My neighbour across the road has her daughter and grandson living with her. Young Jay attends the local school and DH and I are always happy to help in any of the school's fundraising efforts. So it was that a few weeks ago Jay and his grandma came over to our place with info about the latest venture to raise funds for the school.
I thought what a great idea; they were selling plants...
So I read through the brochure and then chose some items to purchase...
Jay brought over my goodies on Friday afternoon... This is what I bought
(Hmm have tried and retried to upload this photo...it keeps being turned on its side)
These little kits contain everything that you need to get these plants started...What a wonderful change from pie drives and chocolate drives!
And now, some more turkey talk...
Today in my garden I have no damage from Mr Turkey...but yesterday morning I wasn't very happy! DH and I had spent part of Saturday afternoon, finishing enclosing 2 of my veggie beds...but the mesh wasn't pulled tightly enough and the turkey got in and dug big holes in my potted tomatoes...
So I remembered something a friend who lives in a suburb a bit further out than mine, had told me last year. Erica had said that her dad had started putting rocks in the pot plants to stop the turkeys digging out the plants...so...I collected rocks that had been thrown into our place from the earth moving equipment next door. When I ran out of rocks, I used some spare pavers that we had (about 6 inch squares) and when I ran out of pavers I used small empty pottery flower pots. I not only have potted tomatoes in this bed, I have a number near the larger garden bed on the other side of the backyard. And these other tomatoes were thriving and already producing tomatoes...I wouldn't be happy to lose them. This is the result...not aesthetically pleasing but if it works, I'm happy!
After DH had left for Rockhampton, I worked on the problem of 'wobbly mesh'. I hammered in more star pickets. Then I used a roll of twist tie (plastic covered wire) and ran it around the top of the mesh, winding it around the pickets and through at least one hole in the star picket. Then I cut off lengths of twist tie and 'overstitched' the top of the mesh to the line of twist tie. I had run out of star pickets so I hammered in some new wooden tomato stakes to further stabilise the sides of the enclosure. It 'ain't pretty' but it's all my own work!!! lol
Closer detail of the over stitching...
Hopefully DH's friend can soon provide me with a Mr Faux Turkey as Vireya named him! However, today Tim also started work on the election so I may have to wait awhile. Hopefully my fortifications will hold...
Also in the garden at the moment...
The mango tree is covered with flowers...it's just the basic backyard mango variety. Being covered in flowers does not necessarily guarantee a crop!
And the sweet little flowers on the dianella...soon there will be vivid blue berries where the flowers were.
Doing all that work in the garden yesterday made me think of my late father (he died when I was 15) and his attempts at building structures in his beloved fruit and vegetable garden. He wasn't very adept with tools and made some rather unusual and rickety trellises...here's a photo I took of my dad in his garden the year I was 14.
And, here is a photo a year after he died...already his garden was overgrown...
Despite the poignancy of these 2 photos, it was lovely to reflect on them yesterday as it was Father's Day here in Australia.
I thought what a great idea; they were selling plants...
So I read through the brochure and then chose some items to purchase...
(Hmm have tried and retried to upload this photo...it keeps being turned on its side)
These little kits contain everything that you need to get these plants started...What a wonderful change from pie drives and chocolate drives!
And now, some more turkey talk...
So I remembered something a friend who lives in a suburb a bit further out than mine, had told me last year. Erica had said that her dad had started putting rocks in the pot plants to stop the turkeys digging out the plants...so...I collected rocks that had been thrown into our place from the earth moving equipment next door. When I ran out of rocks, I used some spare pavers that we had (about 6 inch squares) and when I ran out of pavers I used small empty pottery flower pots. I not only have potted tomatoes in this bed, I have a number near the larger garden bed on the other side of the backyard. And these other tomatoes were thriving and already producing tomatoes...I wouldn't be happy to lose them. This is the result...not aesthetically pleasing but if it works, I'm happy!
After DH had left for Rockhampton, I worked on the problem of 'wobbly mesh'. I hammered in more star pickets. Then I used a roll of twist tie (plastic covered wire) and ran it around the top of the mesh, winding it around the pickets and through at least one hole in the star picket. Then I cut off lengths of twist tie and 'overstitched' the top of the mesh to the line of twist tie. I had run out of star pickets so I hammered in some new wooden tomato stakes to further stabilise the sides of the enclosure. It 'ain't pretty' but it's all my own work!!! lol
Closer detail of the over stitching...
Hopefully DH's friend can soon provide me with a Mr Faux Turkey as Vireya named him! However, today Tim also started work on the election so I may have to wait awhile. Hopefully my fortifications will hold...
Also in the garden at the moment...
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| The King Orchid that 'lives' near the 2nd compost bin, is flowering! |
Doing all that work in the garden yesterday made me think of my late father (he died when I was 15) and his attempts at building structures in his beloved fruit and vegetable garden. He wasn't very adept with tools and made some rather unusual and rickety trellises...here's a photo I took of my dad in his garden the year I was 14.
And, here is a photo a year after he died...already his garden was overgrown...
I think your sewing skills are proving useful in the garden too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by my Christmas Blog!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Debbie
I think your fencing job is excellent. It is always nice to look back at old family photos - especially when family members are no longer with us!!
ReplyDeleteHope all that sewing holds back Mr Turkey. Lovely photos of your Dad and you. My Dad died when I was 16 so I know exactly how you would have felt. Fathers Day always brings back precious memories for me too. Hugs....
ReplyDeleteI have 'made by me' fence structures at my place too, to keep the chickens and puppy and a friend's visiting puppy out of my gardens. Your sewing job is great, I'm a great believer in the tying and sewing method, and I find that if there's the slightest bit of slack someone can push their way in, going over or under. As you say, not pretty but effective.
ReplyDeleteHi Maria. I love the idea of the 'plant drive' rather than a pie or chocolate drive. A lot healthier.
ReplyDeleteClever you, using rocks and slabs to deter your pesky lodger in the backyard.
Sad that you lost your father so young. I spent the last few days going through letters written to my mother when I emigrated. I had them returned to me after she died, it's not easy. Take care. Jean
"just the basic backyard mango" sounds so amazing to those of us a long way from the sub-tropics! I hope you do get some fruit. I love mangos.
ReplyDeleteThe plant fund-raiser is a great idea. I hope they make lots of money through it. The schools and community groups around here seem to only sell chocolate.