Get ready for fruit fly..organically.

Spring has seemingly come early and plants are being bothered by aphids, caterpillars and I suspect once flowering starts there will be many fruit flies about.
There are various methods of controlling them.I would be most tempted to use fruit fly exclusion bags, as sold at green harvest. Here is the link to some great organic pest and disease control, including the Mediterranean fruit fly.

Green Harvest Organic Pest Control advice.

Sunny winter's Sunday.

We have been having a dry winter this year in Perth, and today it continued to be pleasant and warm and sunny. The pleasant conditions had us out there repotting citrus and a dwarf fruit tree.
I did a species list and found that we have around 200 species all up including weeds, seedlings and sick plants. That's pretty excellent I reckon for a small suburban block. Plant horder, me! Out of 200 odd species about 33% are useful or edible and 24% are Australian (probably more than half those are fairly local species).
The birds certainly love it and we have no problems with pest species at all. Gotta love biodiversity and the balance that creates.

Positive people.

Most weeks when I work I encounter a customer who makes me feel positive and hopeful. Sure, they are all (generally) gardeners so that in itself is a positive activity but one person each weekend is a standout for having a positive story or otherwise encouraging outlook to gardening.
Some people have spoken to me of success in encouraging beneficial insects, or medical survival stories.
I feel hope for the future and an appreciation of how lucky I am to live when and where I do.

Planting makes me happy.

I've been rescuing a few seedlings from work lately. This morning I popped in some kangaroo paws in the little native garden outside the front window. Finally planted the native hibiscus that's been knocking about in a pot for ages by the front door; hopefully it ill do more than just flower and die, but even that would be okay.
Two little broccoli seedlings went in that Lynn shared with me. The other day I found some kale and cauliflower seedlings that the rats had nibbled some of, so they got 'rescued' and are now in biochar, organic garden heaven.

Winter uni break.

The winter break is shorter than summer, so I am managing to find enough things to do to get through the day without spending much money, which I can't help but do if I venture into town. Even though I'm not a big consumer of useless things, I can still find an excuse to buy tasty treats or a small kitchen thing or go op-shopping, so home is cheaper. Sometimes it means we have a really yummy dinner, as I spend more time on cooking.

Perth has just been through a nasty cold spell, broken for the last few nights by some good storms and rain. Finally! We have been suffering winter "dryness" (can't say drought anymore, it's dry and the rain's not coming back) and the dams are all low.