Autumn and a Birthday

"Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt". William Allingham

A beautiful drive up Mount Macedon to celebrate another birthday for the biggest Bowerbird.  My last year without a teenager in the house, the last month I get to be taller than her.  She had her ears pierced to celebrate and was happy to have a simple day out with her bestie.

We eat pizza in the crisp Autumn air because the Pub is full of visitors. They have also taken a drive to admire the Mountain's vibrant display of trees from distant lands. Happy cold slapped cheeks turn red like maple leaves. Japanese, Canadian, Chinese, English, German, American, Scottish, Siberian, Danish, Mexican ..... the trees dance a fiery global tango of colour, it is joyous. There are piles of leaves for feet to crunch and kick, and newly fallen leaves to watch flutter and drift, swept along by the breeze.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - Children's Garden

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, a foreboding sky loomed but we braved a walk anyway.  The gardens are huge, but the little Bowerbird was happy to run and explore, we seemed to walk for miles. The garden's old sculptures and architecture present a vision of another time - when queens loomed large, powerful lions perched at their side, Roman columns stood tall supporting them, and beautiful women gazed steadily at onlookers. When Roman myths guided the way we looked at ourselves and the world around us, and money was invested in large, ornate, art and architecture to show the wealth and success of the new colony.

We came to the Botanic Gardens to admire the trees and flowers, and enjoy the inner city serenity. Autumn was looking spectacular, and birds were pipping in high pitched voices around us. Eventually we wound our way to the Children's Garden, we went the long way as I have no sense of direction, but the long detour is always worthwhile. I adore the Children's Garden, with places to hide, climb, twist and turn, explore and wonder. It gets better every time we visit.

 The best cubby ever, I especially like those curly bits on the top.

I was secretly glad to see that citrus can still have problems even when there is a bevy of trained horticulturalists on hand.

Of course most of the gardens are without fault, I love these raised beds and organised plantings. A school group was industriously watering the veggies with little watering cans whilst we were there.

The gardens have amazing children's programs, great for inner city kids to get their hands dirty, I came away with some excellent ideas for our school garden and our garden at home.

This design is meant to evoke the feeling of being under the sea, such clever use of plants.

The Garden of St Erth, Seeds and Brazen Hussies

Two friends plotting at Vegie group.

Would you like to come to Garden of St Erth with us? ooh yes please. 

A Monday plan was born.

I've been pining to go ever since I got the latest Diggers Club catalogue. I had been pawing it, studying it, and making little stars next to exciting sounding vegetables.

Good friends, a garden walk, and seed shopping, the perfect trifecta. 

The lovely Christine from Slow Living Essentials very kindly chauffeured me, Beth, and the Little Bowerbird to the Garden of St Erth in Blackwood. I had been there before, but somehow had never taken in the immaculately groomed vegetable patches.

It took us a great deal of time to choose from the extensive seed collection.  I was fortunate enough to get some seeds of those Tromboncino Zuchinnis (centre far left in the image above)  that were being held behind the counter - a very exclusive Members only affair. Each year I like to try a different type of zuchinni, there are so many wonderful varieties, it's great seeing what a new one will look like, and their subtle differences in flavour.

The little Bowerbird was very patient with us taking forever to choose our garden delights, and then a stroll in the garden was in order.  A rainbow umbrealla made the grim day feel a little brighter.

The winter roses were out in full bloom, an unusual yellow one particularly took our fancy.

The old fruit trees were perfectly espalliered and covered in a veneer of moss and lichen.  the promise of fruit could be seen by swelling buds.

The asparagus patch, heavily mulched - I might try that technique at home. We were discussing the finer points of asparagus care at Friday's vegie group gathering.  I'm pretty sure mine are planted a little too close to a fruit tree. They don't like competition. A bit sad to put them in the wrong place then wait years for a good crop of spears.

Beautiful wine coloured brussell sprouts were looking tasty and ready for harvest, another crop I'm yet to master.  Apparently it's all in the timing - I wonder when these sprouts went in?

My lovely companions for the day, we chatted vegies and gardens.  I take special delight in sharing my Peter Cundall words of wisdom, and they take special delight in laughing at me.

I almost bought a potato scoop and left behind the hazelnut tree when I found out I needed two for a successful crop. Serious restraint. Anyone ever used a potato scoop to harvest their spuds?

To top off a beautiful day we dined on a slice of "Brazen Hussy" from here. She was indeed bold and quite delicious, with flaky pastry and lots of creamy fetta, very sexy. The little Bowerbird is currently expressing her delight in the Carmen Miranda fruit toast that we brought home with us, and nagging for another slice.

We almost had a forage at the Trentham tip but alas it was closed. So good to have friends that understand the joy of tip fossicking.
  
Now to get planting some seeds... actually a bit early for most of these
My summer selection. 
White sweet corn, cucumber Sweet and Striped, Pumpkin Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck, Lettuce Italian Lollo Mix, Blue Himalayan Poppies, Sunflower Prado Red and the excitingly tightled - Beans Sex without Strings.

Anyone planting their summer seeds yet?