MICKEY’S BLOG
In the days before Instagram, Mickey kept a regular blog of snippets from Glenmore House.
You may enjoy looking back through them!
Potting to garden room….
We're almost there! Despite the most filthy day of blustering wind and shower squalls causing utter havoc, we've just about completed our stand at the Australian Garden Show in Centennial Park. In fact....as the clouds parted for a few moments and sun spilled in...
Rocket fuel….
Preparing the day's flowers - they're good enough to eat, and the pungent scent of rocket fills the air...
Botanical alchemy….
India Flint made a lovely vision wandering the garden in the early hours of a clear, blue Thursday morning, preparing for the busy day ahead. Each time she passed the window (as I kneaded the day's bread), she seemed to have discovered yet another collection of...
Off to the show…..
Planning for the Garden Show in Centennial Park began a month or so ago (I know I ought to say several months, but there have been other things on the agenda!). I hatched a plan, to play on a potting shed theme; chased up a lead or two, placed an order....and so...
Hello spring….
Apricot blossom is the first of the espaliered fruit trees in the Kitchen Garden to unfurl its pretty petals once again. This first day of spring began with a light frost, followed by mist....and signs of bud-swell and new growth...
Farewell to winter….
Late afternoon light on winter veg, this last day of the season....
Kitchen gardening week….
I love Kitchen Gardening weeks: the days leading up to a Kitchen Gardening Day are full of planning & preparation - of printing, the putting together of folders, of garden plans and information....as well as making sure the garden is in good order and...
Signal of spring….
The very, very first single pink almond blossom opened its petals on Monday last week, and there has been a slow progression of blooms awakening each day since (it's probably about half-way towards full flower as I write). The almond tree is my harbinger of spring;...
Winter onions….
These paper-skinned beauties are still going strong from last season's harvest. I'm thrilled with how well both the onions and garlic have 'kept' this year. Stored in a cool, dry place since December, I'm quite amazed to have just about got through winter with...
Nature’s treasure….
You may recall that a couple of weeks ago I alluded to the fact that we were winter pruning. It's a big job, that must be thoroughly completed each year. Not only do we prune, but we dig, divide, transplant and weed. Winter is the opportunity to begin once again...
Minty green….
I guess you might be wondering how the Pea & Mint soup worked out that I was preparing for India's workshop last week? Well....with all the peas in flower, I just couldn't resist adding one to each teacup I handed out. They're such exquisite, delicate blooms,...
Precious wings….
Sadly this butterfly has reached the end of its flutterbye days. Aren't its markings exquisite?
Cooking day…
The day may have begun with the scent of fresh mint and peas, but it ended on a note of rosemary and citrus with plenty of other heady delights in between! First there was the Flourless Apple, Almond, Raisin & Ginger Cake. I discovered it when preparing for...
Just picked….
Heavenly scented mint, heading for the large pan of minty pea soup simmering on the cooktop in preparation for tomorrow's workshop with India Flint. Baking session for tomorrow's morning tea coming up...
Winter beauties….
I always find it a complete surprise, no matter that it occurs year after year, that the Solandra maxima, or Hawaiian Vine, flowers here in late winter! I associate it with summer, with its large, waxy yellow trumpet flowers, streaked with brown lines that remind...
Winter seed….
For summer plants! OK, so pruning isn't the only activity that's had us in a spin here in the garden. The last week saw several deliveries by post from various seed companies (after I'd agonised over which to order from catalogues). While I save many seed from...
Winter tasks….
I know its been quiet on the blog post front this last week or so....I'm sorry, but it's been anything but quiet on the home, or should I say garden front! Winter pruning has taken precedence over absolutely everything else. In fact, a sheer frenzy of pruning has...
Broad beans here we come….
Now here is a vision with which to begin the day! The broad beans have grown more sturdy these last couple of weeks, filling the frame we built at the turn of the season. Now they are in full flower, alive with the droning sound of bees and scenting the kitchen...
Winter sweet….
But how out of sync we are! Not yet the end of July and the first apple blossom has unfurled its utterly charming & simple five petals. This heralds an early start to spring, though I'm sure we'll be in for a setback or two. We have our skates on...
Back to those out-of-season potatoes….
enough to keep us going for weeks ahead! There are some great beauties amongst them, big enough to mash, but the most prolific by far are the King Edwards - oh lucky me, as they're my favourites with their pink speckled skins. The only negative to report is that...