I've been away for ages, my old iMac finally gave up the ghost. So I lashed out and bought a spanking new powerbook...yippee!!! It's FAB! Have been away to the desert too, refreshing to be away from technology for a while!

Looks like I got back just in time to farewell Patrina, have a great trip visiting all those wonderful people and places. How 'bout Finbar? Has he taken off to Italy yet.....did I miss the 'virtual' farewell party?

Whats everyone else been up too? Spatz, are u still around? Could you drop me an email to my other address, I lost your contact details when my computer died - so its not that I'm a rude so-and-so that I came to your house and scoffed your hot cross buns etc (etc etc) and disappeared, never to be heard of again!......really its not!

I hope everyones gardens are going well, mine needs some decent rain, but I have carrots, parsnips, peas, turnips, kohl rabi and beets in the ground. Have some leeks almost ready for transplanting. My first Saffron crocus is just emerging from the soil, can't wait to see it flower. Tamarillo flowering for the first time and the quandongs look like they're going to have loads of fruit. I'll pick my first ever quinces this weekend - think I'll make some morrocoan lamb and quince tangine and serve with date and almond couscous. Might make a quince tart as well, but if anyone has a good reciipe for something yummy - I'm open to suggestions.

Happy Gardening All, mudlark

I made some quince jelly with some quinces from a fellow GW person, and it turned out pretty well, if I say so myself, but I also made some "leather" with the pulp in the dehydrator, and that turned out pretty well too, sweetened with a little honey.

BTW, I'm waiting for my saffron flowers to pop up as well - just green tufts so far. Can't wait to get my very first flower, which I intend pressing in a book! I'll make a memory with it *grin*

PP

May 26?.....not too far away, you have obviously found a place to 'put your swag' then....

Patrina, nice thought with the saffron flower, I'm glad your Quince jelly turned out well, I'm not a big fan of jams and jellies, though I really like quince paste....yummy with some good cheese and crackers....when my tree has some more fruit I might attempt it, though by the description of the cooking process I've read about it sounds difficult, hasanyone out there tried to make it - I would be interested to hear how it went.

Any Adelaide Tomato freaks might be interested in knowing that the ABC 891's gardening program on Saturday morning is going to have a feature on tomato growing...gettting ready for the next season etc. Kinda seems strange to be thinking about it already, but I notice there are a few lists appearing on the forum. I'm waiting for winter to really set in, so I can hunker down with the catolgues for a long, thoughtful purusal.

Are Adam and Raymond still around? How are the plans to escape to Armidale going? And Sarah? - I've read a few threads with some expressions of despair over the dreaded fruit fly.....the cooler weather hopefully will bring a reprieve...if not come and join us next season in lovely fruit fly free SA, you won't even need to go to the trouble of growing any tomatoes - just wangle an invitation to Spatz's place!

I notice that the VIctorians amongst us Pep and OZ and others seem to be planning for next year, does that mean the the summer has ended down there? As I write this, Adelaide has another fire ban day in the hills, but I think there is a promise of some genuinely Autumn weather for next week.

Cheers to all, mudlark

Cheers
Mantis

The only downside (to to speak) is that there's no backyard. It's a 15th century cottage that has been renovated. They didn't have back doors and backyards in the 15th century. So my tomato growing will be restricted to containers in the front courtyard.

I am not ready yet for the spring season. Have to get ready for autumn/winter yet. There are still a few things that I haven't sown, and it might get a bit late for that. Oh, well. Can't have everything.

No idea what tomatoes I'll be growing next season, or how many. Let me get rid of this year's plants first.

Great to hear your saffron bulbs are doing well. :)

Finbar, glad to hear you found a place. I have only vague recollections of Tuscany, I was a little world weary by the time my travels had taken me there...I do remember incredibly beautiful countryside. Lucky you to be able linger in such a landscape. My whole time in Italy was frustrating because I had a very over-bearing Aunt in Milan who kept going out and buying me train tickets with return trips a day later...not the way I like to travel...I prefer to get away from the tourist places and drink cups of coffee, and wander around and ponder and drink cups of coffee and wander................. Hee hee, my Aunt used pack me food as well (I think its an Italian Jewish thing....EAT!!!), heaven forbid that I should want to sample the local cuisine in Italy!!

Spatz, good to hear from you, I have a digital camera now, so I will post a pic of the saffron when it does flower. Hey, I was quite early and organised with my winter veg planting and whilst the carrots are doing well inside their 'rabbit exclusion devices', the parsnips had very erratic germination and I am now having a third attempt. Also the warmer weather has meant that the cabbage moths are still about and the brassicas have been hammered, so I will probably need to replant them too. So when all is said and done, why not plant late!!

See ya, mudlark

Great about the camera. Hope you do some bragging soon. I don't want to be the only one here. *winks*
Ps.: Did you receive my email?

yeeees, I received your email, sorry for being so slothful in responding, will do that when I finish here.....PROMISE!

Good Luck with your Autumn planting.

cheers, mudlark