{"id":1310,"date":"2018-05-22T13:20:31","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T03:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/?p=1310"},"modified":"2018-05-22T13:15:49","modified_gmt":"2018-05-22T03:15:49","slug":"winter-might-be-approaching-but","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/2018\/05\/winter-might-be-approaching-but\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter might be approaching, but&#8230;here is a gardening story including our first #gardeners walk"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Taking a (celery) leaf out of Kevin&#8217;s book, I took the base of a celery purchased from our local supermarket, placed three toothpicks in the bottom of the stump to create a tripod and placed that in water until roots started and fresh leaves appeared.<br \/>\n<a title=\"IMG_8335.jpg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/xsymetrix\/42219418352\/in\/album-72157667196846487\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\" data-header=\"true\" data-footer=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm1.staticflickr.com\/825\/42219418352_accf8364ae.jpg?resize=500%2C375&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"IMG_8335.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\nI then planted the celery base in my plot in the Davis St garden and up came the leaves.<\/p>\n<p>At the moment spinach, lettuce and leafy greens are growing well and my chillies which are now struggling to produce sizeable fruit are still holding their own against the cooler days.<\/p>\n<p>As an aside, a Lebanese eggplant which materialised in my lower plot has been producing small but very tasty eggplants which have found their way into a creole spicy shrimp based stew is another surprising producer in the autumn growing mix. These beauties retail for almost $16 per kilogram in our local supermarket so that yield alone is something to quack about&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of quacking, we went to an event in <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHsmgcKeCG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Melbourne&#8217;s Federation Square<\/a> on the weekend to celebrate the birthday of Buddha. In amongst the vegetarian dishes, meditation seminars and large jovial sumo style Buddhas and manifestations of the Bodhisattva appearance was a duck, that looked very close to enlightenment &#8211; if a duck could do that. Described as a <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHsmimZMJX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Crested Khaki Campbell Duck<\/a>, it was the animal that stole the show in the petting zoo, with some remarking that its tuft of feathers on its head reminded them of a certain US president.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_8418.jpg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/xsymetrix\/27395346997\/in\/album-72157695365120471\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\" data-header=\"true\" data-footer=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm1.staticflickr.com\/903\/27395346997_2d4f52a9dd.jpg?resize=500%2C375&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"IMG_8418.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It was on our way to Federation Square that we passed &#8211; as we often do &#8211; the Courtney St Community Garden &#8211; resplendent in colourful edible foliage. A community garden with a pub next door &#8211; a #gardener&#8217;s dream.<br \/>\n<a title=\"IMG_8402.jpg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/xsymetrix\/42220666392\/in\/album-72157696477998004\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\" data-header=\"true\" data-footer=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm1.staticflickr.com\/944\/42220666392_93db9e7b9a.jpg?resize=500%2C375&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"IMG_8402.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Back at Davis St &#8211; the strawberries continue to make their appearance with young children aware of the red secret hidden beneath the green leaves, make a beeline for the plants in search of a ripe morsel.<br \/>\n<a title=\"IMG_8098.jpg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/xsymetrix\/28392567578\/in\/album-72157667196846487\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\" data-header=\"true\" data-footer=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm1.staticflickr.com\/972\/28392567578_4043ebeceb.jpg?resize=500%2C375&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"IMG_8098.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Helen and I conducted our walk, initially with Helen as a reluctant participant &#8211; first formal #Gardener&#8217;s walk to a number local gardens. By the end of it, we were both delighted by the little things we discovered along the way. Rather than just words and photographs, I have opted to use Spark Video to put together a small reflection of the 2 hour stroll around the suburb of Kensington, which of course yielded a couple of unexpected delights&#8230;<br \/>\n<a title=\"IMG_8348.jpg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/xsymetrix\/41363962975\/in\/album-72157667196846487\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\" data-header=\"true\" data-footer=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm1.staticflickr.com\/832\/41363962975_e9242aece1.jpg?resize=500%2C375&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"IMG_8348.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\nReturning home we sat on the balcony and were treated to a contrast of light and shade over the Davis St Garden and Parson&#8217;s Reserve &#8211; the park opposite our house when a rainbow appeared, topping off a great day.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/spark.adobe.com\/video\/jDbNqzLiun8h0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spark Video<\/a> below might take a few seconds to load&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/spark.adobe.com\/video\/jDbNqzLiun8h0\/embed\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taking a (celery) leaf out of Kevin&#8217;s book, I took the base of a celery purchased from our local supermarket, placed three toothpicks in the bottom of the stump to create a tripod and&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Winter might be approaching, but...here is a gardening story including our first #gardeners walk","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[399,334,60,347,354,22,21,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gardeners","category-chilli","category-collaboration","category-community","category-davis-st-garden","category-gardens","category-melbourne","category-xsymetrix"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/gardener1.jpg?fit=2316%2C715&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9FFqw-l8","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1352,"url":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/2019\/04\/did-we-skip-autumn\/","url_meta":{"origin":1310,"position":0},"title":"Did we skip autumn?","author":"xsymetrix","date":"April 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Just around the corner from the Davis St Community Garden on Parson's Street is a house with a vine which does all the right things from a colour perspective come Autumn. Walking back from the local supermarket at this time of year I look forward to the rapid change in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;#Gardeners&quot;","block_context":{"text":"#Gardeners","link":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/category\/gardeners\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IMG_1287.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1287,"url":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/2018\/05\/pentridge-community-garden-first-gardeners-visit\/","url_meta":{"origin":1310,"position":1},"title":"Pentridge Community Garden &#8211; First Hash House Gardeners visit","author":"xsymetrix","date":"May 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I have been receiving positive feedback about my idea to establish the Hash House Gardeners, a group of gardeners who visit other community gardens, getting a little exercise and sharing knowledge while sharing a beverage and a bite to eat after the exchange. Modelled on the famous Hash House Harriers,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;#Gardeners&quot;","block_context":{"text":"#Gardeners","link":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/category\/gardeners\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pentridgecommunitygarden.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pentridgecommunitygarden.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pentridgecommunitygarden.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pentridgecommunitygarden.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pentridgecommunitygarden.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":706,"url":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/2017\/08\/our-garden-is-almost-a-year-old\/","url_meta":{"origin":1310,"position":2},"title":"Our garden is almost a year old","author":"xsymetrix","date":"August 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to believe that the community garden on Davis Street has been growing vegetables for almost a year. That also means that my family has spent a year down in Melbourne after moving from Darwin. A bit like the seedlings planted in the community garden our life in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Davis St Garden&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Davis St Garden","link":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/category\/davis-st-garden\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/img_2806.jpg?fit=600%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/img_2806.jpg?fit=600%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/img_2806.jpg?fit=600%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1261,"url":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/2018\/04\/chilli-sauce-recipe\/","url_meta":{"origin":1310,"position":3},"title":"Chilli Sauce Recipe","author":"xsymetrix","date":"April 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"With our amazing climate change weather we have being experiencing in Melbourne, we have chillies growing and fruiting in mid April. This gave me an excuse to drag out an old recipe I created and filmed a few years ago when the Jolokia chilli held the record as the hottest\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Chilli&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Chilli","link":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/category\/chilli\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/habaneros.jpg?fit=1200%2C1105&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/habaneros.jpg?fit=1200%2C1105&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/habaneros.jpg?fit=1200%2C1105&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/habaneros.jpg?fit=1200%2C1105&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/habaneros.jpg?fit=1200%2C1105&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":323,"url":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/2016\/05\/harvest-time-the-second-harvest\/","url_meta":{"origin":1310,"position":4},"title":"Harvest Time &#8211; The second harvest","author":"xsymetrix","date":"May 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Well I have been back up in Darwin for almost a month now which means I haven't seen how our small garden plot in Kensington is going. What I have seen though is that there have been two harvests of salad from our small plot. In both cases the weight\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Davis St Garden&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Davis St Garden","link":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/category\/davis-st-garden\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0010.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0010.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0010.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0010.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0010.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1323,"url":"https:\/\/xsymetrix.com.au\/garden\/2018\/06\/harvesting-in-the-rain\/","url_meta":{"origin":1310,"position":5},"title":"Harvesting in the rain","author":"xsymetrix","date":"June 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Last weekend provided a reminder that it is in fact winter with a combination of wind, rain and low temperatures that laid waste to our plans of holding a working bee. 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