tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post6917316656296237301..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Weekend ReadingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-90619403351594935182020-12-17T20:59:57.853+10:002020-12-17T20:59:57.853+10:00Thanks Rhonda for your blog posts and thank you ev...Thanks Rhonda for your blog posts and thank you everyone for the comments. Wishing Rhonda and Hanno and all the family a very happy Christmas, and the same to all the readers and commenters. Blessings. Em. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-67782890293558344412020-12-13T08:06:58.269+10:002020-12-13T08:06:58.269+10:00I'm glad you're enjoying what I post. I&#...I'm glad you're enjoying what I post. I'm only a few years younger than you and I believe my mental capacity is strengthened by reading every day. Happy holidays, Gumball. xxrhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-33907596365543828892020-12-13T08:04:17.582+10:002020-12-13T08:04:17.582+10:00My only flowering plant at the moment is in a pot ...My only flowering plant at the moment is in a pot in our bush house, I have a few others planted in the main garden but Gracie can't go in there, and when we call her in, she won't join us. Next year, I'll plant all my foxgloves in pots, away from Gracie. Are they a good cut flower? I'd love a few in a vase.<br /><br />I hope you stay safe over the holidays and enjoy time with your family. rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-49956552630297896672020-12-13T08:01:04.596+10:002020-12-13T08:01:04.596+10:00Hi Madeleine. Yes, ginger is great in pots, that&...Hi Madeleine. Yes, ginger is great in pots, that's how I grow mine now. It takes 6 months to grow here but as soon as I harvest one pot, I start another with a few ginger pieces I've sprouted in the kitchen.<br /><br />I love bee watching. I go out in the morning and sit in the shade of the umbrella and wait for them to arrive. I know you're in a colder location but if you've got blue banded bees, chances are you've got many other native bees as well. rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-88519746543352885532020-12-13T07:58:30.035+10:002020-12-13T07:58:30.035+10:00I love foxgloves too, and yours are lovely! I'...I love foxgloves too, and yours are lovely! I'm in Massachusetts in the USA, and I grow a variety that is perennial here, although I think our climate is much harsher than yours. It is Digitalis grandiflora, with soft yellow blooms. I've probably been growing it for 30 years or so at this point. It always comes back and self-sows, but does not make a pest of itself. The volunteers are nice because they allow me to share! This is my first comment, but I've been enjoying your blog for a few months. Thanks for sharing your world with us!Karen Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-52984587225006470852020-12-13T07:52:09.747+10:002020-12-13T07:52:09.747+10:00Hi Lisa. Yes, this is the pattern I'm currentl...Hi Lisa. Yes, this is the pattern I'm currently using. https://www.themakeyourownzone.com/2-ways-to-knit-diagonal-dishcloths-holes-or-no-holes/ It's really easy and only change from garter stitch is at the beginning of each row, so easy to remember. <br /><br />This is the pattern I started off with, I still like it and think it looks better as a gift than the current pattern https://justbcrafty.com/2017/09/seed-stitch-stripe-dishcloth-pattern.html Happy knitting!<br /><br /><br /> rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-13919154015610258282020-12-13T07:20:14.610+10:002020-12-13T07:20:14.610+10:00Hello Rhonda,
congratulations on your foxgloves! ...Hello Rhonda,<br /><br />congratulations on your foxgloves! It is always exciting when we succeed in growing something that doesn't normally thrive in our climate. I have managed to get ginger to grow in pots and am really thrilled as it has been $50 a kilo!! It was so slow to shoot, I think I waited nearly two months from planting. <br /><br />We have had steady rain here this week, and more to come. I am still trying to manage the prolific weeds that arose in the drought. The earth is full of their seeds so I'm experimenting with just scraping them off as they arrive rather than letting them get bigger and trying to dig them out. Some have roots 20 cms long! <br /><br />I loved seeing your photo of the little banded bee, we have also started seeing these in our garden.<br /><br />Madeleine.XAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-56143227680063515942020-12-13T02:46:15.422+10:002020-12-13T02:46:15.422+10:00Do you have a link to your wonderful washclothe pa...Do you have a link to your wonderful washclothe pattern?Lisa LeQuirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10758423832769699788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-5994718494186028292020-12-13T02:07:27.225+10:002020-12-13T02:07:27.225+10:00Hi Rhonda,
I have always loved foxglove, but haven...Hi Rhonda,<br />I have always loved foxglove, but haven't added them to my garden here in the states as it is poisonous to dogs and cats, which we have. I'm not sure where you have planted them, but be careful your animals don't get into them. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.<br />Cheryl in WA state Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-86386593603866699522020-12-12T12:37:49.003+10:002020-12-12T12:37:49.003+10:00In Tasmania the foxglove is an undeclared weed (it...In Tasmania the foxglove is an undeclared weed (it is extremely hardy). A short visit to the bush at the right time of year, and there are thousands and thousands of them (always pink). They are unfortunately very poisonous. I love an English garden, and so we dug up a few and planted them in our garden. Ever since, we have had self-seeded foxgloves (since they are pretty). I bought a white one from Bunnings too. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42886765198048679002020-12-12T09:47:55.009+10:002020-12-12T09:47:55.009+10:00We have the same here, every year. Although, last ...We have the same here, every year. Although, last year it actually grew enough to produce some flowers that then fruited. It seems the possum doesn't like the flowers or fruit as it left them alone whilst eating everything round it!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18244693029316745459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-13925534154984102992020-12-12T04:42:46.132+10:002020-12-12T04:42:46.132+10:00What a gorgeous foxglove! I haven't yet grown...What a gorgeous foxglove! I haven't yet grown them, but have always admired them.<br />Your garden looks very inviting. I hope you are able to get all the rain you need.<br /><br />We are in a sorry state here in America. It is unbelievable to me how little some of our citizens care for their fellow beings. They are so determined to "live free", that it's killing us. So grateful that your area has gotten the virus under control. We are counting down the days until sanity once again takes over with our new leader.<br /><br /><br /><br />Blessings to you and yours...daisy ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06129079277073067462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-72850776559214300982020-12-12T01:22:56.993+10:002020-12-12T01:22:56.993+10:00Rhonda, I thoroughly enjoy your posts and photos. ...Rhonda, I thoroughly enjoy your posts and photos. It is so nice to see flowers and plants growing and in bloom when we here in the States (I reside in the State of Tennessee) are looking at bare trees and garden boxes. I wish to also thank you for your Weekend Reading Posts. I enjoy going through all the links and even at 79 yr old it keeps the mind functioning with learning. Bless you and yours in this Holiday Season.Gumball08https://www.blogger.com/profile/05876966519035011261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-33609588593131999442020-12-11T21:37:52.427+10:002020-12-11T21:37:52.427+10:00I love your Foxgloves Rhonda, they are one of my f...I love your Foxgloves Rhonda, they are one of my favourite flowers and I positively encourage them to grow all over our small holding. They are virtually a free flowering weed in most parts of the UK and can be seen along lots of train tracks and riverways. They are brilliant for the bees and wildlife aren't they and I love watching little fuzzy bottom disappearing into each flower.Sue https://www.blogger.com/profile/04947919568474743963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-60255559891543866512020-12-11T20:06:57.599+10:002020-12-11T20:06:57.599+10:00you have a lovely garden, how lucky to get foxglov...you have a lovely garden, how lucky to get foxglove to grow - even though I have the benefit of uk woodland behind my fence, a foxglove has never made it's way over .. we aren't suppposed to pick or dig them up here as they are a wildflower but I often see them in the Summer, they are my favourite wildflower. Interesting that you have bees from the UK - they are so precious and in decline, I wish we could all grow gardens on flat roofs on our houses and install beehives on the space!Elderberry-Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197689596360708239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-34982532503839896582020-12-11T18:09:35.413+10:002020-12-11T18:09:35.413+10:00Hi Stephenie, I've heard things are bad in you...Hi Stephenie, I've heard things are bad in your hospitals and Covid cases continue to rise. I'm really pleased you're safe and sound in your cabin. xxrhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-89931083901175851202020-12-11T18:08:12.105+10:002020-12-11T18:08:12.105+10:00Chel, I planted mine when I did because Bunnings s...Chel, I planted mine when I did because Bunnings started selling potted foxgloves here in September. I refused to buy them because they were $30ish for three plants. I hoped they'd flower in winter buy it was warmer than usual and maybe that slowed them down. I'll try March next year and see what happens. Thanks for letting me know. xxrhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-16492013267330271382020-12-11T17:48:13.218+10:002020-12-11T17:48:13.218+10:00Rhonda, I asked our Council gardeners when they pl...Rhonda, I asked our Council gardeners when they plant hollyhocks and they said in March and I presumed it would be the same for foxgloves too as I think both were flowering for the Carnival of Flowers. Of course planting time would be different where you are. They are such beautiful flowers. I have my packet of seeds ready and waiting for autumn. Nanna Chelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07500527266771727074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-53020102124918463102020-12-11T13:23:49.649+10:002020-12-11T13:23:49.649+10:00I saw a possum hanging upside down in my Poplar tr...I saw a possum hanging upside down in my Poplar tree once. It was so funny! That is great that your borders are open, and that you are getting tourists. Things are dire in our hospitals. I feel so badly for the doctors and nurses. They are so overworked, and the hospitals are overcrowded. Being at home is very comforting. All the work in our homes and gardens that we have done is really paying off now. Wonderful news about your rain. We need some snow up here in the San Gabriel mountains of California. It has been a dry year.TheAwakenedSoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636961399581011120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-39415901482901280202020-12-11T13:02:51.518+10:002020-12-11T13:02:51.518+10:00I’m sorry to hear that, Bernie. We don’t have a po...I’m sorry to hear that, Bernie. We don’t have a possum problem here although we have a lot of possums. I guess they have enough wild plants to eat. rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4876557174122839142020-12-11T10:55:00.408+10:002020-12-11T10:55:00.408+10:00Lovely garden Rhonda. I am jealous of your passion...Lovely garden Rhonda. I am jealous of your passionfruit vine as mine was ravaged by possums. They ate everything leaves, flowers and fruit. Nothing diswaded them😫 cheersBerniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420022045202632797noreply@blogger.com