Frosts, Vegies and Gardening

We had vegie group at Catherine's house today.  It began with an excited young girl and a slice of delicious sponge. It ended with a short walk along a creek, and watching a male emu sitting on his eggs, he even stood up and showed off his enormous emerald treasures. Female emus really have it all worked out, them and those kooky seahorses.

In the middle, there was pruning of raspberries, rocket and fruit trees. Admiring of fat cauliflowers and abundant broccoli. Discussion of why the peas were still small, and the addition of some twine to their tee pee to provide something for their tendrils to grow on. There was shifting of soil into a new vegie patch, planting of some seedlings, and a temporary fence erected to protect newly planted blueberries from marauding chickens. Most importantly there was friends, a Friday ritual, and a wonderful sense of community.

When I got home a rare event was occurring, the sun was shining.  The birds were singing and frolicking in the garden, calling me to join them.

As Galahs plucked onion grass bulbs from the lawn, and kookaburras laughed, I shifted the magic pudding pile of sawdust. The little Bowerbird grabbed a bucket and helped build paths and stomp them into place. Here is the pile covered in frost, it is normally a lovely golden shade.

 Poor Sammy, those arthritic bones must be feeling the chill, frost on bare paws, ouch.

There has been a number of heavy frosts of late.

 The kale and garlic seems unworried by the icy hug.

  

The lemons, potatoes and passionfruit seem far less thrilled about a visit from Jack. I am most worried about the passionfruit, it took off with great excitement through spring and summer, but is now looking very bedraggled.  I may need to invent some sort of winter blanket for it. Andrea, from Harvest with Glee has installed some great frost covers in her patch.

 Doesn't look like that fence is going to be covered any time soon.

Broad beans don't mind the cold at all, here some forgotten seeds are emerging from the bedraggled potato patch.  

This year will be a big year for garlic, as long as they don't get too sodden and rot. Behind them is the rampant raspberries requiring their winter haircut. Quite a drastic trim is needed. 

My very densely planted carrots are crying out to be weeded and thinned.  There is always something to be done in the vegie patch.

A beautiful day in the garden. I even managed to drag the kids outside for afternoon tea and a spot of bird watching. Lots of New Holland Honey-Eaters and Eastern Spinebills flitting about our house at the moment. Unfortunately the little Bowerbird took some joy in chasing the Galahs and magpies away.

Tomorrow another garden to visit, a jungle to tame, good friends to hang out with, home cooked treats to devour, and a kind looking forecast. 

Linking up with Squiggly Rainbows Thursday Garden Journal. There can never be too much gardening.