Drizzly Day

Latest corn crop emerges

Another happy crop of yellow goodness is on its way. There is something magical or mythical about corn that really intrigues me. Perhaps because its a staple that has been with humanity for thousands of years. This is sweet corn and while only enough for probably two meals will be thoroughly welcome at our table.

Chilli Delight

Our Chilli bush is going great guns again this year with many big red hotties popping up to spice up life. It is certainly very happy where it is and even more so since we have propped it up a bit more and it has gotten thicker and healthier looking as a result.

Basil: Our Italian King

We planted some Basil in the vege patch as they are good companion plants for tomatoes. They have taken off and we have let them go so we can propagate them around the place.

Basil is originally a native of Iran, India and other tropical regions of Asia, having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. The word Basil comes from the Greek and means 'King' as it is believed to have grown above the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross.

Basil is best known as an added herb to various dishes. It needs to only be added at the last moment though as cooking too long generally destroys the flavour.It can be dried or kept fresh for a short time in plastic bags in the fridge or for a longer period in the freezer if it has been blanched first.

On the medicinal side various medical studies have established that compounds in the various basil oils have powerful antioxidant, anti-cancer, antiviral, and anti-microbial properties. It is also traditionally used for supplementary treatment of stress, asthma and diabetes in some countries.

Basil repels many pests to the tomato plant and makes the tomatoes taste better as well.

Rain

Avocado Tree - A bovine raid

Well I am starting to feel that the universe is conspiring a little against us with our avos. We bought a beautiful lush 5 foot high sapling to plant on Saturday. It was tall and happy and green and just made for the job. We went inside for lunch... and the wind blew it over... just close enough to the fence for the neighbour's bull to reach it, drag it through the fence and chomp it. It's now a 1 foot stick.. but still alive as far as we can tell... we are hoping it just makes it grow stronger! Damn you fickle goddess of Lauraceae... why do you withhold your pear shaped blessings from our humble gardens..? Fingers crossed it has survived the tragedy!