Life at No.22, Snapshots of Tauranga

Snapshots of Tauranga #41

Suzanne

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.Ā  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.

ƈ buonissimo.

Tomatoes and basil

Back to the one positive I love: every day, an aromatic heaven is within reach, transporting me to foreign places or keeping me grounded here.

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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

40 thoughts on “Snapshots of Tauranga #41”

    1. Thanks for the lovely comment, Jo. It’s a happy place to be. I love growing plants, and yes, I seem to have inherited a green thumb. On every property we’ve owned, I’ve designed the garden and had a vegetable patch. Very therapeutic xx

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  3. There is no doubt that nurturing plants does you good. Your flowers and herbs and veggies are testament to your green thumb. I knoe know that I shall definitely feel better once I can get out into my garden. Sending you lots of love šŸ’–

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    1. Jude, I hope you can start pottering around in your garden as I know it’s very much your happy place and will be therapeutic for you too. See nurturing plants is wonderful for the soul, big hugs xx

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  4. What a beautiful garden and flower arrangements, Suzanne. I was fortunate to have a flower cutting garden last year. I saved dahlia tubers and gladiolus bulbs, but not sure Iā€™ll be lucky enough to get them to grow this year.

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  5. Wow amazing I have an orchard in my modest back garden but used to grow everything cornucopia the allotment WordPress documented mine and my children’s love of homegrown veg, sorry to hear about the soft food šŸ˜¢ but I bet you’re courgettes are delightful just like your flowers šŸ’

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  11. Poor Les. My brother struggled with oesophageal cancer. Finding foods that both tempted and were digestible without choking was a challenge for his wife, and me, (to a lesser extent). Between us, we came up with a repertoire that went beyond protein shakes. Meat and such things went very low on the list (except for frozen mini meat pies which he remained addicted to – even though he couldn’t eat the pastry).

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    1. I’m sorry to hear about your brother. Les has terminal AML. Thankfully, choking doesn’t happen frequently now that he’s eating easily digestible foods. Also, it’s all about the energy required to chew when he’s tired. There are little things we forget about when we’re healthy.

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      1. My dad ate CocoPops right up to the morning of his passing. He was old-school Italian, “we eat to live”. Very determined, even though clearly, he had no appetite. You are correct, it is not until you nurse your loved one through this time that you fully appreciate your own good fortune. But you are there for Les, and I am sure that comforts both of you.

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  12. Oh Suzanne, these are all so beautiful. Thereā€™s truly nothing better for the soul than the sight and smells of colourful blooms. Except, maybe, for a gorgeous harvest of veggies! Those tomatoes look divine.

    Just yesterday we went to the local Farmers Markets and I bought two bags of the most divine black tomatoes. Topped with fresh basil on a pumpkin sour dough loaf it was pretty dam delish! Thanks for sharing these gorgeous happy pics!

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    1. Thanks, Miriam. I would’ve brought similar produce as you. Absolutely love a good farmers market. When you’re traveling around, like you do, you get to have a variety of local produce via a farmer’s market, don’t you.

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  14. Gosh, what stunning shows – and what a truly inspiring way to share such lovely blooms, and in the process, I’m sure, share many smiles! I particularly love your stunning Bergamot bloom… thank you for introducing me to this beauty! x

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