NANA'S FLOWERS.POTTING UP

Only been away for 3 weeks................however the plants have been busy .................lots of flowers......

Bev and Ray..................many thanks for this orchid...............I love the tiny flowers............Singapore had some beautiful orchids on display at the airport............Home of Orchids...

Banksia Rose......................Such a cheery site to see...................really glowed.

Even .. Gold Bunny Rose is starting to put on its own display............love the purple iris as a contrast.

Cuttings for Hospital Auxillary Open Garden.......................have started to come into bloom....................hope more come out by the end of the month...............visitors to the gardens want to buy plants......If this is a success will try to grow a larger display for 2013.

Potting up.....................visited a garden at Natya............come home with some cuttings...........

finished...............now to keep them moist ..............hope that some grow............The big one on the left is a ...........one sided Net Bush - RED........ just loved it..................Come the autumn will plant out............that is if I have success........here's hoping.

Sunday was a beautiful day for visiting gardens. At Natya there is a Emu Bush collection..................a very hardy plant of the arid places in Australia......................such a varied display....................from ground covers ...to quite large shrubs...................some a mass of colour..............................Many are mauve to purple flowers................spectacular sight.......No pictures to show.....sorry.

Take care, love from

NANA ON THE FARM

VETCH BEING CUT AND STORED

Cut vetch being pushed up into a pile. ..................then this vehicle will drive over and over it..................to compress and get the air out..................vetch will keep for ages.

Load being tipped ready for compressing............

Rake on the tractor that will push the vetch into the pile............

Home again and catching up on the happenings........................This pile of vetch will be put under a tarp and left till needed to feed out to cows...........................

We had a lovely rain last week,...............................Barley is starting to turn a beautiful golden colour.....................................HARVEST TIME..................is nearly here..................

Love from

NANA ON THE FARM

NANA AT TULLAMARINE AIRPORT.... SINGAPORE

Nana leaving for the UK.........................big hug from Takara

Singapore.................picture from bus.....................flats and apartments..................they are built in self contained small communities............have own shops. pools, play grounds etc..................You can have one car per family..........................and that car has to be replaced every TEN years........................no old vehicles allowed....

I DIDN'T GO HERE...................................Squat toilet........................I was lucky that they had the normal toilet to use.........................but couldn't resist taking this photo to share..................my knees wouldn't have bent ......................................

This is a section of the Buddist Temple..........................very big........................this is amazing the decoration's on the roof.............They have a BUDDA in the temple that cost 1 Million Singapore Dollars.......................

Trip to family in UK was wonderful................Miss them already.

Love

NANA ON THE FARM

 

LONDON-SINGAPORE

Terrace Houses, ..saw stone cottages, went on winding country roads, ...roit of flowering baskets....it was amazing....wonderful....with family in UK.

As it happened it was Zayne's 6th Birthday, a very special moment, .............baking up cake.

Going to School.................if the Parent's didn't drive the students to school..........................this was the way to travel.......Great Scooters.

Now these are the special scooter racks at the school......................but some of the children prefered to hang them on the fence.......

At the entrance to school.

Nana and Gran gave this Hero's Factory for Zayne's Birthday

Sorry about the picture being on it's side, ..................haven't learn't how to adjust. At Gatwick Airport ......................................................on my way home. ....The Welcome received made my trip one to treasure..............................for a long, long time.

Family  I am leaving behind in UK>>>>> will miss you all very much...

Arrived at Singapore........................Tiger Balm car.......................two brothers made up this very popular balm in the 1930's ............................This is the car which they used to advertise with............A beautiful theme park. ................Mansion demolished ..................but all the garden is still there  to visit.

What a great TIGER...................at the entrance.

SINGAPORE.....

Went to the Changi War Cementary..............................loving tended by gardeners...............I felt so sad to read the names .......................and the ages..........all young men in their 20's..................Hopefully ................it will never again happen.........

SINGAPORE ..................a city of highrise flats and apartments.........................Over 5 Million people live on this island..............................Everywhere you go there's places to have a meal........................people like to come out in the evening and eat.........................

Visited the Zoo at night..................saw many animals that only come out to browse and eat at night...........Then tripped around the island  on a bus tour ....................They only have one dairy farm.............grow orchids for sale to the rest of the world............Vegies are growing in greenhouses.....................but not with hydophonics........................just a spray of nutrients..........AMAZING.......Always hot and humid....................Great accommodation,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,near bus stop..............always a taxi if needed............................They have the 2nd largest container port in the world........................it went for miles around the coast...................some cranes are operated from a computer....................do four at a time................turn around is very fast....................Most of the time there are up to 500 ships waiting to dock........................lovely deep water,...............calm because of the protection from islands...............

Back home............and ugh it was so cold..............

Love to everybody.

NANA ON THE FARM..

MORE OF LONDON FAMILY

 

Kids are working hard at school work.........so much to do in the first week back at school................Dad and Mum spend a lot of time helping them..............they should do well......

Mum walks to school .................but the scooter is the chosen transport mode for the school kids...........Surprised that most of the students come this way, ............they have special scooter................racks ....................

Don't I look beautiful..................we are going to a wedding.............the next door family's daughter is the bride...

This the bride and groom.............it was a wonderful day..........lots of great Indian food..........and we just love the wedding outfits.

 On Sunday we visited the WORLD GARDEN.......in Kent.............Lullingstone Castle....... These are succulents displayed ..............The plants were in their shapes........................ of  the countries of their origin......background...........A labour of love........Suprised to find a Eucalyptus collection............Great day.

 Nana and grandchildren with the owner....................TOM HART DYKE..............a very inspiring gardener.....................What he has achieved is amazing...............and only has a few volunteers helping............Sad that the taxes have forced the castle to be divided up into apartments...............Another time will go a tour of the castle that is open to the public...........Tom has a Australian Plants Society group in the UK...................have promised to forward some information from our group in Victoria.............Tom lived in Australia for 12 months,,,,..............especially in Tasmania.............loved our country.....Still has  plans to expand the plantings........................Surprised to find a golf course.........walking tracks.........horse riding areas.......and a RomanVilla here.

At work in the allotment................Winter is on the way.......... Have been eating the succulent corn cobs.................yum.....................Also had some rhubarb stewed up for sweets.

Can you see the squirrel on the roof...................They are a common site...................but to me I get excited every time they come..............Not very big....................but they have such a beautiful tail....

Seen some magpies.............but not a lot of birds around at present...........

Plans are now in effect...............cakes for party.............are in the oven.......party bags packed.........now we are just waiting..

Life is very full on here in London............

Wish you all could be here sharing in the FUN.

Lots of Love to all.

NANA ON THE FARM.

 

 

IN LONDON...

 Front of house...................lots of Row houses........this street is a closed street............great for kids.

 Family getting school work done..............Mum helping.

 Dad looking on...........

Big English trees at the end of the garden............from the kitchen window.............glass makes it rather dull....... very green............

Grandies are back in school after the summer vacation................AND we are getting ready for a PARTY..........................a 6 year old party...

The weather has been lovely,...........some rain............but not a problem.............Loving it here with all the family........

Back soon.

NANA ON THE FARM

MORE OF DUBAI

 

 

Boats unloading at the wharf .................next to the road.................this scene from bus window.

 Sand drift.............nearly covering the fences to keep the camels from the road.................Sometimes the wind uncovers the fence and it topples over...

 

 Date Palms are grown in oasis's and wadi's ............

 

Great roads......................

Many Markets............wonderful displays................Ice Cream was the best.......especially after a bus trip.........................The barren mountains in the background ...........very rocky.......lots of oasis..........The City of Dubai used much of this rock for building..................

 

Fresh food..........most will be gone by evening..

Dubai, I loved my visit to this country. .................A land of contrast................much like Australia.........
More later.
Nana on the farm