Planning Your Rose Garden

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Whether you have a lot of space or just a little, it’s lovely to plant a rose or two.  They like room to breathe, so give them a bit of open space round them.

Choosing roses can be great fun.  Pore over the catalogues or go and wander round the nursery and read all the labels. Whichever way you do it, it’s probably going to take ages, because there are so many varieties to choose from.
They all have  vices and virtues that need weighing up. Some bloom only once; some smell gorgeous; some look divine but have the most wicked thorns.  How to choose?

And then, you can start to think about what to plant with them.  Roses love certain companions, one of which is Garlic.  And perhaps, not by chance, it’s time to plant the garlic, and very nearly time to put the roses in as well.

So while you’re on the way to the nursery, call into the local organic shop and buy some fat purple garlic so you’ll have some on hand to plant near the new roses.                                                               Home

Filed Under: All About Roses Tagged With: ,

Juicy Pears In Season Now

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Pears are one of the old fruits, having been around for a long time.  They’re pretty easy to grow, and a delight to have in the garden, when their gorgeous blossom comes out.

But eating them is what’s really good. Pears come in many varieties, most of them suitable for eating, with some better than others.
The best eating varieties are the ones that have juice trickling every which way, and while not all that socially acceptable, they are a true delight when eaten in the privacy of your own home!

So many uses for pears:  they’re lovely sliced in a salad, especially in Winter when many of the salad ingredients are getting tasteless. A good partner for Avocado.

Poached in a light syrup with added white or red wine and a spice or two, is particularly good if the pears are very hard and under-ripe.  Cooked slowly, they will take on a golden or bronze hue, depending on the wine used, and are very good when served with good thick cream (just this once)

Which leads me to Pear Ginger, once a popular spread for breakfast, but hardly ever seen now.  I’ll dig up a recipe and post it a bit later.

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Filed Under: Eating Seasonal Food Tagged With: , ,

Garden Goodies

June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Something I love at this time of year are the catalogues from the hardware and garden stores.  All that promise of Spring just around the corner.  They brim with gorgeously coloured images of glistening fruit, and glowing spring bulbs.

I want them all…..6 varieties of everything, even though I know I’m not that good at follow-through!  But it’s all in the dream!  I can almost feel the warm sun sparkling on the vibrant tulips under the foamy cherry blossom.

And you know what – dreaming is as good as the real thing for making the ‘happy hormones’ flow; the brain doesn’t mind if you feel good or just make an effort to smile – either will do.

So if all you can do is dream about a lush Spring garden, go ahead, and enjoy it!

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Filed Under: What's Hot in the Shops

Good value seasonal food

June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Even though it’s Winter, there’s still plenty of variety and good buys to be had.
Eating seasonal food will almost always be a cheaper option, and in the end, better for us and better for the environment.

Food shopping doesn’t have to always be a nightmare.  With a bit of thought, it’s possible to eat very well without spending a fortune. You do have to read the paper to find out what’s happening though.

This week, I saw good quality Apples at 99c/kg. They were beautiful apples, not prepacked, and medium size. There’s no excuse not to get your quota of fruit at that price.   Might even be some left over to caramelize for a tart.

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Filed Under: Eating Seasonal Food

Spring Roses

June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It’s probably true to say that Winter has arrived in Hobart.
Depending whether you’re an optimist or pessimist, that could be good or bad.

An optimist would say there’s not much time to get the roses ready for their Winter spell.  Eavesdrop in coffee shops to hear what the pessimist is saying!

But, if you want to herald in Spring with a gorgeous celebratory display of lush roses,  there are some chores to do in the garden.

While  it’s a bit chilly,  the pruning of the rose bushes is a really important part of an annual process.   Without it, bushes will be all over the place,
and rose production poor.

It’s a pretty thorny job as anyone who’s ever done it without due care will agree.
But with a bit of organization, and the right tools,
it’s not that hard.

Good equipment is essential.
Before anything else, get a pair of gloves that will protect you from the rose thorns.
You’ll want a good sharp pair of secateurs and, depending on the size of the bushes,
probably some loppers.
And, a container that you can pile all the thorny
waste into. If you chop it up as you go, it will go
into the normal wheely bin.

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Filed Under: All About Roses