AULD LANG SYNE

In a few hours' time, 2014 will just be memories as we embark on another brand new year.     

There's never such a thing as a perfect life.  For every trials and tribulations there are also equal ups and downs.  The past 364 days have been the same for me.  There were laughter as well as tears; as much happiness I had, there were also sorrows but the best moment has got to be discovering my love for gardening and being here in @MSG.

It was the best decision I have made.  From just sitting lazily on the porch looking at passers-by; watching the boats come and go;  yawning ever so often as the sea breeze caress my skin and make a mess out of my hair to busy days getting dirt under the nails to a thousand and one things I do around the garden.

I don't recall inviting the bugs to help themselves to my first bittergourd

"Do a clean job" and he did.  On his way to finish the last of the curry leaves

My would-have-been french fries were gone in the rain

It has been a beautiful challenge and I've enjoyed every moment with doses of some disappointment sandwiched in between when bugs beat me to my first bittergourd or seedlings get drown in the rain because I was never there all the time to molly coddle them.  However disappointments never last long for there were always something to smile about like when I stepped into the garden and the perfume from the flowers literally blew me way!

Take time to smell the roses... something I do frequently

Flowers are really a girl's best friend!

There is no tinge of regret just excitement and great anticipation for a fun and fulling year ahead in MSG.

 

Have a fabulous New Year everyone!  Stay safe and be blessed and keep gardening.

For the umpteenth time, I give thanks to Mother Nature for she's simply amazing! 

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...

Dear Santa

I've been good this past year.  Can I have these please?

(1) Seeds

(2) Bottles / jars

(3) Books

Santa, I have a confession to make.  I am really seed obsessed.  You know how much I love seeds and are never tired of them even though I might have hundreds of the same seeds in my "seed bank." So any seeds will be fine as long as they're seeds but if you could stuff some exotic seeds especially tomatoes since this is my current obsession (beefsteak size ones) into my stocking, I'll be happy ever after. 

Santa, you know how much I love pretty things and glass bottles / jars are so handy when pickling season is here.  I can leave you a bottle of jam if you like something homegrown, homemade and delicious.  I will not leave you any pickled mangoes though as they're much too sour and are not in season yet and pickled chillies are just too spicy for you.

Santa, I haven't have time to read any stories so no story books please but I don't mind note books or recipe books for scribbling notes and learning how to make jam for you.

Please leave the gifts at a safe place and tomorrow morning when I wake up and open the presents I will pretend this is all a surprise.

Merry Christmas with much love, Santa! xoxo

 

BACK TO BASIC

After I barred my fingers from tickling any of the tomato blooms (you silly girl!) and let nature takes its course (or at least use a cotton swab or art brush) there were blooms on the tomato plants but still no tomatoes in sight (*sigh*) but at least those blooms stay on the vines.

Internet and social media are great platforms to share and learn. So I discovered that tomatoes are self pollinating; some light breeze or gentle shake of the plants help.  No rough finger tickling is required as that will only aggravate the blooms further.

"Now there's flowers on the plants but still no sign of any tomatoes.  It's been a long time.  Hopefully I'm getting nearer to this tomato dream..."

"When tomatoes are setting out flowers, they require as much sun as they get and also extremely heavy feeders... use organic fertilizers..."

"A great fertilizer should have micro-nutrients and minerals, also live microbes..."

"If  your soil is alkaline add a little sulphur and this will drop the pH but if your soil is high in sulphur pH add dolomite or lime...."

"However you don't want fertilizers that have too much nitrogen, this will get a big leafy plant.  Keep the big leaves off; they take nutrients from the tomatoes.  Only leave enough leaves to cover your tomatoes..."

So in summary I learned that if the tomatoes do not get enough exposure to sunlight, the fruits will not form and if there's not enough water, the blooms will drop.   Fertilizers are important too just as you need to eat some super food.

Ok so assuming all these sunlight, water and fertilizer problems have been sorted out.  You thought you could rest on your laurels but along came some uninvited visitors waiting to destroy your crop.  What do you do? 

Well plant marigolds around the border of your tomato patch.  They're great companion plants and the smell acts as a deterrent to bugs and insects.  If that is not good enough, plant borage, another great companion plant.  It will deter tomato h0rnworms as well as improve the flavour of tomatoes.  How wonderful!  

SEEDS LOVING DUDE

My new hangout place has to be under the guava trees seeing how beneficial this humble fruit can be.  

Have always taken for granted that there are always guavas to be picked but recently I have transferred some seedlings from seeds I sowed in pots which haven't made much of a progress.   As real guava trees are tall, they are better off in the grounds whereas the grafted varieties can still do well potted.

Nothing like having your own guava trees although there's one just outside of MSG as well as many others growing around the island.  In some orchards / farms the fruits are left to rot as islanders probably see them as just another tree.  Birds like them but there's too many variety of fruits and berries around here they're just spoilt for choice.  

However here is one dude who loves his seeds in particular guavas.  

A mimic artist and iconic fixture in the island's grocery store, he's one who's known to make me embarrass when I step into the store without bringing him his favourite fruit.  An attention seeker and capable of different guises, he would call out from the top of his perch "How are you?"... "How are you?"....

I always see that as asking "Where's my guava? Where's my guava?"

When he sees me rummaging my bag, he'll start to whistle and do a little dance and clearly he's a lady's bird as his owner claims he only reserves his whistles for females.

Oh yes, he loves guavas as much as I do!

Don't be fooled however as he doesn't eat the whole fruit.  He pecks away the skin and flesh and is only interested in eating those precious seeds.  

LITTLE BABY STEPS...

Nothing quite like homegrown!  The taste and fulfillment you get from growing your own fruits and veggies are so worth it.   

Out of my long list of things that I love very much to grow are tomatoes.  Seeing how people who grow their own tomatoes raved at the sweetness and deliciousness of them all makes my desire to grow bigger.   

I yearn to grow tomatoes like these

I spent hours looking at people's tomato harvest on IG as well as gluing my eyes on the computer checking out seeds that promised gorgeous looking tomatoes.  I always thought tomatoes were either orange or green (ripe and unripe) until my internet stalking revealed that a rainbow of colours like blue, green, orange, pink, yellow and even white (varieties) tomatoes exist! Oh boy.. on top of that, they were all so good looking!

My world literally swam in tomatoes but as much as I was obsessed with them, in the garden it was a totally different story. There was zilch tomato.

In the beginning, seeds just refused to sprout and when they sprouted, they looked like teeny weaklings but I never gave up sowing more seeds! 

Finally I must have done something quite right because I found a few robust seedlings which continued to grow taller.  Each day I watched so eagerly with excitement for the first flower to appear.  They did appear in clusters and then frizzled out and dropped.  The cycle repeated again and again and months after the first flowers appeared, there was still no sign of any tomatoes in sight.

Aren't I clever?  Just because I read of people hand pollinating blooms, I reckoned since no tomatoes were still in sight and bees just weren't doing their jobs, I happily used the tip of my not too dainty fingers to tickle those tomato blooms.  

More disasters followed but surely I am getting nearer to harvesting those prized tomatoes.

THE POWER PACKED FRUIT

Guavas are definitely love!  These tropical fruits with a cream or pinkish / reddish flesh are delicious.  The young leaves can be brewed to make tea and are known to be beneficial for health as the leaves contain natural phytochemicals.  The fruits and leaves can also be used as a facial scrub.  There's like many-in-one use for these fruits.  Even birds love them but we'll talk about that a little later....

Guavas are high in nutritional value as they are loaded with Vitamin C, fibers and minerals.  The fruits have a rich source of anti-oxidant property and considered one of the best food to slow down and delay the process of ageing naturally.    

They are such hardy plants that thrive with minimum care and with regular feeds will ensure abundant of fruits. 

Apart from enjoying these fruits as it is or juiced, the young leaves can also be used for brewing tea to aid in digestion.  As the fruits and leaves are rich in astringents, they are also ideal for use as a facial scrub for toning and brightening the skin.  Sure bliss to slather natural goodness on the face as you enjoy the sweet aroma of guavas.

However like all good things, I have a competitor who loves guavas as much as I do... seriously.

Watch out for story about this seeds loving dude!

 

I AM SECRETLY IN LOVE

(1)  Drooled over photos of gorgeous tomato posts on others' IG with envy.

(2) Checked out overseas heirloom seeds and drooled (again!) over Ananas Noire, Brandywine, Creme Brulee, Chocolate Cherry and all their other siblings or cousins and secretly disappointed at the appalling lack of varieties locally.   

(3)  Stalked the tomato section of every supermarkets for any newcomer.

(4) Bought tomato plants for soon to be vine ripen tomatoes.   

(5)  Collected more and more packets of tomato seeds.

(6)  Fondled and caressed tomatoes lovingly in the hope that I would grow them just as beautifully.

(7) Hoarded ripe tomatoes in the veggie compartment waiting for "the right time" to sow the seeds. 

(8)   Happy even though my shopping spree yielded nothing except for a couple of tomatoes. (It's the seeds that I want)

(8)  A friend walked into his kitchen, came out with a bowl of tomatoes and handed the bowl to me.   

(9)  At one particular supermarket, this same guy always wore this "I know what nonsense you're up too... don't deny" smile whenever I approached (where else if not the tomato section!)

Thank you but don't crack your head to buy me a gift.  A packet of tomato seeds (heirloom please) will be just great and if you ever catch me stalking you / your garden please excuse me but I could just be admiring your tomatoes... with envy.  

FROZEN

Bye raisins… hello frozen grapes!

I used to have grapes in the fridge left uneaten and forgotten. 

Since I started freezing grapes, the joy of eating frozen grapes on a hot day is something I’ve always look forward to.   It's a healthy snack given that grapes contain flavonoids (very powerful antioxidants) which can reduce the damage caused by free radicals and slow down aging.  They also stimulate collagen production.  Cool stuff!

Here’s what I normally do.

Wash and drain the grapes.  I usually remove the stems, put them in ziplock bags and pop them in the freezer for a couple of hours.  You can leave the whole bunch in the freezer if you want to use them as a “centrepiece” perhaps to be shared over some nice wine, cheese platter and interesting conversation ;)

This frozen grape thingy makes a delicious snack; it has a sorbet texture and just eating a handful of them on a hot day is bliss.

NB:  Best to eat them frozen; once thawed the grapes tend to be soft and a little reminder that small children should not be left unsupervised when eating grapes.

  

BACK TO SCHOOL

In the past, whenever I think of something green and boring  succulents would come to mind.  To me they were simply green, stiff and unattractive.  I was that biased; seriously I was.

It didn't help that my experience with them was short lived and never amiable. 

For the longest time, I was convinced succulents and I were not meant to be the best of friends.

Then along came something magical.  I saw pictures of  succulents with pretty flowers and I was completely sold.  Didn't know succulents bear flowers! I love.

That started my interest and feeling all grown up, I bought my first adult size plant.  I was certain I have graduated beyond looking after those fun size ones. 

It was a heavily laden jade plant.  Call that love at first sight because I grabbed the plant as soon as I caught sight of it.  I even gave her a name. When I took Jade to the checkout, three  strangers commented how pretty she looked.   I brimmed with pride, so happy that I snared gorgeous Jady.   I was doubly happy when google search said I just bought a money tree.  I could picture myself counting money happily.

My one and only memory of gorgeous Jade

Few days after Jade came home, I gave her some water as I thought she looked a little under the weather.  We all know the importance of drinking enough water to stay hydrated.  So for the next couple of days like any disciplined parent, Jade got extra water treats whenever she lost a leaf or leaves. 

I just knew it!  Jade was suffering from dehydration and dehydration as we all know is bad for the skin.  Surely the same applied to her.    

Before long, I started to notice Jade was beginning to have what you call, a receding hairline.  I did the next cleverest thing.  I filled a pail with water and completely submerged her into it.  I just knew she was in need of more water love. 

Thank you but don't ask me how long Jady sat in that swimming pool.

After that great soak, I put her out to bask in the sunlight.  A few days later, she just wobbled under her weight; kind off lifeless!  I drew up a list of suspects including my family member. 

(1)  Mum because she thinks nothing is more beautiful than her Adeniums (they really are gorgeous!) and there's no space for another plant along the corridor; 

(2)  The sweeper on our level because he sweeps as if he's in the pool competing the backstroke event;  

(3)  Tigger my neighbour's cat because she has a guy's name and behaves like one.  He... oops... she has a tendency to jump into flower pots to poop & pee or pee & poop whichever she fancies and she loves to pounce on insects  hiding in between plants.  

Surely one of them must be responsible for Jade's injury! 

When I picked her up, her limbs were soft and squishy.  Did I detect water as in water retention?  Like a brave surgeon, I did my best to safe her life. 

So these were what's left of Jade. 

Meet Jade Junior... a part of gorgeous Jade.

Suntanning remnants of her other limbs

I wish someone would have told me "Just because you love gardening does not mean you know everything... "  
 
Just a few days back, I spotted new Jades at the same place I met gorgeous Jade the original.  I had this peculiar feeling that they will meet the same fate as Jady so I turned and walked away. Sadly, it is really true that succulents and I are nothing more than just casual friends. 


 

AVOCADO, THE WONDER FRUIT

Kick start your day with something healthy and hearty!

Recipes need not be the length of a ruler and it should not hold you ransom in the kitchen unless you're a Kitchen Goddess for which I am not. 

Here’s one “quick to assemble” recipe that you can add to your breakfast and eat without guilt.

I don’t want to dwell on the many benefits of this fruit both for health and in skincare.  Avocado itself is rather bland and boring but once you get past to eating this rich tasting fruit, it’s actually rather delicious.   

What you need

2 slices of any type of bread or toast

1 ripe avocado

Trickle of condensed milk / honey

What you do

Halve the avocado and slice into bite size pieces.  Slight mash of the avocado is also doable.

Spread or place the avocado generously on the bread.

Lightly dribble a trickle of condensed milk or honey over the avocado spread.

Have it for breakfast or in between when you feel like some healthy snacking.  I enjoyed that very much!