Struan Farm

Faded Beauty

Okay, this has to confirm my subconscious preoccupation with aging right now, I'm sure of it.

I was working away in the garden at Struan Farm cleaning up dropped camelias that litter the lawn this time of the year, and found these incredibly beautiful blooms:

 

 
 
I know, past their prime, but aren't they spectacular? Not sure if it's the shape of the flower, the contrast between the bright pink and caramel colors, or the thought of faded beauty itself that makes these so special, but they do speak to me.

Man vs. Birds

John's new lawn seed is growing, phew. But what are somewhat amusing to watch are the flocks of little yellow headed birds coming to feast on the seed. We've never seen them around Struan Farm before. Groups of up to twenty can be seen munching away.  We thought that they weren't supposed to see the seed that was colored, but these little guys must have special powers. 

 
Fortunately there seems to be more than enough for everyone, and John isn't fussed so long as his grass survives, but they're voracious!

 

Seeing into the Life of Things

John and I were down at Struan Farm this past week on "holiday." Most people we know take vacations to sunny, tropical islands and sip cocktails at sunset on the beach. We're different, we know: we both love doing physical work at the farm, it grounds us. 

Lately I've been feeling old and grumpy and in need of perspective if not a lotto win. I suspect subconsciously I'm trying to cope with aging, and a fear (irrational or otherwise) of becoming irrelevant professionally. Nothing like tackling a messy garden and walking around the farm to re-balance one's priorities.

On my overgrown garden bank I discovered this lone magnolia blossom. The tree had been chopped back to large stumps, in fact had no leaves. This perfect flower bloomed at the end of a long, thin branch, a miracle really:

 
Another day John and I went for a walk up to check out the fruit trees in the orchard. Enroute we noticed the larch trees growing new little cones:

 
I found one special daffodil in the front garden that we hadn't noticed before:

 

"With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things."   --William Wordsworth

To top it off, I heard the Shining Cuckoo singing away for the first time this season. He's told me to be thankful for all this, and I am.  

                                                

DIY Aromatherapy Bath Salts

I've taken to using bath salts with peppermint and eucalyptus after a hard day working in the gardens at Struan Farm. So much so that I decided it was time to figure out how to make a supply myself. (A true sign I must be becoming a Kiwi.) And I've discovered that it's really easy.

I purchased a good quantity of organic sea salt (can also use Epsom salts), a pretty, airtight glass jar for storage, and peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils. Pour the salt into the glass jar in 1/3 cup increments, adding 5-6 drops of essential oil for each portion of salt. Fill the jar in this fashion.

While I will definitely use these myself, I also bought a little scoop to make it easy for guests to use in our vintage bath tub at The Homestead, and made a rustic tag with the ingredients and our Struan Farm logo. I think I may need to do another for The Cottage!

 

Ahead of the Trends

I am so ahead of these things. Really.

This month's issue of NZ Gardener magazine has an article on the nut everyone should be growing:

 
And which variety do they recommend above all others for NZ gardens?

 
"All-In-One," the variety we planted last fall in the Pet Paddock at Struan Farm.

I rest my case.

The Grass is (Almost) Greener

John took a risk on this. He planted his grass seed well before the threat of frost is over because he's worried about having lawn in time for special visitors to Struan Farm in early November. It seems to have paid off, since we can see that "the grass has ris."

 
It's subtle, I know. Nothing worse than trying to watch grass grow, but these are the things that preoccupy us currently!

 

Abstract Magnolia

I got a bit lost in the magnolia flowers with my macro lens. John isn't too sure, but then he isn't into abstract art much. Think Georgia O'Keeffe.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Meet Curly Sue

Anna decided that Woolly Joe needed a friend to keep him company. John ended up with another abandoned ewe lamb, so "Curly Sue" has joined the pet lamb flock.

 
Better shots of her when it isn't pouring rain, but she's a cutie.

He's a Big Boy Now

Our pet lamb Woolly Joe is thriving. In fact he's a big, healthy, happy lamb. Anna was worried he might be a wee bit lonely when she's not around, so she's arranged for a companion to join him; see tomorrow's post to meet her.

 
I went to see him with our niece Milly, who helps look after him.

 
She's a little farm girl, this one.

Spring has Sprung

Do you remember the little ditty: "Spring has sprung, the grass has ris, I wonder where the flowers is?"

John had never heard this until I walked around the garden saying it, inspired by what has bloomed. Spring has definitely sprung. Since my last visit to Struan Farm the red rhodo by the driveway is out and the magnolias are all in bloom.  The daffodils keep coming.

 
 
 
 
 

Now just for the Shining Cuckoo to reappear and it will be official.

Rugby Mad

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a certain little rugby tournament that has taken over New Zealand. The Rugby World Cup 2011 opened this past Friday night to grand fanfare, with games running until the final at the end of October. The New Zealand All Blacks beat Tonga in the opening match.

This is a huge event for New Zealand. What's especially great is that there are games all over the country. Provincial towns are hosting the various overseas teams, have rolled out the welcome mat and decorated themselves accordingly.

In Piopio the town has put up black and white buntings, flags from the countries participating, "Go All Blacks" signs, and even painted the public toilet with a silver fern!

 
 
 

It's amazing to see the convoys of camper vans on the roads, hope they remember to stay on the left! I may need to get some flags for the Pet Paddock fence.

 

A Gift of Dogwoods

One of the things I love about life in the country is that people share their surplus, whether it be fruit, veggies, nuts, plants, or trees.

Friends have just given us two "Wedding Cake" dogwood trees ("Cornus controversa"). Apparently they self seed on their property so they're happy to share the wealth. We have other different dogwoods in the garden around the Homestead, including "Cornus Florida" and "Cornus Kousa." (The latter is meant to be somewhat rare.)  They thrive, and we love them for their flowers, fruit, and brilliant autumn foliage. 

 
 
This one is called "The Wedding Cake Dogwood" because it grows in tiers. John has planted one in the Pet Paddock and the other up near our new housesite.

Welcome to Struan Farm Cornus controversa, long may you thrive.

The Hidden Keys

Every once in awhile rainy days deliver. In this instance it was too wet for John to be outside working at Struan Farm, so he decided to make a second attempt with our recycled locksets and brass doorknobs in the Homestead at Struan Farm.

In the process of doing so, he discovered these interesting brass "half keys" on three of the Homestead's original locksets that had been painted over for years. Pretty cool, aren't they?

 

I keep wondering why they only used half a key, as if it were some sort of symbolic gesture, but that's me: yet again wanting to understand the meaning of everything!

More Heirlooms

During my trip to Nelson I stopped once again at Richards' Orchards on the road to Mapua to see what apples they had out for sale in their rustic roadside shed and wooden bins beside the orchards.

While I was tempted by some crisp looking Braeburns, always a favorite, the most interesting to me was an heirloom cooking apple called "Ballarat." It's a large apple with beautiful green skin with a pink/red blush:

 
Apparently they are of Australian heritage and date back to the 1900's. I brought home a big bag and can't wait to use them. A pie would be easy, but I've got a few apple cake recipes I might also test with these. 

My point really is to support growers who are trying to keep these heirloom varieties available for us all.

Nelson in Detail

I made a flying visit to Nelson at the end of last week, literally and figuratively, for a few business meetings. Timing was such that I was also able to arrange a night at Doone Cottage to see my friend Glen. The two nights I spent in town were crisp and frosty, but the days warm with brilliant sunshine, perfect Nelson weather.

I'm struck by the variety of what catches my eye in my travels there, I know the area so well. I'd had a previous encounter with these flax plants near the Cathedral in town, but in the wrong light, with the wrong camera.

This time I had my Canon and the light cooperated to show the beautiful salmon pink of the budding flax:

 
 
 
And while these images don't reflect it, the town was a complete buzz in anticipation of Rugby World Cup, with the Italian team arriving that Friday. It all kicks off this next Friday. Banners with flags festooned the airport and shops, all sort of community activities are planned through the end of October. Nelson has organized itself as only Nelson can! 

Cracking Up: Cue the Nutcracker

As reported, it was an autumn with a bumper crop of walnuts at Struan Farm. Nuts coming out of our ears. This is great, right? The only problem is that someone has to crack them all.  Tchiakovsky's Nutcracker is nowhere to be seen when we need him, guess he's off dancing with the princess or doing battle with the rats. I can understand why!

When time permits, I've taken to standing at the kitchen counter with nutcracker, bowl, and veggie peeler in hand to tackle our mountain of nuts (latter I use to help pry the meat out of the shells, although I remember growing up that a nice silver pick appeared seasonally at Christmas for this purpose). Cracking walnuts is messy, somewhat tedious work, but it's great to have bags of shelled nuts on hand to use for baking and our morning porridge/oatmeal.

 
 
Struan Farm organic walnuts taste fresher and more flavorful than store bought, although truth be told we haven't done a blind taste test to confirm that!

 

Progress: Pay Dirt

My dear, sweet, hardworking husband has been carting trailerloads and trailerloads (and trailerloads) of topsoil with the tractor to establish the new lawn area surrounding the Homestead at Struan Farm. Once the soil is in place and made level he will fertilize. After the risk of frost is past he will spread grass seed. It's the sort of major infrastructure job John loves, completely and utterly physically exhausting.

 
In time we'll enjoy looking out on a lovely lawn, remembering how much hard labor went into it all. We can see it taking shape, but in the meantime it's a dirty and sometimes muddy mess!