~ Dear Lovely Reader ~ Oh dahlias! Where would our gardens be without them?! So grateful for their comeback and renewed popularity in the garden, it means there are more varieties now available to choose from. As the Autumn days unfold I look to the dahlias for their tell tale signs of slowing down. The […]

Amy: Now we have got water we can get the veg patch going? Any tips on what to plant Jude? Me: Plant lots of love! Let me have a think I will message you tomorrow. A message between Amy @wattleandtwine and I late Sunday night on Instagram. After years of drought and dust storms Amy […]

Do you know how to “bandicoot” potatoes? Bandicooting potatoes is when you gently dig around the base of a still growing potato plant with your hand & harvest 1 or 2 potatoes. You do as little as possible to disturb the plant allowing it to still grow. After finding a potato or two have the […]

Everything I go to post about can seem quite trivial compared to what is going on in the wider world, the continuing devastation of the bushfires here in Australia as we wake up to hear of more destruction and loss, and closer to home the health and wellbeing of family & friends. I’ve had a […]

Is there anything uglier than one of those black plastic compost bins in the garden? It’s alright, you are safe, I’m not going to go on a rant about how much I dislike them. We disguised one of ours by making a box out of timber offcuts to put over it and the box  looks […]

Dear Lovely Reader, As the days turn from late Winter to early early Spring there always comes with the promise of Forget Me Nots. I watch for tiny blue flowers popping through amongst other foliage or along the edge of the wood shed and garden steps. Taking special care to check where they self seeded […]

Dear Lovely Reader, The Albertine Rose & the Potato Vine love each other and to be honest I love them. It’s a match made for our garden. With our climate and where they are planted they don’t get too carried away growing every which way. A  yearly prune and all is good. Albertine has a […]

    Just a heads up to all those interested in history & family trees. For a year now our Lil has been writing a blog called Family, Folk & History. The web address is familyfolkandhistory.com link here: familyfolkandhistory.com  To celebrate its 1st birthday she has added some new resources. ~ There is a great […]

Dear Lovely Reader, Some roses from our Springtime 2019 garden here at Fairy Wren Cottage. Every year it is different. The colours, the shapes, light & reflections. Sending love and a warm Spring breeze, Jude x The modest rose puts forth a Thorn, The humble sheep a threat’ning Horn, While the Lily white shall in […]