My friend Marziah gave me some garlic last year from one of her great friends, Debbie White. I didn't get around to using it, so I planted it. Posted from Blogium for iPhone
On a positive note, I dug out a 3 year old bed of Dutch Iris, that I planted for $20. About 100 full size bulbs and a kg of bulblets.
These December rains are starting to cause problems. No matter how much I spray, the Downy Mildew is on the march. See the yellow "oilspots", the puckered leaves and the - well - downy fuzz on the rear surface. Any more rain or humidity, that downy will start forming on the clusters. From there the fruit ripens with black, disgusting crap all over them.
Out of one of my other beds this tomato is showing the first signs of nematode problems.
This is a cordyline that was given to me by good friend Marziah. I kept it in my office and it got sick. Then I brought it home to intensive care. NOT the coriander behind it - the stick in front. And it got worse and worse. But I think I'll save it. Even before I brought it home my honours student buddy David had given the plant its last rites.
Dig wide, not deep, plenty of organic matter - the soil needs to be fluffy. Don't disturb the roots, plant in a raised bed and ONLY when the soils are really warm.
Decadent, and vegetarian!
So I cut the insiders and decided to use the hour in the garden. That'll keep the flow and I'll catch the audio later. What a day!
An overcast Saturday after a sunny week, with a little rain due to follow. A great time for anyone who cares about their garden.
I love the way I came back from this trip and found that the tree - of mine - that was invading the street powerlines had been pruned. See the harsh cut towards the right of the frame? Great - huge job and one I couldn't work out how to do. It was worrying me because the branches were fouling the powerlines. 
Ever wonder why Italian parsley survives so well? Probably those foot long roots.
Against advice I bought a Tahitian lime about 15 years ago. I get about six fruit a year, where if I'd bought West Indian I'd be getting hundreds. But a tough prune in winter has brought strong spring growth and - surprise - two great fruit.
I'm here in Singapore but the word is that Adelaide is a full sponge. The end of August has always been a miserable time for me in Adelaide. Winter just refuses to come to an end. So it's probably good I'm here.
I let mine grow a single node each year. It fruits fine. The biggest challenge with figs is to keep the birds off it and the fruit at an acceptable height. At this rate this tree will take 20 year to get 8ft tall. Perfect. Just make sure to pull out all the ground shoots, about three times a year.
Planted a single one of these last season, and they've been maturing all winter. I'll strip all the fruit and lightly prune before I go to Singapore.
A friend gave me some homegrown garlic that I didn't use in time. So I planted it. It has started very strongly; while I'm away in early spring I think it'll really kick off.
