A herb garden

I was sitting outside this afternoon on the front veranda of the house enjoying...no, make that loving the Winter sun. There is something so soothing about Queensland Winter sunshine. You can just see your body melt into relaxation. Add in a good book and a cup of freshly ground coffee and it's a pretty good day...

However, after a while I got a little restless and began to mess around with the camera on my phone.

I've aways thought of it as a back up camera and haven't taken any serious shots with it before.

So I ventured down the few steps from my comfy spot and began taking photos of the little herb garden

I discovered that it has a zoom and a focus....and it's not half bad.



Mary, Mary quite contrary....



This is Mary who lives in the herb garden and is supposed to scare away all the animals that want to eat our herbs - she's  a little timid, so quite often the grasshoppers have a bit of a feast on the basil.

only a couple of grasshopper holes


Our little herb garden was put together by Sibs's uncle. He helped us to tackle the overgrown front garden at about the same time as Sibs was all excited about an edible garden that was being introduced at her school.
She is supposed to take complete responsibility for ensuring that the garden is kept tidy and for watering the pots...which of course she does every day!


coriander for curries



We have had a few different attempts at growing various herbs and vegetables and the most success has been in terracotta pots. The soil on the ground is not great so the pots work well,

and it also somehow prevents the possums from munching away too much.



a couple of lettuce varieties



Every good gardener knows the importance of light and water.

The light and sun takes care of itself here but we do need to give the herbs plenty of water

and to encourage Sibs to look after her garden the watercan is.....yes, of course, it's pink!

The bok choy is thriving and has outgrown the pot. We do enjoy a weekly stir fry in this house,

it's different every time, but there is usually some of this vegetable in there somewhere.

We have yet to sample any of these chillies...look out they are labelled as 'inferno hot'!

The ever popular chives. They are struggling a little at the moment...

I know it's not a herb or a vegetable, but I love lavender so there is a large specimen here.

It's been a bit of a struggle to grow,

but I persevered and it now seems quite happy to stay and produce it's wonderful aromatic flowers.

Maybe we should get a little more adventurous with our herb garden?

but for now, it's small and simple and manageable.