This is the dream.

After living in the cabin for over two years – constantly reminded that we had no electricity save that which was powered by the sunlight and a dab of wind – I missed many things. Space, for one. Garden, another.

For the first time in a while now I am completely ravaged by the gardening bug. In any spare time I have (which is not much, actually, and I am using hyperbolic license anyway) I do something for my growing garden. I thought I should share some of my delights on my blog.

In the beginning, lettuce and zucchinis start growing

In the beginning, Monte harvesting radishes

In the beginning, the herb garden beginning to flourish

Firstly, I am very keen to grow as much food as possible. We have been enjoying our zucchinis, apples, wild blackberries, beans, beetroot, silverbeet, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers and radishes, as well as tomatoes, which need to be brought inside to ripen on the window sil. There are plenty of herbs, which are thriving in a compost mixture made primarily from fish manure. One of our most interesting herbs is Basil-Mint. My favourite herbs continue to be sage and Vietnamese mint. Our sweetcorn did not work, and we are still waiting for some chillies and capsicums to mature. There is a big rhubarb plant down the hill, which is almost at the size that enables some picking!

Beetroot looking tempting

Blackberries from our paddocks

Our own apples!

Georgia bringing in the veges for dinner

Beautiful (and edible) zucchini flower

Strawberries!

A flourishing herb garden

The herb garden really flourishing

Matthew picking blackberries

Planted in preparation for winter are broccoli, cabbage, silverbeet, cauliflower, carrots, garlic, leeks, spring onions and brussells sprouts. We are growing a type of broccoli that lets you just pick the florets that you need at the time of picking… I think it is “Romanesse” or something.

Of course, I love flowers and I love having some space to plant them! After we had the landscaping and fencing done, we were left with a large ‘house block’ on which to grow a garden. It was funny that by fencing off some space, we felt that we had more space. I am growing seedlings of different types of flowers, both annuals and perennials, in my dining room window. As time and weather permits, I will plant out the seedlings into the garden, somewhere. The hardest part for me is deciding where to plant things. Until our yard is completely fenced off from wallabies, I do not want to plant the bigger plants, like the rhododendron, camellias, laurustinus and fuchsias. Once the larger plants are planted, the garden will really take shape.

Bumble bee on thistle in a paddock

Bumble bees in Georgia's fairy garden

Lilies that I grew!

More lilies that I grew!

My fuchsia, patiently waiting to be planted in the garden (I have also propagated some more). I have loved this fairy-like flower since my childhood.

For now, I am able to enjoy simple garden delights, like watching the bumble bees on the flowers, doing their job. I love seeing the birds become more attracted to the garden, and the red and orange-breasted robins, the finches and the sparrows that frequent in our front and back yards. The children love having soft grass to run and play in, although, to be true, they equally enjoy playing in the dirt. Both of them love being in the garden, growing their own things. Georgia has a special ‘fairy garden’ that she decorates and tends to regularly.

In the beginning: Georgia's fairy garden

Georgia caring for her (edible) fairy garden

Georgia's fairy garden: a mass of violets, petunias, buddha something, irises etc... not to mention the odd animal, pond, decoration etc.

It’s fun. It’s all part of the dream.