I didn’t used to give a fig - or was it a Pomegranate?

The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree in the family Lythraceae that grows between 5 and 8 m (16 and 26 ft) tall.

Our Pomgranate was planted back before I really had any interest in it. It has been brought up tough on neglect and was even partly singed during garden clean up - heap burning. But this year maybe because of the good winter and spring rains it has put on considerable growth and looks extremely healthy. 

Checking out the beautiful flowers I decided it was time to give it a bit of attention so I spent so time removing some dead growth - just a few small side branches but worth the effort.

Now I look forward to fruiting season - it has my attention now.

Lucky Scapes

I was wondering what was going on with my garlic, why was it creating interesting spiraling shapes ?

So I did some google research and curtesy of Cedar Circle Farm Org I learnt the following:

Those pretty spiral stems that form above your garlic in June (December) are edible, and by removing them you’ll improve your garlic harvest!

You’ll notice in early to mid June (December) that your garlic is sending up a stalk in from the center of the plant. The stalk is thicker than the leaves, and is called the garlic scape. The scape, if left on the plant, will form a flower and then seed (you can eat those tiny seeds! using a garlic press is the best way to do that!). By cutting off the scape you are asking the plant to send all of it’s energy in to increasing the bulb size, rather than in putting energy toward flowers and seed. Since the bulb is what we eat, we recommend cutting the scape. Plus, scapes are delicious and can be used just like garlic, but they are ready a month or two before the garlic bulb. Win, win!

So now I am off to cut off my scapes.

Gingerbread Village

Aly and I put in quite an effort to manufacture these mini Gingerbread houses. 

Extra icing applied has been great for disguising inconsistencies- well they are hand made after all.

Designed to slide onto the rim of a mug - just the thing to enjoy with eggnog or hot chocolate.

The idea came from the 2017 Woolworths Christmas magazine but I think we went above and beyond.

Love the little cellophane bags I found at Cheap as Chips.

Happy Birthday Mum

Christmas Cheer

These Alstroemerias are Christmas perfection- they have spread quire rampantly but I could never bring myself to think any less of them than worthy.

Poppy Perfection

I thought these plants were never going to flower as I planted them right back at the beginning of winter.

But what do you know, they were just waiting for Rememberence Day - 11th November.

When just unfolded the petals look just like crepe paper!

Neat as a pin

Even on a day with early appointments Rod manages to make the bed - and always so beautifully done! I'll stick to Garden Beds and leave him to it.

In the early 19th. Century, the development of mass production guaranteed a uniformly high quality and finish of consumer products. Formerly hand-made and thus frequently irregular, now, pins were consistently well made and finished.(answers.com)