21st Feb 2012: Fantastic: no more smoking in public places. No longer need to take a deep breath on city pavements, before passing building exits. Cafes too, hopefully: no more awful smell of cigarette smoke to ruin a meal.
14th Feb: Valentine’s Day. Triple Choc Brownies, cut in the shape of a heart, and served with fresh raspberries and home made icecream, sound good. See ‘Seasons at Home’ for recipes.  | | Triple Choc Brownie |
7 Feb 2012: When in the glorious Margaret River, in WA, visit the Organic Garden, open every day. Attached to the Farm School at the High School, Bussell Hwy.  | | Organic Garden Margaret River |
31st Jan: Humid weather has brought out scales and mildews on fruit and veg. If your figs are covered in scale (like tiny snails – eek!) , wipe off, and then spray weekly with EcoOil.
29th Jan 2012: It's time to pull away long strands of wisteria. Winter is not the time to hard prune wisteria, when it is fattening up to flower in spring, in gorgeous, scented racemes!  | | Wisteria 'Lawrence' |
24th Jan 2012: Why are my apples falling off the tree, before they are ripe?  | | Ballerina Apples |
Cicadas drumming loudly last night: first time this year. Perhaps summer has finally arrived!
Hottest day of the year is the time to harvest garlic, if you live in a cool climate. Avoid imported garlic, which is sprayed with pesticides. For more on cultivating garlic, go to ‘Seasons in my house and garden.’ | | Seasons in my house and garden |
How many years have governments of all persuasions been promising to completely upgrade the Pacific Highway? What a disgrace.
Interesting priorities: can’t get 100K for a Writers’ Festival to be held at Patrick White’s childhood holiday home, and in the Centenary year of his birth…(not even a response from the NSW Arts/Tourism Minister to 2 letters)...but the government can find millions for revamp of SCG. Not saying sport is not important: but surely our Literary Nobel Laureate, and a showcase of Australian writers, also deserves support.
Happy New Year to everyone. Let us hope that 2012 is happy and healthy for us all...and that we receive just the amount of rain our gardens need. So much is still in flower in the garden: the last of the star jasmine, gardenias and more roses, hydrangeas, agapanthus, and the brilliantly coloured eucalypts continue to feed the birds.  | | Gardenias still flowering.... |
Dec 22: Perhaps the best part of Christmas is the getting ready. Busy making Gravalax, courtesy of Wychwood Garden, Tasmania, to be enjoyed for Christmas dinner. We will also enjoy Baked Ham with Medlar Jelly, from a recipe provided by Anlaby Station in South Australia; Sal Hunter’s smashed potatoes (with Desiree potatoes from the garden), and Barb-B-Q Quail in Soy, Honey and Ginger, followed by Bruny Island Mess (a version of Eton Mess), using Bruny Island cherries in season….the last two recipes given to me by Michael and Bob at wonderful Hiba Garden. Stay tuned for the book! | | Our Christmas Ham |
15 Dec: time to pull out summer vegies that have bolted. planting more perpetual lettuce and tomatoes. the large varieties, like the oxe-eye tomato, are more likely to attract fruit fly, so planting nothing larger than Roma.
Dec 10: Lighting of the Christmas Tree at our house tonight. All children and partners will be here, and it will be 'kids in the kitchen'. Bliss.  | | Our Christmas table |
19 Nov., 2011: The wonderful Kitchen Garden at The Royal Mail in Dunkeld is set against the Grampians. And the ten course degustation menu was perhaps the best meal I have ever eaten....definately a perfect treat.  | | Chef Dan Hunter at The Royal Mail |
25 Nov: Wychwood Gardens and Old Wensleydale are among the many gorgeous gardens in Tasmania: Paradise! And don't miss Laurelberry Cafe at Mole Creek for the best coffee and cake.  | | Wychwood Gardens at Mole Creek |
9 November: The Taronga Western Plains Zoo: Among great landscaping the animals roam free. The breeding programme is an important important part of saving endangered species. And great fun to stay overnight at Zoofari Lodge. | | Western Plains Zoo |
You can tell Christmas is coming when the eucalypts bloom pink, red and orange. This is Eucalyptus torquata, blooming in the midst of the desert near Broken Hill. But it is supposed to be endemic to southern WA......  | | Eucalyptus torquata |
4 Nov 2011: After good winter rains there is plenty of water in the Menindee Lakes catchment system, on the Darling River. Go by canoe, to see plenty of flora and fauna.  | | Lake Wetherell by canoe |
A very different landscape: from the beautiful guesthouse 'The Louise' in South Australia's Barossa Valley, across the desert and plains, past the beautiful Flinders Ranges, with their vibrant colours, to the mining town of Broken Hill!  | | On the road to Broken Hill |
The Clare and Barossa Valleys are looking wonderful after good spring rains. At Sevenhill, the new Thorn Park at the Vines is just as luxurious as the former, much loved, Thorn Park. Michael and David are still offering exquisite setting, decor and cuisine...and the same generous hospitality.  | | Thorn Park at the Vines |
The roses are also blooming in Renmark. The statue to much-loved rosarian was unveiled earlier in 2011 by the Murray River. And at Ruston Roses, blooms will continue until June next year.  | | David Ruston statue |
 | | Ruston Roses Renmark |
Driving from Hay to Mildura....wide open country and massive skies. And, after wonderful rain, the birdlife is breathtaking.....  | | South WesternNSW |
 | | A welcome kookaburra |
19 Oct: among the many rewards of a pesticide-free garden is the birdlife: this Kookaburra has made himself at home in our backyard.
 | | Spring asparagus bed |
In Sydney, we are now harvesting purple asparagus daily. The cooler regions of the country will be planting their asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) in spring: buy crowns, as the young plants are called, and plant about 1 metre apart, in well manured (they love mushroom compost), but well drained and raised beds, in a sunny spot. Or, you may have lovely spears appearing now. Don’t cut any spears that appear in the first season, but allow them to progress into fern-like foliage by late spring: these should be cut to the ground as they yellow in autumn. Next season, cut one or two spears per crown; the following year you can allow yourself more. After that, harvest the entire crop: cut with a clean, sharp knife, close to ground level.
Stay tuned for information on the Writers' Festival at beautiful Mount Wilson ..... 2012. Great gardens, wonderful natural landscape and a great range of speakers. And of course, great food, wine and coffee.  | | The glorious combination of lilacs and wisteria |
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18th Feb 2012: it’s time to get the garden ready for winter vegies. Pull out spent tomatoes and fertilise the soil. Leave fallow until Autumn, then plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts and leeks. And don’t forget to order your flowering bulbs for spring. | | Summer vegie garden |
8th Feb 2012: As today is a Full Moon Fruit Day, the harvest of Chardonnay at Margaret River’s Cullen Winery, the first biodynamic vineyard and winery in Australia, is complete.  | | Chardonnay Harvest at Cullen Winery |
4th Feb 2012: In summer mow lawns weekly - but don’t mow too low, as this ‘scalps’ the lawn and can invite in weeds.
 | | hydrange |
30 th Jan: Summer is the time to cut hydrangeas for the house, and prune canes that have flowered. Keep up water.
26th Jan 2012: Scatter egg shells around your brassicas (I am still growing broccolini) to deter cabbage white moth. For more, go to Seasons in my House and Garden. | | seasons-in-my-house-garden |
21st Jan: As the gorgeous, scented summer lilies fade – the auratums and longiflorums - water with worm tea to ensure blooms next summer. | | Lilium longiflorum |
There are still two places left on our seriously glamorous Garden Tour of England and Ireland, which starts with the Members’ Day at the Chelsea Flower Show on May 23rd. The tour ends in Cork on June 8th. | | Hatfield House |
There are also a couple of spots on our Arts, Crafts and Gardens of Bhutan Tour in April 2013. For Details, go to my website: www.hollyforsyth.com.au and open the Tours site. For Bookings call Lisa Rayner at Egencia on 02 8235 5514  | | young Budhist monks in Bhutan |
Time to deadhead Agapanthus orientalis that are going to seed, so that they don’t escape into bush to become a nuisance. For more, information, go to 'The Constant Gardener: a botanical bible'.  | | Seed heads on Agapanthus |
I won’t be buying tomato sauce made outside Australia. Go, Dick Smith. It’s becoming more and more crucial to read, very carefully, the back of packets, to ensure produce is grown here, under our food safety regulations.  | | Home Grown Tomato Apollo Improved |
Information on back of bag of Coles frozen peas: “Product of Australia". But, I need to know WHERE are these peas GROWN?
Our Christmas feasts today include recipes from all over Australia....like this Champagne Crepe and Smoked Salmon Cake, part of the Christmas tradition at Anlaby Station, in South Australia. And we'll also be enjoying it today for brunch. It will appear in my next book, 'Country Gardens: Country Hospitality'.  | | Smoked Salmon cake |
Dec 19: It’s time to thin out clusters to allow single apples to develop better. In January and February, prune out water shoots from fruit trees to allow in light and improve air circulation. | | Thinning Apples |
Dec 12: It’s still raining in Sydney! And with the cool spring and wet start to summer that much of the country endured, TOMATOES are among the crops suffering from mildews. Yates makes a tomato dust which will combat these problems: you can also use EcoFungacide. Try not to overplant, and keep bushes tied up and the lower shoots pruned off, to ensure good air circulation. And try not to let water splash onto the plants when watering.  | | tomatoes |
3 Dec: Home to my overgrown vegie garden after almost seven weeks 'on the road'. Tasmania was, again, glorious: rolling green hills and valleys, soaring mountains and wonderful gardens. The High Country in the Great Western Tieris is fascinating: changing weather, beautiful lakes, fishing shacks....and plenty of folklore and history.
 | | Great Western Tiers |
Discovered beancounter.com while chatting in the new Hard Back bookshop and cafe, in the beautiful New South Wales town of Orange. Two of my favourite things: great bookshops and great coffee. And my first stop tomorrow, while driving down to Victoria, will be the Long Track Pantry at Jugiong, for perfect coffee and delicious cake.
7 November: The Inland Botanic Gardens at Mildura are a must visit: in November the roses are at their peak.  | | Roses at the Inland Botanic Gardens |
6 November: Sunset is the time to see the colours of the desert become even more vibrant. This is the living desert sculpture park, just west of Broken Hill.  | | Living Desert Sculptures |
Nov 3, 2011: The landscape around Broken Hill has inspired a distinctive painting style...and it is easy to see why. The colours are incredible, with the rich red soil and carpets of silver saltbush - and the emus, dingos and kangaroos are out at dawn.  | | Broken Hill to Silverton |
The Clare Valley must be one of the most beautiful parts of our country: hedgerows of wild roses are blooming in spring, massive river red gums shade the cattle, and the vineyards are a rich green and dotted with charming stone cottages. And Walter and Kaye Duncan’s exquisite rose garden, The Heritage Garden, is at its peak. It’s open next Sunday, Nov. 6, from 9am to 5pm, along with its beautiful neighbour, Gillentown Garden. Funds raised go to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Gillentown Road, Sevenhill, Clare Valley.  | | Mme Gregoire Stachelin at Walter and Kaye's garden |
Apart from fantastic food (and coffee!) in gorgeous Mildura, there are wonderful rose gardens. This is 'Blushing Pierre', (related, of course, to 'Pierre de Ronsard')...more of this gorgeous rose garden soon, in my column in The Weekend Australian, and in my Summer Newsletter.
We had the most marvellous 7-course degustation meal at Stefano's in Mildura. Jim McDougall left Vue du Monde a year ago to return home to Mildura: his cooking is just wonderful. And 27 Deakin Street Bakery must have about the best coffee in Australia....and food....and gluten free sour dough...  | | Blushing Pierre |
 | | Roses at Bishops Lodge |
 | | Don't miss Shear Outback |
Visit gorgeous Bishop's Lodge in Hay, on the wide open plains, for some Australian history and wonderful roses. Here: Roset Street Bishop's Lodge rose along the fence. And don't miss Shear Outback for Australia's Merino heritage...and Great Coffee and cake!
Various readers have asked me about mildew problems during this cold and damp spring....and my tomatoes have mildew on them, for the first time ever! Judy Horton, the ever-helpful and extremely knowledgible communications manager at Yates tells me, " It's been a shocker of a year for fungi and powdery mildew, which flourish when it's humid and temperatures aren't high. ... try the milk method - 10% full cream milk to 90% water. Spray onto foliage. The layer of fat seems to smother the mildew and create a barrier that helps stop further infection. " Judy recommends Tomato & Vegie Dust for my tomatoes, and says, "The other option is Lime Sulfur which is registered for powdery mildew on vegetables and has no withholding period."
I am delighted to say that 'Seasons in my House and Garden' is the Joint Winner of the Horticulture Media Association Book Laurel in the general division.  | | Horticultural Media Associtation Award |
3 Sept: Planted out the veg gdn today. Rainbow chard and silver beet went in, to be harvested daily, along with perpetual lettuce, to keep the foliage young and sweet. While most garlic is planted on the coldest day of the year, I’ve planted more, as imported garlic is sprayed with poisonous methyl bromide. Leeks, easier to grow than onions, also went in, as has the dwarf pea ‘Bounty’, along with the yellow butter bean and a dwarf green bean. Edgings are of basil, parsley, coriander and spicy mustard greens.
Time to think about summer pests and diseases. Order friendly pests to counter aphids and whitefly.
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