A garden weekend away

Mum, the girls and I, spent a blissful weekend away looking at open gardens around Strathalbyn, in the Adelaide hills. So much inspiration. I've been gardening for the last two days!

Can not wait to do it again. 

These first four are of the Murray River at Tailem Bend. I took these in the morning.
These views were from our cabin, number six, at the Rivers Edge Caravan Park.

Open Garden #6

like sunshine on a rainy day

I discovered my first daffodil to come out. I love the colour, isn't it beautiful. It's the first time I have planted daffodils in this garden, and I didn't buy a single one. They were given to me from my brother in law last year. He works on the council and was removing from somewhere on a job and passed them on. I'm glad he did, fancy chucking them away.

Open Garden #5

Look at this monster, it's a nasturtium (pronounced nas-ter-shum). There's something about this little patch of earth, I had tomatoes planted in this spot last year, and they went gang busters too. Compared to the piddly little nasturtium plant below, this one is a giant.

Nasturtiums are awesome at protecting other plants from nasty pests. The orange flowering plant will repel aphids, and insects are attracted to its mustardy oil in preference to your beloved veggies. It makes sense to plant it around the veggie patch. It is a companion especially to apple trees, cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, radishes, cucumbers and Zucchini.

Its leaves are edible in salads and the flowers a garnish.

Open Garden #4

We are into August already, this year seems to be flying by. Only a month until things start getting exciting in the garden and Spring will be here.

Thank you to Melting Moments for linking up last week with a post about Dads old wheelbarrow.

Thanks also to Bernie in the second week of Open Garden, who added beautiful pictures of her garden in Queensland.

Add a post about your garden, garden photos or gardens you have visited. 

Open Garden #3

I planted about 8 garlic cloves two weeks ago that had started sprouting in the kitchen. They have just started to poke up through the soil. They belong to the species Allium, garlic being Allium sativum. Chives are included in this species as well.

cute aren't they? :)

Peas, beans, cabbage and strawberries don't like growing anywhere it, but roses, tomatoes, apples and peaches will appreciate its presence, to keep the nasties away.

Look what I bought at Woolies, $14 marked down to $5.50, aren't they gorgeous. There is six bulbs all together, thats less than a dollar a bulb! Bargain! They are looking pretty on the table near the front door for now, before I find a spot for them.

Open Garden #2

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Coriander

I was excited to find some coriander, or cilantro, coming up from seed near the vegie patch. It's a love or hate kind of herb. I love it in a fresh salad with chick peas, tomato, cucumber, celery and spring onion. Whereas my mum hates it in anything.

If you have it in your garden, and like to companion plant, it goes well with dill, chervil and anise, but if grown with fennel it will wilt. Dill, chervil and coriander growing amongst carrots and cabbage will protect them from pests.