Snapshots of Tauranga #41

One way we can give back to our small community at No.22 for their kindness is by growing flowers to display in our foyer and sharing any excess vegetables.

I confess to not being a florist, though another person who lives here likes to throw together a few flowers, and we share the “vase duty”, and it does make our entrance feel “homely”.

It’s a small patch of well-manured dirt at the back of our small apartment block. Established well before I took over a section of it, it’s had a long, checkered past of neglect and love in equal measure, as evidenced by the state of the soil. Hopefully, I am slowly remedying that situation by feeding those very hungry worms with food scraps and organic fertiliser. Opting to use organic “stuff” to give the produce I pick more appeal.

Different angle of one flower arrangement.

Green beans are not yet producing. Windy day.

Cosmos, cornflower, mixed calendula, snapdragon, and marigolds, to name a few, are growing. With the horrendous weather we had last week, I’ve had to remove a few cosmos plants.

My favourite flowering herb this year- the bergamot

Bergamot flower – a real stunner, and has the added bonus of being a very generous plant.

Courgette leaves, lavender, coriander seeds, and, in the background, green beans are getting set to flower.

Dahlias- this is one plant I will be extending on for next year. I grew dwarfs this year and may stick to them as the winds that whip around here aren’t conducive to growing taller varieties.

I purchased a punnet of Dahlias and am quite pleased with the array of colours.

During December, hot days required daily watering, and this image was captured while I held the hose. I enjoy planting flowers amongst the vegetables, and they seem to enjoy each other’s company. Plus the odd weed.

Cherry tomatoes surrounded by marigolds and chillies.

Presently, I’ve been growing beans, tomatoes, lettuce, courgettes, chilli peppers and spinach. Then there is the wide range of herbs: a variety of annual basil producing very sweet tomatoes, and various other aromatic herbs.

Yes, I know what entered your mind when you read “courgettes”. Normally, I would agree, though this year I’ve found it easy to harvest and use each and every one of those green oblong vegetables via grating, roasting, and adding to a cake. Our household has basically become vegetarian of sorts due to Les being unable to chew and swallow without scaring the hell out of me with his choking. We enjoy a variety of soft foods, and we’re especially enjoying our homegrown tomatoes.

È buonissimo.