Kainga, where Roses bloom, life is lived at a gentler pace.Living Simply, doing all those good things like stitching, gardening, cooking and reading.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A New Shirt,meet "Graham Thomas"and a Vegemite Recipe.

Hello,

I made this shirt out of stretch material late last week. I bought a renmant at Good Sammy's during the winter. There was enough material to make one of my favourite patterns.
I have used the Butterick pattern for a while now. It is a great pattern because the shirts are both for summer and winter. The cross over style is so easy to make. When I was washing out the material I found two price tags one was for $2.50 and the other one was for $3.00. I don't remember which one I paid but it certainly was a good price for a shirt. There was about a metre left over and I have given this to a lady in town here who makes quilts and clothes for children in Botswania. The roses are loving this great weather we have been having. I went out this morning and enjoyed the scent from "Graham Thomas." Graham is another David Austin rose which has fully double cupped blooms. It has the most beautiful strong tea rose scent. I have this planted at the end section of our back lawn. From a distance you look through another rose covered archway to this rose at the end. Red and Yellow roses show up in the garden. Other roses tend to blend in.

You may be wondering why the Vegemite jar is out in the garden next to a gardenia in a pot. I will let you into one of the best gardening secrets/tips I have been given. If your gardenia is looking a bit yellow and is in need of a boost just do the following. Mix about a tablespoon of vegemite into about a litre of water and mix until disolved. A little hot water will help this along. Then when the mixture is mixed add this to a nine litre watering can. Pour this over your gardenia's and you won't believe the transformation of good health in your gardenia. A day or so later you will be blessed with the most healthiest plant and certainly more blooms than you thought possible. I have never been given the exact amount of vegemite but I found that about a tablespoon does the job.


The other week at a Garage Sale I spyed this lovely wooden wheelbarrow. It had to come home with me. I have several wheelbarrows spaced around the garden. This one is a more decorative one but others are old and are great for growing strawberries in. We had our last gathering on Saturday for Garden Club. We will resume again in about March,hopefully by then the worst of the summer heat will have been and gone. Thank you to everyone who expressed concern regarding David's accident. Hopefully no more motor cyclists will be landing in his back seat again.
May each new day bring you sunshine and flowers.
Bev C



13 comments:

Pauline said...

Darn! I wish I had some gardenias so I could tell people I feed them with vegemite. What a terrific hint! Your new top looks nice, Bev.

chris said...

Hi Bev, I will go and do my gardenia NOW! I had forgotten about that 'great Aussie hint".
Much love. Cxx

Cubby House Crafts said...

Love your wheelbarrow! I have a couple in the garden...a small one my hubby made that I painted with folk art and the other is about 100 years old that I sit potted plants in!

Anita said...

Hi Bev, does vegemite also help keep gardenia alive. Every gardenia I've had clags it. Bit like some people can bake scones and some people are not successful at it. lol. Kind regards, Anita

Chookyblue...... said...

Graham Thomas is beautiful.......I must get one........

Vickie said...

oh nice fabric for a summer top.well done it looks great...I sooo love your wheelbarrow what a unique object..hmmm vegemite to the gardenia eh? Ok I will give it a shot on the weekend,cheers Vickie

Jossie said...

You clever girl. I know Vegemite (here we have Marmite) is good for people but never thought it would help plants too. Next summer I'll try. Do you think they help my poor looking roses?
Your shirt is lovely. What a bargain!

Sue said...

Great tip for the Gardenias...I nearly killed mine when we went on hols and left it alone for 4 cool days. You'd have thought it would cope. Love you new wheelbarrow too.

Kate/Massachusetts said...

Does the vegemite/gardenia tip apply only to summer watering or do you use it all year long? I have a potted gardenia that is now in a cool sunroom...hoping to nurse it through the winter.

Your David Austin is gorgeous!

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Hi Bev...great gardening tip!!! What a sweet little top you have made...Happy Gardening to you♥x

Mylene said...

Great job on the shirt, it looks lovely.
Beautiful yellow roses.

Cath Ü said...

Love the roses.. the top looks great and I have heard about Vegemite being used instead of rooting powder.. you mix a little in water and dip the plants into it... hubby is going to try it on our transplants... I will tell him about the watering as plant food... I am sure most plants would benefit from this.....
Cath Ü

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Bev. Love your beautiful roses. Your wooden wheel barrow is soooooooo very neat. Love it. Hugs Judy