winter and collected some firewood.Was looking very dry with a few trees down that needed cleaning up.I have a small shed there . Was going to build a cabin on it unfortunately I am not well enough these days to do those things.

Mark.

Hi J*

Thankyou for your lovely kind words. My Nana was an exemplary delegator lol... something I could learn to do better for sure.

She also had much more support around her than I do. She had long retired by my age with a substantial income from properties. Quite the opposite for me lol!

We're travelling a bumpy road but doing okay regardless.

I'm going to work tomorrow. I didn't get the headsup from the dentist to organise leave. I'll be ok. Will just have to be careful.
One week left before my leave starts for a month so I just have to be okay lol!

My face is still very swollen in areas. ugh. Thanks for the hugs.

AND DECISIONS hey?
hmmmm yes I've made some pretty major decisions and am aware of financial pitfalls and loopholes so have been navigating those alot for the past few years!
I make a cajillion decisions every day lol!!

I'm sure we all do!

Gardening today... lol... I can see tall tufts of grass growing UP from my sweet native violet patches from where I sit in the mornings (protecting my feeding chickens from the Brush Turkeys) and those grasses are really annoying me lol!
So I think I'll weed them out.

I'm reticent to take any green out before Summer, due to their protective qualities. Still...

I've weeded out all sorts growing in the Violet patches.... those are next, just for my "view" lol.

I've decided to plant my ginger sprouting in a pot waiting on the porch. NOT the ideal place but somewhat protected from turkeys... they're super aggressive and scratching BIG time lately.

And I have LOTS of pots against my fence full of different plants.
I was testing out whether they liked that position.
Some LOVE it there, others have dwindled.
This is a holiday job but it's good to see.

Plus where I sit in the morning, the tree loppers took far too many branches down!!
SO the shade loving plants hate it. So sad. They looked so pretty before. Now they're dying.
I'll need to remove them and can't for the life of me think what can grow there (that I have in pots already). Maybe I have to source some more lol.. not sure.

INdecision lol.

EMxxxx

Hello all,

Oh the garden is calling me! But it's wild and windy, and my sewing room is a haven. Tomorrow, garden, I promise!

Mark your block sounds like a gift, especially as you can't take advantage of it's peace much. I'm sorry to hear that you're unwell- it's so hard for DIY people to be unwell hey. We just want to do all our things. I hope that you have some nice company while you're recovering from surgery. If not, we'll be your company. I understand that laughter promotes the endorphins for pain relief- thats no good if you're recovering from surgery tho I'm sure! You might bust your stitches!

Em, I can relate about the whole non-financial-in-later-life thing. It's probably different for you, but for me, I've spent so much of life studying and casual jobs and trying to make sense of the world that I have very little 'financial security'- in any way. My H is very economical with money tho, so we do all right. The big reason I pushed thru with completing study is to get some financial independence. I'm glad 50 is the new 30, or whatever, tho, because I feel like I'm just getting started with ideas and being stable enough to bring to fruition. I hope! I have so many plans! Maybe it's like my sewing room tho and it's more ideas than completion.... Is there a sewing thread in BB?

I'm interested in getting some indoor plants for my H for Chrissy- he's good with pots. I am NOT! They just die. I read that native ginger can be grown indoors. I'd like to try.

Tired today so not expecting to get much done.

J*

Hi Jstar the native ginger grows easily.I have some growing in the front garden in the shade, gets a bit of afternoon sun.Their is a green leaf or a red leaf one you can get.I have the red one.They get a blue berry looking fruit on them that is tasty and favourite bush Tucker to.Should grow alright as an indoor plant.

Happt gardening,

Mark.

Hey J* and Mark and all green BBers lol,

Native ginger is SO beautiful!!! Omg I love it.

Edible ginger is the two pods I'm planting in a pot for now.

The rain has been teasing us ALL DAY LONG and I wish it would just RAIN... gently please.

PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE start a SEWING THREAD!!!
Omg my other passion.
I'm not a passionfruit but a passionfull... lol. I have far too many passions I think!
Love sewing but mostly needlecraft.
I'm one of those ppl whose family was FULL of seamstresses (as hobbies) and I just learnt how to knit pretty well and do needlecraft (I can sew a bit on a machine). For some reason I thought my family would always be around for sewing help... maybe that's an activity I can bond with my aunty over... IDK... lol indecision.

Maybe I need a list of indecisions - or a book.
I always pass my ideas by my eldest D and Fiancee. They're both so level headed and protective of me.

Crikeys here we go again, demon smashed my sewing machine and overlocker.
sighhh... just can't see myself going back there for a while. It's sad.

But the Joy I gave by sewing and giving things for gifts to CERTAIN people was wonderful.
I would love a sewing thread lol... sewing thread, funny.
I'm happy with my needlecraft projects for now. So cute! But am into the renovating side of things mostly atm.

I've just been clearing and cleaning ready for our new Christmas Tree to go up.
I need to polish the timber chest for it to stand up on.
It'll look lovely.

EMxxxx

My Cherry tomato plant is starting to fruit!!

The mint I planted smells amazing.

Im thinking of buying another garden bed and get a few more plants.

Hey everyone,

Gambit I think you've been bit by the bug lol! Get another garden bed! They're better by the dozen :)

Sewing thread LOL LOL LOL

Maybe I shall! Birds of a feather flock together. ;)

More rain today. Cold with it-unexpected for December.

By for now

J*

OH Gambit you're a NATURAL GREEN THUMB lol!

It's SO exciting isn't it?

There are lots of fantastic ABC iView episodes of Gardening Australia on there for free.

I think I told everyone my favourite one recently back a few pages lol.

Also getting involved with local Community Gardens and even the Permaculture group near you is a WONDERFUL way of getting tons of seeds and cutting for free.
Even some eccentric, unusual produce people give away there also.

I KNOW that organic gardening healed my depression.

I'm 100% sure that eating all that organic food also improved my physical health.
Not to mention all the ENJOYABLE exercise you get doing it all!

So you just can't beat it!

I'm so happy for you Gambit.

Love EM

I hope you get as

Thank you Jstar49 and EM

I have been bitten by the bug haha. I always thought that because I rented and lived in a small apartment I couldnt have a garden - so much to catch up on now haha

I live around the corner from the community garden! they usually have open days and things like that - will have to check it out.

my partner said i should get a second garden bed... if my partner says so right? hahaha

Those community gardens are great .I lived 2 minutes from one and regularly went for walks to it a d had a look at what different fruits and veggies they were growing.I never got involved in it and only had a look but it was nice to look.I have since moved and have nothing like that in this little town.

Hi my garden has gone crazy with a bit of rain.Plenty of vegies to pick.

We’ve had soft rain over the last couple of days and I’m so glad for the plants and trees. I got to plant out a few cheery Garzanias for ground cover which was nice. Good to have some lower temperatures as well.

Hey Gambit! OH YEAH if your partner says get another garden bed then I would! lolol.

It's great she's on board with your gardening adventures.

Our local Community Gardens are open 24/7 so we can go visit any time we like.
We're also welcome to pick anything and even take some worms for our worm farms for free too.

I hope YOURS are the same!

I used to "volunteer" or be involved with one near my current workplace.
The workshops were so fun and I gave a few myself, plus had open gardens in my own garden lots... back in the day.
Then I was offered a PAID job there, wow. But right at the same time I got a permanent job at my work and the pay was a great deal more. SO I grew food at work lol.

There are episodes on growing food on apartment balconies in Gardening Australia.
My fiancee has TRIED but our apartment in Seattle is ummmm FREEZING. He got grow lights and automatic waterers but I asked him to give up... it's been too difficult for him. Not much grew at all.

That's another lesson - plant selection to suit climate and position. The more suited these are the better our yields.

Hey Mark I BET your garden has loved the rain! It's so nice to have a rest from watering when it rains lol... and not be panicking our plants are dehydrating. Prayers work lol.

I took a photo of our "snow" frosted Christmas Tree for my fiancee and he said the weather looked like Seattle's weather! And he was right... the rain is lighter though and the mist is so beautiful.

But I'm sure the mozzies will be bountiful too soon ugh!

Lillylane, we're getting nice gentle soaking rain too.

Apparently we get more rainfall in Spring / Summer than other seasons. Much unlike England as we often compare our gardening exploits to.

We certainly did LAST Summer oh boy! My insurance claim came through 7 months later.
What a year.

If we get lightning from now on, I'm sure I'll lose some branches they're so HIGH up. But not near the house, so that's okay.
Still I'll be hiring a different tree lopper next year. They need a robust TRIMMING.

So will I after Christmas lol!

HO HO HO with a belly like Santa...

EMxxxx

A friend asked me to water their garden while they’re away. But haven’t had to water yet with all this rain. I’d like an excuse to go visit it though - it’s like a fairy garden with layers of rocks and succulents and colourful bromeliads.

Struggling at the moment. Heavy heart. Troubled mind. Getting iron levels checked. I sound so flippin’ upbeat speaking to my GP - why do I keep doing that when it’s not really how I’m feeling?!

Hi Liilylane a fairy garden sounds lovely.My mum had one out the front and everyone who visited commented how beautiful it was.My mum had a Brom named after her.I have few here.It is always good to get rain to do the watering for you.
When I use to see my pyschologist she use to ask me how I was and I use to say I am fine and then she would say Ok what's really going on.She new me so well.I know how hard it is for you to say how you really are feeling.

Take care,
Mark.

Dear Lillylane (hi Mark and everyone too!)

I think we all do that with our GP and even my psych this year lol.... but then, when we've lost our need to cloak ourselves with that protective armour... we can let it all out over time.

It took years and many of them very desperate years through Courts and fears of losing my children, before I could be the most honest I've ever been with my Counsellor.

It's also their "care level"... if you really FEEL they care about you and will be non-judgemental and helpful, kind and compassionate THEN we can open up more.
Trust needs to be built.

We put ourselves in a vulnerable place when we disclose our innermost feelings.
Those feelings we usually hide to get on with our lives.

But this time of year is reflective. I call it melancholic and poignant actually.
We'll never lose our memories but I can surely lose my mind remembering ALL the time.

So grounding ourselves in the garden, I find my memories are now more faint and fleeting when I'm gardening, that's what I want lol!

You're not alone Lillylane. We're with you, as we are with you all.

Fairy gardens are so SWEET!
We used to make them all over the place when my children were little lol... sweet memories.
They'd take out their miniature toys for the fairies to play with and I'd move the toys around so the children would think the fairies had been riding in their cars etc lol.. oh the things I've done!

At Christmastime I would begin "The Road to Bethlehem" from the front door with jewels and a road from materials... then as Advent progressed I would move a pregnant Mary on her donkey and Joseph closer to the stable.. awww sweet lol.

One Christmas morning my little children woke up and ran to the stable and found a little baby Jesus in his manger and yelled out to everyone "Baby Jesus is BORN!" and what made me so happy is that they all ran past their Santa sacks full of presents to find Him.

It's the people we miss that make us sad at this time of year IME.

Being grateful is what remedies this.

I'm so grateful for you all here.
Love EM

Just looking at my herb garden in the front and admiring how amazing everything has grown.From a bare patch of earth to the most amazing flavoursome garden.

Thanks Mark and EM. It’s hard to admit to ‘covering up’ inner struggles. But comforting to know others here understand.

Reading up about bromeliads - so impressed with how many colours they come in. They really do look ‘other-worldly’ when planted in large numbers. Can see why my friend is kind of addicted to them.
How cute EM - putting out miniature toys and moving them around etc for the kids. Kids (and adults) would love it.

What kinds of herbs have you got growing Mark? Sounds like a wonderful transformation from a once bare patch of earth!

Who else likes watching Gardening Australia and seeing the ‘before and after’ photos of gardens and pot plants?

Warm wishes to you all

Hi Lilly Lane some of the herbs I have growing are two types of mint,parsley,pineapple sage,curry leaf,lavender and my favourite rosemary as I just love the smell of it.
My mother grew Bromiliads for over 50 years and started of when no one new what they were.Mum had the honour of having one named after her and a whole garden named after her in recognition of all her hard work she did with them over the years.The sad part was I left most of her broms behind when I sold her house and they all got bulldozed.
You need to be honest when we you see your doctor.They are there to help you even how hard it is for you to and when you start doing that the Doctor will always check on your mental health and make sure your ok.
Happy gardening,
Mark.

Hi Mark,

I’ll be going back to my GP soon for a follow-up so I can talk to her about how I’m feeling. It will be a longer appointment so hopefully I’ll feel more comfortable to get out what I need to.

Glad to hear your herbs and veges are thriving with recent rain. Are the mice still getting to things? Hopefully you’re still able to pick plenty for yourself.

Hi Lilly Lane yes the mice are still a problem and are eating my tomatoes now.I usually put in a second crop of corn but I won't this year because of the mice.

Hey EM and all :-)

what are the small white worms in my tomatoes? Google mentioned that its a small moth that lays its larvae which burrow into the fruit....such a pain in the rump!

Novice here.....is there anything I can spray on my tomato plants that will help?

Bear Hugs and thankyou for the excellent thread too x

Paul

blondguy said:

Hey EM and all :-)

what are the small white worms in my tomatoes? Google mentioned that its a small moth that lays its larvae which burrow into the fruit....such a pain in the rump!

Novice here.....is there anything I can spray on my tomato plants that will help?

Bear Hugs and thankyou for the excellent thread too x

Paul

Hey blondguy Paul

THIS one is for Mark!

He's the Head Commander of the Brains Trust here lol!!!

Hope you like your new Title Mark! And the responsibility is HUGE lol!!

Hey Paul, I ALWAYS companion plant... so haven't had issues with tomatoes but I do have to FIND them is a sea of basil and marigolds!

Also this worm can also come about by NOT rotating garden beds.
Organic gardeners pretty much leave up to 8y before planting tomatoes (and other food plants) in the same earth.

We also plant a LEGUME crop straight after tomatoes are finished ie peas / beans.
They kill this worm and all else but FEED off of them too... so it's a great fixer / purifier of soils.

Once we get GREAT tomatoes in a certain spot we think "AWESOME, I'll plant them there again next year" but NO!!!
The great deceiver lol... you'll get issues.

I had a LETS Gardener here work with me years ago who also worked in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney (OH YEAH WHAT A TREASURE she was!) and she said the MOST important thing for healthy plants is healthy soil.
Another horti also said to me, bugs will attack weak plants, weak plants only come from weak soil...

Food for thought!

Love EM

Thankyou so much Bionic Woman (EM)

I just planted a couple of 600mm tomato plants (10" pots) 2-3 weeks ago and all the leaves and color of the fruit is fine...I just picked them and full of worms...ewww

I wish I had your contacts EM....Nice1 :-) I just need to spray the plant as the other tomatoes have the tell tale sign of the moth that lays its eggs on the plant....I have a reasonable understanding where mental health is concerned yet I have no knowledge on how to grow a tomato

Anyhoo....thankyou for helping me out

you rock EM x

Wow thanks Paul, actually I AM rocking right now! Just hooked up my new loud speaker and I'm playing BRUNO MARS oh yeah lol...

Oh I SEE!!!

My BF said that some times when we buy tomato seedlings, the worms are already in the roots... darn it. He's in the U.S. ofcourse but it happens here too I've heard.

Anyway I just popped back to say that the Commander will probably be back "on duty" about 4am lol!!
He'll have answers for you, I'm sure.

Best wishes Superman!

EMxxxx

Hi Paul that' no good about your tomatoes sounds like fruitworms in them.Em is right about hygiene in your soil and companion planting and trying to attract good pest to eat the bad ones.One thing is with them is the moth which is like grayish colour likes to lay their eggs in the tomatoes that are starting to Change colour.So one thing you can do is pick them green.I can give you a green tomatoes jam recipe and green tomatoes relish one.You can make a spray.Heres my organic spray I make.Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of detergent and 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in 4 litres water.Spray that all over the plant.

Happy gardening,

Mark

Thankyou Bionic Woman...again!

Hey Mark.....You are and always have been a legend since you joined the forums....Thankyou so much for helping me out with 'So one thing you can do is pick them green.I can give you a green tomatoes jam recipe and green tomatoes relish one.You can make a spray.Heres my organic spray I make.Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of detergent and 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in 4 litres water.Spray that all over the plant'.

When the Bionic woman (EM) gives me a permit I would love that recipe Mark :-)

Note....I only planted these 600mm high tomato plants 2-3 weeks ago and they came with small tomatoes in a 10inch pot

amazing caring people....hugs and appreciation....Paul xo

Hey if Commander Mark Legend gives the info out then who am I to grant permission!

Permission granted btw, knock yourself out!

Superman, darned shame about the tomatoes but they can be salvaged with one of Mark's AMAZING recipes.

Hey Mark, it must be raining there for you to be up so late. It's raining here.... I AM LOVING IT!
We had a putrid stinking hot morning, then a "cool" change and now rain but the humidity won't let anything dry on the under cover line!

Still awake... hence me and Bruno Mars rocking it out lol!!!
I found a ONE HOUR mix of Grenade.

Thanks for coming to the rescue again Mark!

Bionic Woman over and out. 😂🤣😂🤣