Seashell mulch?

I have too many seedlings that I have transplanted on the ground that need protection against caterpillars, snail, slugs and other pests. But I don’t have much time to check on them everyday to look between leaves for caterpillars or snail hideout.  Last week we all when fishing near a fishing port, there were a lot of seashell on the beach. I look at the seashell and I got the idea that maybe I can use seashell as mulch (save money) and protect seedling from snail and slug. I  think it will be difficult for the snail or slug to crawl on the seashell to get near the seedlings. In addition, the seashell smell strongly with salt, those pests will not want to come closer. I did not take that much seashell I just did some experiment on a few cucumber seedlings that I transplanted recently that some leaves have been chewed on.

A week later those cucumber seedlings is still untouched by snail and slug. However quick crop pak choi transplanted around the cucumber seedlings that I did not put seashell has been munched.

I found this big praying mantis on top of our bush bean leaves. I thought it was still early for them to appear. Is this the one which has made our bush bean leaves holes everywhere.

I am happy to see many bees buzzing around the house now. Their favourites are onion flowers.

Enjoy your weekend.

Merry round pots

 We had too many choy sum seedlings to transplant about 2 weeks ago, so we transplanted some in this almost empty hanging basket with sweet william that has produce some flowers. Even it is growing a metre high from the ground some of the leaves has been munched and I don’t know who the culprit was. This picture taken a week ago.

This morning choy sums already producing flowers. Soon it will be harvest for fried noodles or fried rice. How I love Asian leafy vegetables in less than a month we could already harvest them. If the weather were warmer than now it will not produce flower this much early. But the flowers are edible.

Potato and radish grown in the same pot. Radish is about to be ready to be harvested. So potato can have more space.

This leeks has grown in this pot through winter with broccoli. Broccoli has long been harvested and leaving the other half of the pot empty.  Since leek leaves looks a bit ornamental as a good background, I decided to plant one dahlia plant in the pot. Hopefully they will be good friends.   Hope you all have a merry weekend!!!

Carrot companions

It is a good month to sow carrot in Adelaide. I was surprise that carrot seeds emerged after about a week sowing them. Usually it takes more than 2~3 weeks for the seedling to emerge. We need to sow as many carrot seeds before December when the weather are getting warmer and the germination rate is getting lower which eventually is better to wait until end summer to start carrot seeds sowing again here in Adelaide.

Cucumber seedling with carrot baby seedlings (a few days old) in polystyrene container.

Carrots with baby sweetcorns.

Carrots growing beside leeks in front of our kitchen. In front of them are a row of komatsuna.

Carrots in polystyrene container.

Aquilegia, the first bloom

 Aquilegia (Columbine; from Latin columba "dove") is a genus of about 60-70 species of perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes throughout the Northern Hemisphere, known for the spurred petals of their flowers. The genus name Aquilegia is derived from the Latin word for eagle (aquila), because the shape of the flower petals are said to resemble an eagle's claw. Columbine is a perennial, which propagates by seed. It will grow to a height of 15 to 20 inches. It will grow in full sun, however, prefers growing in partial shade and well drained soil, and is able to tolerate average soils and dry soil conditions. Columbine is rated hardiness of Zone 3 so does not require mulching or protection in the winter (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

Last autumn I bought a punnet of aquilegia without any knowledge and idea how they will look like or when this plant will produce flower in Adelaide. Yesterday morning, to my delight before I went to a parenting workshop with Ilhan I saw this bud about to bloom. I have been waiting for about 6 months to see the flower.

When I reached home about noon. This flower has already fully bloom. The flower picture in the label did not do justice to this plant. So now, I have many question in my head unanswered; one of them is how long will  aquilegia usually produce flower? I would love to know more about this plant.

More cauliflower harvest today.

Warrawong Animal Sanctuary

This morning we went to Warrawong animal sanctuary in Stirling. It is free access to the public from 9AM to 4PM. I decided to bring my boys to this place to have some quality time together rather than staying home because I will be distracted with housework, cooking and gardening. Moreover, good exercise for all of us and to enjoy nature. This wild blue colour smallish flower is everywhere in the sanctuary making this place more beautiful.

I wonder how these tortoises can walk on this log without falling into the water.

We never saw a platypus before and were hoping our second time to this place will provide a glimpse of those shy platypuses. Platypus were in hiding. But this mother duck and her ducklings were Ilhan and Rayyan favourite among other wildlife seen in this sanctuary. Rayyan is learning to speak but he called the duck, bird. So, he is learning a new word today-duck.

Ring-tail Opossum own special garden. They sleep during the day and active in night. But we saw one was quickly running away from our sight.

I was surprised to see that this flower grow very well here.

We saw two koalas today. The previous trip to this place we only saw one koala. We almost did not notice the koala as it sat very high on the tree.

Mr. Wallaby taking a rest under the tree.

One of the small lake in the sanctuary.

Sunbathing tammar wallabies. I think today is the hottest day in this month. It feels like spring is almost at the end.