Struan Farm

Blogging Break

Taking a wee blogging break. I'll be back on deck around June 9th (or so).

 

Another Nememis in the Gardens

I will triumph eventually, but right now onion weed is winning in a corner of the gardens at Struan Farm.

Allium triquetrum, onion weed, is also know as three-cornered garlic. It has white snowdrop-like flowers and a strong onion scent. It is edible (bulbs, greens and flowers), can be used like spring onions, but we're not going there--this plant it is horribly invasive, multiplying both by bulb division and seed.

I've read the following with respect to getting onion weed under control:

1. Mow it.

2. Dig it out.

3. Cut it (some sources say covering it with grass clippings afterward helps).

4. Spot spray or wipe with Roundup or Amitrole.

Right now I am digging it out, will try cutting whatever grows back afterward, since it's growing under trees and in areas where we simply can't mow. Spray is always a last resort for me, not something I use unless absolutely necessary.

Multiplication

Thought about titling this post "An Overabundance of Wisdom," since irises are a symbol of wisdom in flower terms, and boy do we have a surplus.

Readers will know I've been progressively tackling cleaning up the gardens at Struan Farm. I'm on the last side of the gardens at the Homestead (more about the onion weed I'm encountering there and digging out later this week). As part of this process I'm also having to dig up and divide dahlias and irises that are seriously overgrown. I've learned that dahlias are meant to be divided every 4-5 years, and irises 2-3. And I can see why!

I've been giving these away to good homes along with spare dahlia tubers. 

More Fab Fungi

Can't help but share more Struan Farm fungi with you--the variety continues to amaze me! I found both of these up under our California redwood grove:

Surprise Visitor

I stopped gardening for my lunch break today and looked across the lawn at Struan Farm to see this:

With credit to Beatrix Potter, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, calling in for a visit! I quickly tied up Clifford, who was sound asleep on the deck. She then walked over for a closer look before heading off, probably to The Fat Pigeon in Piopio for a good cup of coffee.

 

Deconstructing

Certain things have to happen now that we're proceeding with the driveway upgrade at the Homestead at Struan Farm. While we're not sure as yet if the drive will be concrete or gravel/metal with concrete edging, we have decided to put in two concrete parking spots on either side of the drive. This will require taking out "Ella's Garden," one of our raised limestone rock beds, as well as a paving stone parking area that we've been using at the house. The latter will be grassed.

First and foremost, we spoke to Ella about "her" garden, and making a new one up at the new house. She was okay with that. So then I got stuck in.

I redeployed most of the plants and bulbs to other areas of the gardens, and removed the limestone rocks surrounding the bed.

Next I tackled digging up the paving stones. These will be recycled and used for paths in my veggie garden at the new house.

Truth be told, this was really hard work. I found that I needed to take a break before I fell over, I'm only halfway done. While it's easy to lift out the stones, they're heavy and it's hard on the hands. (Note: snoozing dog, yep, it's a dog's life.)

 

 

Kerchief, Fini

Finished the "juniper not sans kerchief" for my friend Laura. Pattern is "sans kerchief" by Hannah Fettig, available from Quince & Co. and knit in their linen yarn "Sparrow."

Although I didn't get anywhere near the right gauge with #4 needles, I decided it wasn't mission critical for the project, so didn't change my needle size. I'm happy with the finished kerchief--think it looks cute on, hope Laura does too. Photo is after washing but before ironing:

Next I'll iron it as instructed so that edges don't curl, and it will be ready for packing!

This is the Start of Something Big....

Hooray, this is the start of my veggie gardens at the new house at Struan Farm:

John and I laid out the design this week, which entails six raised beds in the back corner behind the house, nestled by native bush (so quite protected). Each bed will be one by three metres, so easy to reach into and across. At least two if not all of them will be constructed from recycled bricks. Our citrus trees (Meyer Lemon, mandarin and lime) will be planted nearby, at the back of the garage. There is still loads of room for black currants and whatever else we (I) might want to plant. We've got an old recycled, round, concrete trough to use for herbs, don't know right now where that's going to be placed. The chooks will be further away, through the tawa trees (where the gnomes are!) in their own separate universe.

This planning session occurred thanks to the contractor arriving to work out edging for driveways and other projects requiring concrete.

And before anyone asks, no, we're not in the new house as yet. Latest estimate is 2-3 weeks from now. A wall needs to be knocked through to connect the laundryroom and garage to the main house (the latter is finished, the former is not). The telephone cable also needs to be connected. Once we're officially in I will post some pics. 

Mulch in the Making

Various helpers arrived on the scene at Struan Farm this past weekend. Our main work project was to gather up fallen oak leaves in the Pet Paddock, deploying trailerloads as mulch for the tulip beds and also for the new extension to the wooded gardens in the back. John laid the groundwork by raking and blowing everything into piles, making it much easier for us all. 

Plus, it's fun playing in the leaves!

 

Fungi Find: Shaggy Inkcap

I was out on thistle patrol at Struan Farm when I stumbled upon these, wow! Had to run for both the camera and my trusty fungi guide,  "A Photographic Guide to Mushrooms and Other Fungi of New Zealand" by Geoff Ridley.

These are "Shaggy Inkcap, Coprinus comatus." They are considered edible (not going to test that), but apparently must be collected and eaten when young, before they begin to disintegrate. Also interesting to read that alcoholic beverages cannot be consumed for several days before or after, since they contain a compound called coprine that reacts with alcohol, causing tingling, nausea and palpitations. As the fungi disintegrates (the technical terms seems to be "autodigests"), a black liquid drips from the spores. This was used as ink and explains the common name.

 

Struan Farm Still Life

John and I like to wander the paddocks of Struan Farm on a nice day when time permits. It's relaxing, plus it's good to keep on top of what's fallen down/over, encroaching weeds, etc. Walking in the Pet Paddock recently we came across these beautiful horse chestnuts and huge, fallen sycamore leaves. 

I scooped some up, announcing they'd make a great "still life." Only problem was that John wasn't familiar with this term, had never heard it before. Are you? I'm now wondering if perhaps only those people who have studied art history or art know this. A "still life" is a work of art depicting an arrangement of objects. Still life painting emerged as a genre in western art in the late 16th century, but has origins dating back to Greco Roman times.

Yet another one of the many times I say thanks to Smith College Art 100.

Leaning Tower of Piopio

The old chicken coop at Struan Farm was going to come down one way or another. Once the asbestos walls were removed by the specialist contractor John was meant to pull the remaining structure over with the tractor and then deconstruct. However, he's somewhat cunning my husband: he knew that if he delayed the project long enough what was left of the coop would simply topple over. 

And that was what happened. This past weekend we heard a bit of a crack and it started leaning. The next time we checked it had fallen over entirely.

The only problem for John then was that he had to get to work, pulling off the old corrugated iron roof and remaining wooden framing. I did assist, dragging the wood off to the burn pile. 

Only the floor and foundations left to go!

Parsley under the Perfect Pergola

I've been noodling awhile on what might work best with the roses under the Perfect Pergola at Struan Farm. Yes, there are wisteria and a climbing rose overhead, along with sweet peas during summer, but the rose garden hasn't looked quite finished to me. I'm not shooting for a formal garden here, we're definitely after the cottage garden look, but something, je ne sais quoi, has been missing.

Given the hedging mania John and I have going on at the moment, I did give some thought to a small buxus or corokia hedge. But that would be high maintenance, and we're trying to head in the opposite direction.

So Anna (sister-in-law and gardening guru) and I had a consult. She shot down the hedge idea and queried whether an herb of some sort might work. We were about to discount that when it came to me: PARSLEY would make the perfect border! Easy to replace if it doesn't work, inexpensive, edible (even self seeding) PARSLEY.

Right now I'm thinking this is the perfect solution. But if we don't like it when it grows in, I'll just chop it out and make several large batches of pistou.

And p.s., yes, I'm onto dealing with that moss on the bricks next!

DIY Fire Starters

This was the result of a quest for rainy day projects. One can only do so much cleaning. (And yes, I know, I should be knitting, but one can also only do so much sitting.)

For years I've purchased fire starters made by Living Light Candles from the team at Country Trading. They've been made from recycled wax, and were absolutely fantastic to use for wood fires. Last year I got the word that the product was being discontinued, so I went long, still have a small stash. 

Faced with a dwindling supply, I decided to take a stab at making my own fire starters using some of our pine cones dipped in melted wax. I ordered a bag of Eco Soya Pillar Blend Wax from Candle Creations, contacting them for a recommendation on the right type of wax to use.

And one rainy day, I melted some wax flakes in a glass bowl in the microwave (watching carefully), and tried both pouring wax over and dipping the cones. Dipping definitely worked best.

The wax almost looks like snow, doesn't it? Just hope they work for the purpose intended.  And p.s., turns out Living Light has started to make the Fire Starter Bars again due to popular demand. My dipping days may be over!

Somewhere Over/Under/Around the Rainbow

Hooray, a momentary break in the rain at Struan Farm. Now where did I put that pot of gold? I know it's here somewhere........

A Room with a View, A View from the Room

John and I never tire of looking out from the Homestead sun porch to the 60 year old oak and other specimen trees in the Pet Paddock at Struan Farm.

Here's the latest view from the room:  

Bliss, really, at least from our perspective.

 

 

Journey to the Magic Mushrooms

John and I managed to get down to the river to see if the magic red mushrooms had appeared again under the pine trees at Struan Farm.

And yes, they did. Seems this is a seasonal thing.

Just a reminder, these are "Scarlet flycaps, Amanita muscaria," and poisonous.

 

 

Captivated by Color & Texture

It's been raining quite a bit lately in Piopio. I've found myself repeatedly drawn to a particular corner of the gardens at Struan Farms, captivated by the saturated autumn colors and textures. The contrast between those mossy branches and the red maple leaves against the different conifers are speaking to me:

Are they speaking to you too?

F is for First Fig

It was great to get the first edible fig off one of the heirloom trees we've grown from cuttings at Struan Farm. John and I walked over to the neighboring farm several years ago with permission from the landowner to take cuttings from their heirloom fig tree. It grows at the site of that farm's original early homestead.

The trees we've grown are survivors-- they're hardy stock, having been nibbled by sheep and moved several times. 

This lovely fig ended up in a salad of rocket/arugula, beets and warm haloumi, along with a few recently purchased from the Clevedon Farmers Market. 

juniper (not sans) kerchief

I've decided to try to finish Hannah Fetig's cute "sans kerchief" pattern in Quince & Co.'s "Sparrow" linen as a gift for a friend (ahem spoiler alert, Laura....). Although I guess we should christen this "juniper not sans kerchief," since sans is the name of the natural colorway they used for the original pattern.

Knitting with linen is rather like knitting with string, but I understand it softens and blooms once washed, which I'll do when I go to block the finished kerchief.