dilly dalley doolittle gardening

Winter vegetables - we're eating them

My last report on vegetables was from June and as mentioned in my previous post, I've been distracted by renovations. In the period from mid-June to mid-July we were without a kitchen. But that's over now and so I thought it was time to update the progress on the vegies. The cauliflowers were a big success story. Somehow they managed to grow their leaves around the curds so that the lovely creamy white curds were protected from frost. In the past I've had to lightly tie cord or twine around the leaves to encourage them to protect the cauliflower. These cauliflowers have been big enough for many meals.

 

 The cabbages did grow quite as big but in some ways that was really helpful. With a small family a small cabbage is easier to manage. Coleslaw has been popular over the past few months. It goes nicely with chicken schnitzel sandwiches - at least in my house it does!.

 

Winter vegetables are growing (June, 2011)

I have been distracted by renovations

I have been meaning to let you know why there has been silence from the gardener. For weeks there have been no reports from dilly dalley on soil, cabbages, asparagus, worms or love of gardening because I have been consumed by renovations to our house. We have been here for 9 years and in many ways the house suits us well. The house was built in the 1970's as part of the great surburban rush of Canberra. It then had a kitchen added to the back of the house in the 1980s and now in 2011 we increased the size of that kitchen and at the same time took a little bit of space from the courtyard and converted it into a study nook for the children. The building part of the project took from mid-Feb to mid-July. We are now in the mopping up - decks, carpets, painting, curtains but on the whole the big, dusty, dirty, disturbing part is behind us.

All I can say is bring on spring and the return to reporting on gardening. Goodbye winter and builders (but thanks for the memories!).

Building the extension to the kitchen

Final completed extension to the kitchen

 

 

 

Taking away part of the courtyard for an internal study nook

 

Final completed study nook on the left hand side of the courtyard. Deck is underway.