Scarecrow's Log: 29:11:2009:
The Black Sultana Grapes on the back pergolahave survived the heat
and are filling out nicely with the rain.
Temperatures this week:
Lowest Min 8.8C
Lowest Max 19.5C
Highest Max 30.4C
18mm Rain
Lowest Min 8.8C
Lowest Max 19.5C
Highest Max 30.4C
18mm Rain
Milder temperatures, chilly at times, with some rain and very strong winds have been a feature of this week...sounds like a second chance at spring...maybe! 
What's happening in the garden?
We have been settling in those new little chicks.
They have had their first dust baths, love anything green and they didn't need any training to devour their daily feast of collected earwigs!!!
It's great to see these tiny little chicks jumping after the pesky grasshoppers too...I can't wait to let them loose in the veg patch. 
The daily load of earwigs...
...being devoured!!!
The fruit trees have set fruit and it is developing well and hanging on during the strong wind storms.
No sign yet of the cherries splittingwith the rain we have been getting!
The Apples are looking good!
I have let a few Purple Dragon carrots flowerin the hope of collecting some seed from them.
The Jerusalem Artichokes along the new chook fenceare growing rapidly
and should provide some welcome shelter soon!
Propagation:
Seeds:
- Acacia aneura - Mulga from Chris at Under the Mulberry Tree in Alice Springs (thank you)
- Acacia dealbata - Silver Wattle from Cornucopia Seeds via Tully (thank you)
- Acacia decurrens - Black Wattle from Cornucopia Seeds
- Albizia julibrissin - Pink Silk Tree from Cornucopia Seeds
- Billardiera scandems - Appleberry from Outback Chef
- Cajanus cajan - Pigeon Pea from Cornucopia Seeds
- Georgina's Yam from Tully
- Nitraria billardieri - Nitre Bush from Outback Chef
- Ocimum tenuiflorum syn sanctum - Native Thyme from Outback Chef - this sounds more like a Basil to me
- Psidium cattleianum var. lucidum - Cherry Guava - Yellow from Green Harvest
- Rhagodia parabolica Fragrant/mealy saltbush - home saved seeds
- Scaevola spinescens - Native Current Bush from Outback Chef
- Tamarindu indica - Tamarind from Green Harvest (thank you Tully )
- Tasmannia lanceolata - Mountain Pepper from Outback Chef
* = seeds were soaked overnight in just boiled water to aid germination
+ = seeds were scarified, lightly scratched with fine sandpaper to assist germination.
Planting out:
Some yellow Yarrow into the compost bed.
New in the Garden This week:
On a sad note one of our windbreak trees in the front garden came down in a wind storm last week. We had to get the power company out to re-attach the power line that was left dangling (but still connected to the house). 
I now have to cut my way through all the branches to see if the tiny trees/shrubs recently planted below it have survived. This tree was a favourite of birds on hot days with the bath beneath it.
We shall miss it. 
A crater a metre deep has been left behind!
Weekly Harvest Tally:
Doesn't include Greens fed to the chooks on a daily basis or herbs picked for use in the kitchen for cooking or tea making.
- Strawberries***30g
- Loganberries***100g
Eggs
- 11 from the Farmyard Ferals
- 2 from the remaining 4 Ginger Girls (2 died in the heatwave )
- 2 from Blackie
