The Garden Whip Around

This year is the first year that we have had enough mulberries to pick and we are loving them.  The tree is only 3.5 years old so I am pretty happy with the result.  So far they have not lasted long enough to do anything with and I cannot see that changing, especially now the the birds are onto them.

I have got some jalepenos planted out so hopefully we will get a good crop so I can pickle a heap.  Hubby loves them and if I let him they would go on everything.  I have to ration them out otherwise we would go through a jar a week.

As we head into the hottest time of the year one of the things we, like most people, like to eat at this time of the year is salads.  But with 6 months of 30 + degree days it is too hot to grow leafy greens in the garden so I had to come up with a new plan.  The solution was to use the space below my potting table in the shade house.  Hubby put up some timber edges and I turned the soil and we were off and racing.

This area is quite shady and remains damp but not water logged and catches all the drips and excess water and liquid fertaliser from above.  I am not sure if it will be too shady but only time will tell. I have planted out some mizuna, lettuce and tatsoi.

When we moved in here 4 years ago there were no gardens at all so we have set about creating some and filling them with plants.  We have been given a few and picked others up for free from our local council.  One of our neighbours gave us this lovely day lilly which has just started to flower.  I love the colours.

We also just picked up 10 free plants from our local council.  They conduct a free tree day once a year and so we headed out to pick up a few natives.  We chose both trees and native grasses and hopefully being tube stock they well grow quickly.

Its a real pity free tress do not get given out more often.  Does your council give away free trees?  Where do you get free plants from?