I haven’t done a post for a while on what’s happening in the veggie patch/garden. This is most likely because I haven’t really been doing much out there. With us now being into the third season of establishing the garden, we are finding that it is much more about maintenance rather than building new areas. We are still working on developing paths, contemplation spots and have yet to start tackling the front yard so it won’t be all sit back and relax for a while yet.
Peeking into the greenhouse.
I have a couple of sugar baby watermelon seedlings that appear to be happy and growing well. These may just take over the entire greenhouse!
One of last years capsicum has over-wintered well and is throwing flowers with some baby caps appearing, this is much earlier than usual.
I have taken some cuttings from the perennial Rocoto chilli and these seem to be quite successful. I’ve used the method similar to planting laterals that are removed from tomatoes that grow so well.
There is a flower on the mature Rocoto Chilli. It was very rude and wouldn’t look at the camera!
Out in the Patch
The flowers on my Souvenir de la malmaison rose have suffered badly from the excessive amounts of rain we have experienced but it is growing nicely.
I have however, had some good results from the roses in the laneway but I didn’t get a good photo. The lilac is magnificent! First time flowering this year and I am in love.
This years garlic crop is looking terrific.
The shiitake mushrooms are giving the best yield in quite a few years. I think the high rain and humidity is just what they demand.
I have some baby figs, YAY!
and some baby apples.
This button lettuce is proving to be a lovely variety. It is working well as a ‘pick as you need’ lettuce and bounces back quickly. The silver beet and kale behind it is all that remains from the last planting. I need space for tomatoes!
In the berry house, the raspberries, loganberries and thornless blackberries are all flowering profusely.
and the grapevine is starting to cover the climbing frame on the roof well with lots of grape clusters evident.
I have some pretty little daisies that bees and hoverflies just love and it is making me smile every time I see it.
All in all, it’s looking pretty good.
I trimmed a lot of the parsley stalks that were threatening to seed, picked some lemons from our new tree, found some beetroot I didn’t know about (too woody for roasting but I think it will be ok as a dip), some new potatoes, some self sown garlic, mint and herbs and we had enough to throw into a salsa verde for tea.
A peek in the new bedroom.
I have decided that I will now continue working in one room at a time and it will be completely finished before I move onto the next (please remind me of my pledge when I stray). We always seem to fall into the trap of saying “we will get back to that” and it takes a very long time to get back, but no more. I am absolutely going to follow through on this! This is the new spare (guest) bedroom that was part of the exteno. Painting is almost finished, carpet is booked for laying,
We have rehung the old kitchen door on this room and that needs to be repaired and painted. Mr ATMT did the skirting in the robe space this afternoon so that now needs painting. I absolutely love this colour. The walls are Taubman’s Raincloud and the ceiling and trim is Dulux Classic White. 
I have almost finished painting the window and it is looking great. The radiator that was in the old room before demolition has been cleaned and polished. This was pain, one of those jobs where you use a knitting needle with a cloth over the end to get into all the little nooks and crannies but worth it.
I am already becoming aware while I write, that there will be one unfinished part of this room and that is internal fit out of the wardrobe. We will use a set of the shelving units we had in the temporary kitchen I think. They are really good and will leave some options for the final design.
What jobs do you leave until you put the house on the market?
Around The Mulberry Tree 
It’s such a joy to see your plants as they start to grow for the new season. You’ve put a smile on my face!
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🙂
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Beautiful, beautiful crops. I’ve not heard of Rocoto chilli – is it very hot? Great colour on its (shy) flower. I love the grey-green colour of the walls. Good choice with white woodwork.
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Thanks Debi, the Rocoto is great variety that goes from being quite mild like a green capsicum when young and matures into one with quite a bite but not too hot. If you are interested I could send some seeds to you! Not sure about regs with that though!
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Your garden is looking absolutely wonderful – it must be peaceful/exuberant joy to wander in it – and work in it. I really like your bedroom colour scheme. I like the contrast between the grey and crisp white…..but, oh, your beautiful lilacs and, oh, your dresser … I had to look at that photo for a long time – all your hard work on the dresser was so worth it. Thank you for the wander around.
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LOL Jan, both comments turned up and I love both of them. 🙂
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I just babbled away a ‘comment’ and it disappeared. But I must repeat my babble because your post was so lovely. Your garden must be such exuberant yet peaceful joy to wander around and I know it doesn’t all come about by standing back and saying “oh, how lovely” – but, it is very lovely. I very much like your bedroom colour scheme. I always like soft colours that contrast well with crisp white. It was your photo of the beautiful lilacs on your dresser that sent me over the top – I had to stare at that for a long time: they are so gloriously lovely and all your hard work on your dresser has paid off so beautifully. Thank you for the pleasure.
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Oh Jan, how lovely. Thank you. 🙂
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Your garden looks great Maree, as does your new room.
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BTW I forget to say, I love your Lilac. It must smell divine. It is too hot here for Lilac.
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Hi Glenda, yes the lilac is wonderful and really suits the ‘old’ theme we have going on here. PS, those little muffin trays ‘The Furniture Shop’ sold are apparently discontinued. Tried to get another one yesterday but no joy.
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Thanks, 🙂
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Love the color of the walls in your guest room, and the lilacs…oh my! Beautiful. We don’t really get enough winter chill for lilacs but I do so adore them. Your garden is looking bountiful. I keep thinking of our retirement home in Fort Bragg and how much there is still to do. The addition construction starts in late January, and then there is the garden. I definitely have garden and greenhouse envy.
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Hi Liz, I hadn’t ever really looked at lilac before, I am now smitten and they smell divine. Good to hear that things moving along with your place. 🙂
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Nice glimpse into your garden and ongoing house work. I particularly love the lilacs & repurposed kitchen door. And it would take me an age in real time to check out the spaces of your garden, even looking at the pics I like to linger.
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I LOVED the lilac. The garden is nice and we have purposely designed different spaces for different needs into it. I linger frequently. 🙂
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