This was the scene I walked into yesterday. Erethae, yet again in front of the mirror.
I've spent the majority of this week down in the paddock planting roses, taking rose cuttings, preparing more beds and fixing irrigation ready for the Spring. A few of these days were super windy, and I heard a great big 'bang', and my screen door had flung open. First thought racing through my mind- "Oh no! The chooks!"
Any chance they get, they scamper into my house. I don't know what it is about this house that they like so much (maybe the blue carpet?!) but they're in there the moment the door opens.
So I heard the door bang, and being way down in the paddock, I watched as the 4 chickens ran up the stairs and into the house, lol. I took my time getting back because I knew by the time I arrived, they would have gone through everything anyway.
They are very helpful when I work outdoors, they pick the prickles off my socks for me when I sit in the garden or am putting my gates together. Otherwise Deema lull's us all with her relentless purring, and sometimes breaks out into song.
She is a bit out of sorts this week. She has hijacked everyone else's nest to lay her eggs, and after 6 months, she no longer wants to nest in her same spot on top of the workshop bench.
I found her unable to wait for Erethae to finish laying her eggs yesterday and squeezed in to lay her eggs at the same time.
It's been a beautiful week, People of Earth. All my roses are planted in their beds and all these wonderful little rose seedlings are bustling into creation. Its a marvel to watch.
Seeing these little cotyledons pushing their way up through the soil is delightful and makes my heart fuzzy. As I have already mentioned in my previous post, I collected the seeds from a pink climber in QLD, hoping to get the same rose as the mother plant. Well, from what I can see, I've already got different roses. The rose seedling on the right has very dark purple cotyledons (1st leaves) and a dark purple stem. Another as you can see below, is more green on the stem, with hues of blush.
I'm excited. I have no idea what I am going to end up with, and the mystery of it is a delight. Some of those rose hips on the bush itself were old- perhaps even 2-3 years, so therefore, different years, different insects, different pollen- its going to be a real treat to see what I end up with, and its amazing how the science of this all works. Literally creating another species of flower through cross hybridisation.
Here is another below that is more green. Someone had mentioned to me how these seedlings can also turn into 'dog roses' or bush roses. The roses that grow on the sides of the roads (at least in this state) with big thorns (but are still very beautiful).
Either way, Im enjoying the experience and the experiment itself. Its the first thing I do when I wake up. I let my chooks out, grab a coffee, and check all my little seedlings. I also have other flower seedlings and whilst some are doing well, some I have planted seem to be not transplanting too good.
One seed I do struggle with growing is Poppy. I LOVE the poppy, especially the icy, pastel shades (Papaver Somniferum) but have struggled growing it from seed. They for sure, do not transplant well. I know the Afghans are exemplary at growing it so easily, by simply scattering it out in the paddocks and watering it once, and thats it. And believe me, Ive tried that as well, but Im not doing so well with those. Perhaps any of you have some advice on poppies?
My established roses have been flowering all winter. They have not stopped and I have not deadheaded (as Im collecting the rose hips from manually pollinating by hand) and because I want them to gain strength. I have missed enjoying the roses in the Summer because of the heat, so I have enjoyed them all through the winter.
My newly planted Iranian Damask Roses are already budding and have green shoots- especially the cultivar Trigintipetala (the famous Attar Rose). It is one of the most thorniest roses I have, if not the thorniest, its thorns are lethal. I hear the plant telling me this is because it knows how beautiful it smells, and is doing its best to protect itself.
The others I have are: Isfahan, Botzaris, and Blush Damask, which are much less thorny- hardly any thorns at all.
All of my David Austin Roses are planted in and fenced off also. I have recently planted approximately 40 olive trees, with 3 eaten by a kangaroo a few days ago, so I have taken the fencing 'up a notch' around my David Austins.
They are also beginning to bud out and push some leaves through. I will keep you posted with their progress, and hope to inspire you with trying your own hand at a small garden.
On the business side of things, Goddess Provisions sent me a Goddess Box to review, which I did on Youtube, and I had to get out of my regular 'Farmer A' clothes and at least glam it up for your guys a little lol.
Its always fun all the same.
Anyway, time to warm my toes in bed. Wishing you all a wonderful day whatever you are doing xx
~A