A Second Spring???

Scarecrow’s Log: 29:11:2009:

Milder temperatures, chilly at times, with some rain and very strong winds have been a feature of that week…sounds like a second chance at spring…perhaps!

What’s happening in the garden?
We have been settling in those new little chicks.
They have had their first dust baths, love anything green and they didn’t need any training to devour their daily feast of collected earwigs!!!
It’s great to see these tiny little chicks jumping after the pesky grasshoppers too…I can’t wait to let them loose in the veg patch.

The fruit trees have set fruit and it is developing well and hanging on during the strong wind storms.

Propagation:
Seeds:
*Acacia aneura - Mulga from Chris at Under the Mulberry Tree in Alice Springs (thank you)
*Acacia dealbata - Silver Wattle from Cornucopia Seeds via Tully (thank you)
*Acacia decurrens - Black Wattle from Cornucopia Seeds
*Albizia julibrissin - Pink Silk Tree from Cornucopia Seeds
+Billardiera scandems - Appleberry from Outback Chef
*Cajanus cajan - Pigeon Pea from Cornucopia Seeds
Georgina’s Yam from Tully
+Nitraria billardieri - Nitre

Bush from Outback Chef
Ocimum tenuiflorum syn sanctum - Native Thyme from Outback Chef - that sounds more like a Basil to me
Psidium cattleianum var. lucidum - Cherry Guava - Yellow from Green Harvest
Rhagodia parabolica Fragrant/mealy saltbush - home saved seeds
*Scaevola spinescens - Native Current Bush from Outback Chef
*Tamarindu indica - Tamarind from Green Harvest (thank you Tully )
Tasmannia lanceolata - Mountain Pepper from Outback Chef

Trees For Life planting 1 box of *Acacia hakeoides - Hakea Wattle
* = seeds were soaked overnight in just boiled water to aid germination
+ = seeds were scarified, lightly scratched with fine sandpaper to assist germination.

Planting out:
Some yellow Yarrow into the compost bed.

New in the Garden that week:
On a sad note one of our windbreak trees in the front garden came down in a wind storm last week. We had to get the ability company out to re-attach the ability line that was left dangling (but still connected to the house).
I now have to cut my way through all the branches to see whether the tiny trees/shrubs recently planted below it have survived. that tree was a favourite of birds on hot days with the bath beneath it.

Weekly Harvest Tally:
Doesn’t include Greens fed to the chooks on a daily basis or herbs picked for use in the kitchen for cooking or tea making.
Strawberries***30g
Loganberries***100g

Plus a yummy mix of greens for soups/stirfries/salads…Kale, Lebanese Watercress, Chives, Parsley, Sea Parsley.

Eggs
11 from the Farmyard Ferals
2 from the remaining 4 Ginger Girls (2 died in the heatwave )
2 from Blackie

[Source] Scarecrow