A tankless task

It seems our turn to suffer the heat has arrived a week after the southern states endured their's.  To make matters worse we've hardly had any rain at all and the rainwater tank is now very near empty for the first time since we purchased it three years ago.  It's hard to imagine that we've gone through 11 500 litres of water plus a little extra here and there with a couple of light showers.  The washing machine has been changed back over town water and although water restrictions have been completely lifted as of the New Year, I can't help but feel guilty pouring potable water onto my plants.  I console myself by bucketing the shower and dish water onto the garden each day and only resorted to tap water for the first time today.  To be honest, I'm quite surprised how well the vegie patch has coped with the heat so far.  So long as they have enough water they perk up as soon as the sun starts to slip westwards.

I'm afraid I'm not as resilient to the sun's heat as my plants so the garden has been quite neglected of late.  Knowing that the tank water would soon run out, I've also been loathe to plant anything new besides corn.  Despite the heat and neglect there have still been a few things here and there to delight the eye, however, so I've captured a few of them for you.  

Storm crocus/Rain lily Zephyranthes candida

The Qld arrowroot (canna edulis) has matured nicely and is the tallest it's ever been .  I've divided it up to go most of the way around the tank to screen it from the heat and make it look a little more appealing.  The tubers make for nice eating roasted.  We haven't tried making flour from them yet.

The verbena are still going strong.  I'll definitely be planting these again. 

Dianthus
I'm not a huge pink fan but a hardy plant that should flower well and not mind a bit of rough treatment from the weather or naughty bantam claws.

This came as a surprise as we've had very little rain and the plants are suffering a bit.  Perhaps it was the dishwater that did it.  It's one of my favourite flowers so I don't mind at all.

The zucchini is having twins!  I've never had much luck with them in the past so perhaps it's making up for it although we haven't had any female flowers out yet.  It seems to be enjoying the new bed in with the corn.

Sweet corn "Golden Bantem"
They are planted in a block but for some reason this one has decided to outdo the rest.  Hopefully we'll still get a good cob out of it.

Alyssum 'Carpet of Snow'
Growing up I used to plant this in my parent's garden and adored the delicate white flowers and the honey scent.  It would spill out over the edge of the garden only to be mowed over by my brother.  Thank goodness I can look back and laugh at the ensuing tantrums.

Asian cabbage of some description - pak or bok choy

Oriental radish - we haven't tried these yet but I can feel a soup or stir fry coming just looking at them.

A winter melon (aka immaculate melon) that sprouted in the macadamia pot - I never put any seeds in and managed to kill both plants that a friend gave me.  Surprisingly the macadamia seems to be enjoying the company.

This was salvaged basil (stalks and roots) from work that has already given us a good crop, died back and is going for round two.  It's planted in our hydroponic system that was given to us by a friend who couldn't take it to her new apartment.  Eventually we plant to turn it into an aquaponic system using the bathtub on top of which it's sitting.

Raspberry and other garden delights

It's starting to feel a lot like summertime in the garden.  The spring flowers are well and truly out, the weather is warm, we've had our first summer rain (although more would definitely be appreciated) and today I harvested my first raspberry.  Nothing beats a fresh warm raspberry straight from the bush. It's a rare occasion that any make it inside.  I'd have to say it now even trumps my all-time favourite the strawberry.

It's a glorious day with not a cloud in the sky.  Not too hot with a gentle breeze blowing.  It's a lovely day to be outside so I thought I'd show you some of the flowers that are in bloom at the moment.

Pansies always brighten the trip to the washing line with their smiling faces.

This verbena has perked up with some more water but the others are still sulking.

The neighbour next door gave me some of these bulbs - he said they were daylillies but they're actually aztec/jacobean lilly.  This is their second flowering and I'm delighted because we only had one last year. (Sprekelia formosissima)

Dance your hearts out ladies.  

(Oncidium sphacelatum)

Hopefully I'll be able to divide this gladiolus next year.  This is the second flower spike.  The bulb came up on its own a couple of  years ago and has been giving me a beautiful flower spike each year since then.
(Gladiolus ?dalenii)