What a Lovely Pear...



Echidna at the back door




Today has been too hot to be in the garden except to swim. But the fruit is ripening and the possums are at bay. So far. Since the fence was improved we have had no trouble from rabbits. Well, we baited a bit but I haven't seen any inside the fence for a while now. The little echidna we had was welcome, because he eats the ants. This was him at the back door one day, not long after we moved in.
Good ad for seasol...



Russian blacks, Romas and baby tomatoes with grapes

Back to today. Isn't it a good feeling to pick something that is good enough to eat? Even if the birds get some and the possums eat some apples, it's a fulfilling feeling to eat home produce. Not always cost effective if you add the hours spent digging and weeding, and the tools and whatnot. Saving seeds is helpful, especially the big seeds that are easy to recognise like coriander.









What a lovely pear...

This is the fourth pear! Not a great crop but the tree is espaliered and I don't think the soil is rich enough around the fence. It was also badly eaten by possums last year. However, it had about a dozen fruit which is ok for a young tree... Hoping for better things. I fancy blue cheese and pear salad... Still waiting for someone to tell me how to prune it and when.


 And just a short note on |Mum's progress. Last week, her first Australian great grandchild came to visit and it was astonishing to see the positive effect that had on Mum's behaviour. No staring into space that day! She was animated and alert. He played along, and smiled on cue, which was just great. It made me think of how good it is to be part of a kind and happy family. Which reminds me, I still have her outfit which I brought home to wash and left on the hall table, waiting to be returned so she can wear it again before summer is over!...