Homely CapersAuthor Archive
Australian Christmas Carols
One of my twitter followers asked about Christmas in Australia, and not having snow. Here is a christmas carol that is somewhat popular over here. You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video Merry Christmas!
Direct Sowing Tomatoes
It’s too hot at my place to plant seeds in pots to grow into seedlings, they get very dry very quickly and never seem to make it. Any place with enough light for them gets up around 40 degrees C, and the potting mix dries out. Time for some direct seeding! In the veggie patch [...]
Mealybug Control
In the summer when its nice and warm with an increase in humidity Mealybugs begin to cluster on new shoots of plants. Mealybug females feed on plant sap. They attach themselves to the plant and secrete a powdery wax layer which is used for protection while they suck the plant juices. This waxy layer protects [...]
How to Compost – Videos
Sitting in the airport yesterday while being delayed, there happened to be a free wifi connection available (thanks Qantas Club!). 7 hours of delay gave me plenty of time to browse through some great YouTube videos on my iPod Touch. You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video This one armed [...]
10 free garden boosting activites
While sitting on an aeroplane a couple of days ago, I came up with a list of things that I could do when I got home that will not cost much to do, and will boost my garden. Collect horse manure – My friend owns two horses, I regularly go and ‘clean up’ her paddock [...]
Three bulbs for Summer
It’s not too late to plant out some bulbs to keep your garden in colour through to autumn. Here are six of my all time favorites! Dahlia – many forms, colours such as red, pink, yellow, white and purple. They enjoy full sun, plenty of manure and fertilizer. Canna – growing to two meters tall, [...]
Water Restrictions – How ironic
The local newspaper reads that Stage 3 Water Restrictions are now in force, No sprinklers, no hosing down concrete, no this, no that… Yet outside it’s pouring rain, 34mm later (~1.35 inches) there will be no need to water the lawn for at least a week now, even if it doesn’t rain! The weather man [...]
Uses for Excess Mangoes
It’s criminal to let mangoes go to waste, but this year there are just too many to poke a stick (or many sticks) at. Almost everyone I know has a mango tree, or knows someone else who does, so there is little way to give them away. Please don’t hurl abuse for the waste, but [...]
Vegetable Gardening in the 1940′s
Stumbling along today, I found this old gem! http://www.veoh.com/videos/v16363707XMhgTzc7 It’s a video from the 1940′s about two kids learning about vegetable gardening. While some of the methods are a little out dated (spraying bugs with Arsenate of Lead), and the dialogue is somewhat dodgy… as a whole its a great little film about gardening. I [...]
I’d Like to Check You For Ticks
Last night I took a look at my Daschund and noticed that she had a tick on her eyelid (that’s got to hurt). The old saying goes, when you find a mouse you have mice, in this case many ticks. My German Shepherd dog also has small ticks all through her thick coat. Now where [...]
About Me
My name is Ben, and I'm a self confessed gardenoholic. My other interests include growing plants, looking at plants, drinking coffee and taking the odd photo. My wife thinks I'm mad, but is getting into the whole garden thing, possibly going mad as well. In my spare time I'm a geologist (must be something about dirt and rocks...)- Get me on Twitter
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