29 January 2021

Weekend Reading

This is Mary Rose, a standard David Austin rose. It flowers like crazy during summer as long as I keep the water up.

Each day gets busier here and we're almost back into full working mode. My online Zoom workshops start tomorrow and I'm excited about meeting all the ladies face-to-face and being able to talk about how we live. I'm also negotiating simple life workshops for the Kuringai, Willoughby and North Sydney Councils so stay tuned for news about those in the near future. 


The comfrey is flowering and is thick and lush.  Soon I'll cut it back and use the leaves as mulch for the roses, herbs and citrus. 


My first ABC Radio slot is next Thursday, February 4. I'll let you know on Instagram what the link is for that. My main work, apart from responding to emails, has been to work out guidelines and notes for myself for all these workshops. Today I'll sign up for my Zoom account and do a dry run to make sure I know what I'm doing. It might be a great opportunity to have a get-together with my sister. It's good to get back to work. I've enjoyed the break but I like the excitement of starting new things.

This is Comtesse de Labarthe also known as the Montville Rose. It's a heritage French rose and it's a good one for you if you want to start growing roses.  It sends out a lot of flowers if you fertilise and water it regularly, like most roses.  It has fewer thorns than other roses and is disease resistant.

Okay, I'd best get started. I hope you're staying healthy but if you're living with Covid in close proximity, please be careful and let us know how you're getting on.

💜 🌿 💜

Here is today's list, I hope you enjoy reading through it.


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14 comments

  1. Ok Rhonda you have convinced me to have a go with roses.🤞 I am fine with veg and fruit trees but I massacre flowers. I will try to find the montville rose any other hard to kill suggestions? Cheers

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    1. Good! Most salvias are bomb-proof - the photo under the comfrey are some of my salvias. Everything you grow MUST be watered regularly and fertilised every three months. Roses must be pruned because it not only allows you to shape the rose, it stimulates flowering. Find a website on pruning and read it. It's all pretty simple and the rewards are enormous. Good luck.

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  2. So I must chuckle a bit about the dire predictions in population reduction. I remember the dire predictions of the population explosion. Honestly I think scientists & sociologists are guessing about the future almost as much as the rest of us...what else are we losing sleep over that will never come to pass?

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  3. Thank you for the reading list Rhonda...they look very interesting.
    Very wet in Melbourne today..definitely no gardening..but glad plants getting a drink. Am aiming to be even more conscious about food waste this year, trying to be creative with vegies from the garden..or pass them on if too much for us.
    Very much thinking of those overseas in lockdown..be safe.

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  4. Very interesting list today Rhonda. Have checked quite a lot out and they are well worth it. Will those of not in Queensland be able to listen to your ABC talk?

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    1. I'm not really sure, Emily. I think those in Australia may be able to listen, but take into consideration the different time zones.

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  5. Thank you Rhonda. I hope you have a lovely weekend and I look forward to your radio program.

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  6. Oh my goodness - that interview with Joan Didion! She has all the writing awards, but those dry witted, one sentence answers suggest she's something of a nightmare to interview. Thanks for sharing. It made laugh.

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  7. Those roses look spectacular. They have so many layers. Good luck with the workshop. I am doing my first Zoom meeting with video on Sunday, with some old friends that I danced with in Europe. The last one we did I just joined by cell phone. Technology is exciting. Thanks for all that you do...

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    1. Hello Stephenie. The workshop went very well, thank you. Zoom was great, it's such good technology. I hope you enjoy your catchup. xx

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  8. Rhonda, I always love coming here and reading because you inspire me to keep plugging away in my own home. Love your beautiful flowers!

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  9. We are in the middle of winter (and Covid) here in Kentucky, USA. Paul and I are staying home and safe as much as possible. I LOVE your flower pics. Dreaming of Spring and our flowers to come here. Thank you for your wonderful reading suggestions. I have checked out your book from our library. Enjoying reading it for the 2nd time❤️

    Rebecca

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    1. Hi Rebecca. It's good to hear you're staying safe and sound at home.

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  10. Hello Rhonda, love looking at your beautiful garden! I have very similar taste. My roses amaze me, they are so tough and resilient. They have earnt their place in my garden, having survived drought, floods, heat and frost. I wouldn't be without them or salvias. I have also been wanting to thank you for sharing my blog in your weekend reading list the other week. The amount of people that have come over for a look, has been amazing! I even have a few followers/subscribers which is so encouraging, I'm having a lot of fun writing and sharing. The slow living silent vlog was so lovely watch, I have been enjoying that so much. I was even inspired after watching that first one you shared to learn how to make a stove top espresso like she did! And I discovered it's very nice,and that's coming from a tea drinker too! So much fun learning new things and being inspired by each other!

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