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Friday 17 July 2015

Winter at Bloomfield Cottage...Brrr


The temperature is plummeting as a massive cold front covers a third of Australia. It snowed last night, at the top of the Blue Mountains which is common in winter, but it snowed half the way down the mountain too, which rarely happens, and a big dump of snow in the Southern Highlands. As I sit cosy and rugged up inside writing this, it`s a chilly 8 degrees with a bitter wind blowing. It has been 0 and below at night here, with a few heavy frosts to blacken the more tender plants.



Most of the trees have lost their leaves and the roses are just about all asleep. Wisteria and perennials are now bare and lots of bulbs are up -  the Jonquils are already flowering with a heady scent.


When we get a run of cold frosty mornings, after it slowly melts when the sun hits it - the day warms somewhat, into the most brilliant blue still day. Beautiful. But don`t be fooled - the temperature will drop rapidly early afternoon, into another freezing night.


Just as well my gorgeous little horse Hunter, has his woolly winter coat on - like a thick fluffy powder puff. It keeps him dry and warm cause it`s about 7cm thick!



Isn`t he too cute? Dear little boy.

So what else is going on around here...well the bulbs are all up - Jonquils and Daffodils,
Bluebells, Lachenalia, Tritonia, Ornithogalum, Dutch Iris, Babiana...phew, the list goes on..they are not all flowering yet, most flower early spring, but some get going early.





Double white Jonquils are always the first to show off.


and let`s not forget IT`S PANSY TIME...I love them



The glasshouse is going gangbusters. This is the best time of the year to pot up heaps of things to sell at future open days or replant as needed. 



It`s such a cosy warm spot to hide when it`s windy and cold.


And the veggie patch is growing loads of winter goodies, all protected from the cabbage moth by netting - ORGANIC practices here people - no chemicals for healthy home grown goodness. We`ve got mini Cabbages, mini Cauliflower, Broccoli, Spinach, Corriander and Kale.



We are eating loads of Rhubarb desserts while iv`e got so much...mmmm Rhubarb and Apple with healthy crumble, and yes - Icecream!


Now I just have to work out what to do with all this winter crop of Lemons and hopefully get around to making sweet chilli sauce - there`s heaps

So that`s what`s been going on around here - I`m staying inside today...I might do some cooking.

Hope you enjoyed this winter visit - make sure you come back in Spring..