The Long Weekend

Hi
Thanks to all who replied to my blog. It's nice to know I am not the only one out there. I had a lovely time in Melbourne, spending lots of time in the factory outlets and markets, picking up some great bargains. Something on the way for you Cate :-)
I took some photos on a tour of the city, and whilst I was walking around. They sort of speak for themselves so hope you like them.

The only ones sitting on the bench at the Queen Victoria Markets were the leaves.


This is outside the Arts Centre in the centre of the City.







A very pretty tree lined street in the centre of the city also. love the autumn colours of the trees






The tallest building in the Southern hemisphere. If you feel brave you can stand in a glass cube in 88th floor and look 360 degrees. Not for me !!!!

Thats all from me tonight (9.30pm). Happy blogging

Barbara :-)

Sunday, sunny Sunday

Happy weekend.

Thought you might like to see my very first of the year Camelia. Her name is Marge Miller and she is a rare weeping variety.

I made these banana and honey muffins this morning whilst the man in my life pruned a tree. Can't you just smell them straight from the oven?

Tried to get in the mood to do more but decided to blog instead.

HI Vintage Mum, you asked about getting rid of Mare's tail. I Googled it and this is what I got from here in Aus:- sorry it is a bit long winded but hope you can understand it and maybe it will help you.

Horse or Mares Tail
Horse or Mares Tail, Equisetum Arvense is, in my opinion, public enemy number one. It looks like it belongs in Jurassic Park and, unchecked, spreads like wildfire.
In spring, brown green shoots appear with small cones at the tips that produce spores. (Arghh – millions of ‘em) and it grows away from creeping thin brown roots that you can hardly see as they are soil coloured. Digging out these roots is not feasible – they go down into the soil for up to 1.5 metres – yes, 5 feet.
Later the ‘leaves’ or tails appear. These will die off as autumn turns to winter and the roots sit there waiting for spring. The leaves have a waxy coat, which makes the plant highly resistant to weedkillers.
Crushing the leaves to break up the coating helps weedkiller to penetrate and become absorbed but in large areas it is not so easy to crush all the leaves . However, glyphosate weed killer will have an effect and eventually kill the plant. You will probably need 5 or more applications. Knock it back, it re-grows and you repeat.
I don’t think you can clear this in less than one season.
Ammonium Sulphamate seems to be a far more effective weed killer. It can kill it in one application but may well need two. It used to be available as Amicide but now you need to look for a brushwood killer that incorporates it like Rootout or Deep Root. Just check the packet for ammonium sulphamate.
I’d recommend NOT digging where there is horsetail until it is dead for sure. Otherwise it just starts springing up from the root cuttings. Drying or drowning the roots prior to composting is a must.
I've been contacted by Mr Charles Bailey who points out that Horestail is correctly applied to the weed growing on land whereas Marestail is correctly applied to the weed growing in water.
He also puts forth an organic control method, which he says is effective.
Without resorting to chemicals you can control/eradicate horse tail by digging/forking through the soil when it is in the right condition: ie not too wet and sticky!
Once you have removed as much as possible, any that shoots is easily dealt with. Before it reaches 3 ins/7cm high, hoe off an inch below the surface.
Eventually the food supply in the root is exhausted. Let it get bigger than stated and food begins to be stored in the roots again, and round and round you go ad infinitum.
Never touch Horsetail with a mechanical cultivator. If you do you will understand why it has been around for 60 million years

We have all heard of tulips from Amsterdam, but what about these Chrysanthemums from Germany. Aren't they just beautiful?

I hope you enjoy this. Will sign off now and look in later

B :-)

Introducing the Zo in kuma-zo

You may be wondering what kuma-zo means.
Well it is japanese for bear and elephant. As I love all bears and elephants I thought my blog name should represent these lovely creatures. I already have the bear as my image so this is a good time to introduce the elephant.
Meet Dumbo, the cutest elephant in the world and a great partner for Harry the bear.






Cate:- I have put a comment on your blog
keep well and talk to you soon
love B x.x.x.x.

Sunday 9th May 2010

Today is mother's day in Australia so I would like to wish a very happy mother's day to all the mums, with a beautiful chocolate rose.

This is a photo of one of our Azaleas








My wheelbarrow taken today. What a difference 4 weeks makes

Sunday in the garden

For months now I have wanted to start a 'cottage' style theme in my garden. I have seen wheel-barrows in garden centres and thought how nice they looked and decided I wanted one as well. Lo and behold we have found a 2nd hand barrow on the verge across the road and planted it with seedlings this morning. Fingers crossed they all take.

This is a Royal Cape climber with a bird feeder just in front. This is about 3 years old and is gradually taking over the fence which is nice. The native birds love it.

We went for a lovely drive tonight to see the sunset. Thought you would like to see it.

Stunning yes?

In about 5 minutes it went from this one on the right to the one on the left.

Thought you might like to see some of the craft I have been involved in.

These are some of the clowns I have knitted for different people.

The one with the musrooms on his head was entered into the Royal Agriculture show and received 3rd prize. The picture was taken on our patio which runs down the side of the house.

The One Man Band was knitted for someone at work who is very musical.

I will take some photos of the greetings cards so you can see what I have made. Vintage Mum would have received some of the cards :-)

Easter Monday hello

Hi
I am just about to get ready to go to work as I am on afternoon shifts. I finish shift work next week and start a new job as an admin assistant, still with the same company but in a different location. Hope you had a lovely Easter and well done on the blogging thing. I thnk I am getting better also as I have changed my photo and added a few things.
will send another blogg soon
love me :-)