Home & Hearth: My 'greening' thumbs

My gardening journey began about ten years ago, although it began primarily indoors. I was one of those people who used to love devouring gardening and design books, but had no idea how to actually transform my own patch, which at the time consisted on a small courtyard.

These days I am addicted. I love everything about the garden, it's colour, texture, scent....and the fact it changes every day.

After stumbling out of bed and attending to the dietary needs of my brood, one of my first daily tasks is to take a stroll around my newly planted and designed front garden and just take a peak at what's doing. Amazingly I can usually see changes happening every day.

I also love the fact that almost everything about this space is it is my own construction. Apart from bringing in two guys to construct my compacted sand pathway, I have planted every plant, a process which has provided immense satisfaction in a kind of meditative way.

This area of the garden was just six months ago a patch of dying lawn with a few exotics (read azaleas and other totally impractical plants).

I've filled it with Australian grasses, kangaroo paws, grevilleas, native hibiscus, mini flowering gums and banksias. When it started to flower this spring I also realised I had planted mostly white and purple flowering plants. I love the crispness of white blooms in a garden and the mix of pale and deep purples work really well with our bluestone fence.

There's a lot to go and a whole backyard to do, but I'm amazed just how much this area already looks like it has been here for years.....

I will post more 'macro' shots soon....

A new vegie garden begins

Blooms on our orange tree (above)

My new pot of mint

Yes, I know it's been a little while between posts here.

And in keeping with the current fiscal theme of the times, my first return post is a little peak at the beginnings of our vegie and fruit patch. We have one magnificent existing orange tree that produces so much fruit we can't keep up with it - much of it has been sent off to more experienced jam and marmalade makers than I.

But in a bid to stem the ridiculous amounts of money fruit and veg was now costing us, we have started to grow some of our own. First up is a little herb garden, and already mint (see above), rosemary, parsley and basil is growing with wild abandon.

Next up, planting some tomatoes, strawberries and corn (the corn is courtesy of my pre-schooler who loves the idea - not too sure how successful that one will be).

School vegie gardens

Backyard Cabbage, originally uploaded by LollyKnit.

Lots of parents in Bayside are talking about the fabulous kitchen garden which has been developed at Cheltenham Primary School. As far as I understand it, each class gets a vegie plot so the kids can learn to plant and harvest seasonal vegies and then there is a classroom cooking program so that the children can get involved in understanding - and enjoying - how that produce goes from the plot to the table.

Funny thing is, people talk about it as such a creative standout feature, but really, shouldn't all schools be doing this as a natural part of early education?

A vegie garden doesn't require much space but in this day and age when food is so removed from nature in the eyes of many children, it seems such an obvious thing to be doing at primary age.

Acclaimed food writer Stephanie Alexander has done amazing things with her kitchen garden program in Australia but this is also something many schools can develop themselves.

Savouring summer with little ones......

Up,Up and Away, originally uploaded by aussiegall.

It's really really hot in Melbourne at the moment, so Bayside Mama thought a bit of a guide to ideas to surviving the heat with little ones might go down a treat. Here are some ideas:

If you're a new Mum:

A newborn baby, breastfeeing and extreme heat do not make a comfortable mix.

*If you're breastfeeding, place a cool damp cloth between you and bub.

* Drink water, water and more water.

* Babies will often feed for shorter periods of time and more frequently in the heat. All is well if bub is still having regular wet nappies.

Keeping up with little ones:

* Lots of picnics in the backyard keep the little ones amused and mean Mum and Dad have less cleaning up in the heat. Think ribbon sandwiches, cucumber slices, fruit salad, dips and pita bread and cool fruity drinks.

* Tell them bedtime stories about your summers as a kid.

* Icy pole moulds are your best friend. It means regularly icy treats which are also healthy and guilt free.

* Create a small vegie patch. Choose plants which will attract butterflies and bird and have interesting shapes, like sunflowers, corn and pumpkin. Add some sweet smelling tomatoes. Broad beans are exciting to watch grow and you can tell the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Tips for you:

* Nap when your kids do.

* Head out to the park and pool early.

* Store up on board games, books, a few good kids movies and of course, a powerful fan.

Your summer nappy bag essentials:

Sunhat, lotion, picnic rug, ball, swimsuits for all, extra wipes, small first aid kit, spade, towels, loose change, shade cloth for pram and change of clothes.

Finally, take a look at the lovely images above. They are from the Flickr site of aussiegal. Look at more of her inspiring images by clicking on the photos or following the aussiegal link below them.