Garden Update

Posted on February 21, 2013 by thecompletebook

I recently spent the morning in the garden with our gardener / handyman and I am very proud of our efforts, everything is neat and tidy again. Sadly though it is quite dry. We have been enjoying a very hot summer with very little rain.

Our fig tree has been very kind to us this year and produced more than enough fruit for us and all the birds.

I rescued this succulent from a rubbish heap and it has thanked me by growing beautifully.

Our attempts at creating a topiary peach tree have been fairy successful, however it grows so fast that we can’t always keep up with it. I’m still baffled why the previous owners planted where it is. If left to its own devices, the two bedrooms behind it would never get any sunlight.

For some obscure reason this rope was placed in the tree to be kept out of the way and has just stayed there. Oh well, it’s original I guess.

I am very happy to see the first peppadews of the season.

54 thoughts on “Garden Update”

Bam's Kitchen on February 21, 2013 at 07:12 said:

So beautiful and green and very tidy. Spring is here! Take care, BAM

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 08:59 said:
  
  Thanks very much Bam. 🙂 xo
  
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Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on February 21, 2013 at 07:15 said:

Mandy, such a pretty space you have! I’m so glad your fig tree is growing well, and the succulents are gorgeous! I’ve been taking photos of our garden too, and it also has succulents, but only little echeveria, not huge agaves like your magnificent specimen!

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 09:00 said:
  
  I wish I knew what the names of everything is in the garden Celia – we have another type of succulent too which grows beautifully big and makes babies all the time. Would be fabulous to send you a baby of each one. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
  
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Glenda on February 21, 2013 at 07:33 said:

Wow look at THAT fig tree. Mine is so sick and sad.

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 09:03 said:
  
  Oh no shame Glenda. I hope your fig tree gets back to being healthy soon. Have a super day. 🙂
  
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Sous Chef on February 21, 2013 at 07:51 said:

Our pepperdews are at much the same stage as yours, first time we have ever grown them, a friend gave us the seeds.

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 09:03 said:
  
  Think we are part of a few people who have them growing in our gardens. We must be super special people. 😉 Have a great day Sue and I hope your camera worries are sorted out. 🙂 xo
  
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suckitupnotin on February 21, 2013 at 08:50 said:

Oh my word! Where do you get peppadews from? Ive been looking frantically only to find out you can get them “in secret” from a farmer in Cape Town, as the producers of peppadews land is so strictly guarded

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 09:06 said:
  
  To be quite frank I don’t think the seeds are at all readily available – our plants were growing in the garden when we bought the house so I can’t even help you. Sorry about that. If ever you make your way to Sundays River, I will gladly give you some fruit and you can dry them for the seed. Have a lovely day Caddie. 🙂
  
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  - suckitupnotin on February 21, 2013 at 09:09 said:
    
    Such a pity, I adore them! Thanks so much 🙂 I used to live in Seaview! Have a great day! 🙂
    
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    - thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 09:11 said:
      
      🙂 what a pity you aren’t still “in the area” – we could have made a plan.
      
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Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen on February 21, 2013 at 09:04 said:

What a beautiful and manicured yard you have, Mandy. Mine looks overrun at the best of times. You’ve got that amazing fig tree as well, how lucky you are! You’re quite the gardener! I wish this darn winter would end! xx

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 09:10 said:
  
  Smidge, thank you so much! I do hope your summer arrives soon. Just this morning I woke up and my toes were chilly – the very sad but hard reality that our summer is on its way out – boohoo, poor little me who doesn’t like the cold. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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  - Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen on February 21, 2013 at 09:11 said:
    
    It seems like it just got there, lol!
    
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    - thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 09:16 said:
      
      I know! 😉
      
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Choc Chip Uru on February 21, 2013 at 11:26 said:

Your garden looks so tidy, green and healthy my friend 😀

Cheers
CCU

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 11:53 said:
  
  Thanks CCU. Hope I can keep it up. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
  
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hotlyspiced on February 21, 2013 at 12:40 said:

I love the look of your backyard, Mandy. It’s so spacious! And your pepperdews are coming along so well and how lovely to have an abundance of figs xx

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 13:10 said:
  
  Thanks Charlie. Have a happy day. 🙂 xo
  
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Angie@Angie's Recipes on February 21, 2013 at 15:11 said:

The fig tree looks awesome, Mandy. And you have a huge garden.

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 15:37 said:
  
  Thanks so much Angie. Our garden is not very big. I think the pictures make it look bigger. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
  
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Chica Andaluza on February 21, 2013 at 18:27 said:

It looks lovely, so much hard work. And I love the rope in the tree!

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 21:21 said:
  
  See, we have more in common than we think – I also like the rope in the tree. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
  
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Purely.. Kay on February 21, 2013 at 20:21 said:

Your garden is definitely coming along beautifully. I wish I had a green thumb, maybe when I move out of the city I can have one as well 🙂

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 21:22 said:
  
  You are more than welcome to come and practice in our garden Kay. Have a beautiful weekend. 🙂 xo
  
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dianeskitchentable on February 21, 2013 at 22:56 said:

Oh I am so jealous! I was just reading Adam’s (The Unorthodox Epicure) blog about Meyer lemons & thinking that I just have to try growing them myself. Of course I’ve got quite a wait for the ground to thaw but I understand that they can be grown indoors & I figure maybe I’d get a jump on it.
I see what you mean about that tree being close to your house but I found when we built here that most builder’s landscapers are planting such small trees & plantings that they invariably plant too close to the foundation. We had to take down what could have been a pretty hemlock but it got out of control. Once things really take root though, getting them out & restarting is a major project.
If you ever get a horse stopping by you could use that rope to hitch it.
I really love that succulent!

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 23:44 said:
  
  It’s really strange that people don’t have enough foresight when planting trees and the like so close to foundations. Never ceases to amaze me.
  I will be on the lookout for a horse and if or when he arrive, he can munch on the peach tree to keep it in check. 😉
  Have a beautiful weekend Diane. 🙂 xo
  
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  - dianeskitchentable on February 22, 2013 at 00:03 said:
    
    Ah, they see these small plants & they think they’ll look so lonely moved away from the house. But at least you’ll be ready if a horse does swing by – you could lasso him.
    
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    - thecompletecookbook on February 22, 2013 at 08:12 said:
      
      *runs off to practice lassoing* 🙂
      
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Norma Chang on February 21, 2013 at 23:07 said:

What a big beautiful fig tree. I have to grow mine in a container so that I can bring it into the garage for overwintering so it never gets very large, I do get a few quarts of figs from it though.
Had to get rid of my succulents. My deer keep nibbling on them.

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- thecompletecookbook on February 21, 2013 at 23:45 said:
  
  I remember you saying you have a fig tree in a pot – I really should try that – sort of a big bonsai 😉 I never realised deer have a palette for succulents. Must be fabulous to have deer roaming your garden although I am sure they are quite destructive. Have a super weekend Norma. 🙂 xo
  
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ChgoJohn on February 22, 2013 at 06:54 said:

You have such a large yard, Mandy, and it certainly looks well-tended. Your fig tree is beautiful and so loaded with fruit! Is it normal for things to be so dry this time of year? Is there reason to think that rains are coming? On the other hand, it looks like the perfect climate for your succulents. They all seem to be thriving.
Have a great weekend, relaxing in your yard, a glass of wine in hand. 🙂

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- thecompletecookbook on February 22, 2013 at 08:14 said:
  
  I like the way you think John, relaxing with a glass of wine in hand. 😀 We generally get rain all year around but the seasons have been somewhat odd the last couple of years. Just so long as it isn’t cold, I can handle any weather. Have an awesome weekend. 🙂 xo
  
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GourmetGetaways (@GourmetGetaway) on February 22, 2013 at 09:48 said:

Oh I love my garden too! Your fig tree looks amazing, I really ought to plant one, I wonder if it grows in my area…
Anyway, good job on the garden… you are welcome to some of my rain 😉

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- thecompletecookbook on February 22, 2013 at 10:07 said:
  
  Thanks so much GG. I know from Norma that you can pot a fig tree so maybe that would be an option for you? I would gladly take some of your rain. Have a super weekend. 🙂
  
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Jed Gray (sportsglutton) on February 22, 2013 at 14:04 said:

Thanks for the tour of the “back forty” Mandy and oh how I miss having a fig tree. I had three growing up in California.

Have a great weekend!

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- thecompletecookbook on February 22, 2013 at 14:09 said:
  
  Thanks for taking a walk-a-bout with us Jed. Next fig I eat is for you. Have an awesome weekend too. 🙂
  
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kathryningrid on February 23, 2013 at 03:27 said:

So very lovely, my dearest! I am just now getting started on preparations for seeding and the like in our garden–I’ll be planting and finishing that sort of thing in the next couple of weeks unless we get a surprise heavy freeze after this. Your garden looks beautiful, and any garden that offers both peaches and figs seems pretty nearly perfect to me! xoxoxo K 🙂

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- thecompletecookbook on February 23, 2013 at 08:10 said:
  
  Kathryn, your garden is always so beautiful, I hope you don’t a get heavy freeze. Have a beautiful love filled weekend. I am off to the airport to fetch my hubby who has been away from home for nearly 3 weeks! 🙂 xo
  
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My Inner Chick on February 23, 2013 at 17:35 said:

Mandy,
I LOVE your garden.
I imagine us having a glass of wine sitting under your fig tree :)) Xxxx

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- thecompletecookbook on February 25, 2013 at 15:27 said:
  
  Kim, one day we will, promise! Have a beautiful week ahead. 🙂 xo
  
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GourmetGetaways (@GourmetGetaway) on February 25, 2013 at 09:25 said:

LOL! You inspired me… I got into the garden today, ripped out weeds and planted salad vege’s and more herbs. Thank you for the inspiration 🙂

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- thecompletecookbook on February 25, 2013 at 15:27 said:
  
  Excellent – well done! 😀 So pleased I was an inspiration to you. Have a beautiful week ahead. 🙂 xo
  
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Jessica Maher (@kbelleicious) on February 26, 2013 at 04:45 said:

they are all just beautiful! I am itching wanting to get my hands into my garden for the spring and plant some amazing things this year but I just haven’t had a chance yet. Good thing I have a little time left:) Love that rope it the tree- gives is character:)

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- thecompletecookbook on February 26, 2013 at 07:52 said:
  
  Thanks Belle! If all else fails and you run out of time, you can always hang a rope in a tree too. Hope your weather warms soon. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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Tandy on February 27, 2013 at 19:30 said:

And friend of mine also goes dump diving for plants 🙂

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- thecompletecookbook on February 28, 2013 at 10:01 said:
  
  I have a friend who finds the most incredible things at a dump he visits quite regularly. It seems people throw the most incredible things away. Have a super day. 🙂
  
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Karen on February 27, 2013 at 23:38 said:

Even with lack of enough rain, your green garden looks wonderful…especially your lovely fig tree.

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- thecompletecookbook on February 28, 2013 at 10:23 said:
  
  You are very kind Karen, thank you so much! Don’t think we will have very many figs much longer so making the most of them while I can. 🙂 xo
  
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Zirkie on March 5, 2013 at 12:11 said:

I am so jealous of your fig tree!

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- thecompletecookbook on March 5, 2013 at 15:20 said:
  
  I was just thinking of going to pick a fig to munch, will enjoy it for you. Have a lovely afternoon. 🙂 xo
  
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Michael Beyer on March 11, 2013 at 18:04 said:

Mandy I love the plants in your garden. So different than mine. Love the succulents especially.
– Michael

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- thecompletecookbook on March 12, 2013 at 14:41 said:
  
  Thanks so much Michael. I would love to send you a succulent for your garden. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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