SPRING

The Backyard.


Spring is here, our backyard is looking good, so alive, the blossoms of the nectarine are so pretty, other deciduous trees come back showing off the leaves, the roses are looking great with their glossy leaves and the clivia are showing the buds and look so healthy.

Clivia PLants

Other plants-hippeastrum is showing the first buds but the euphorbia is in full bloom.

Abutilon and nasturtium flowers add colours to the yard, and the jasmine spreads the fragrance gently, it is lovely.

I think the hydrangea bushes will have a lot of flowers this year, the plants are very healthy and springing beautifully, they look very promising.


The backyard is so green, lush and with dots of colours in here and there, and it is very pleasant to be there particularly on a sunny day.

Last but not least is the vegetables patch, all the herbs are coming back, the chives, mints, thyme and the sorrels are leafy.  I saw shoots of asparagus, only two crowns we planted but they are enough for us and the Swiss Chard still stands and growing alright from last winter.   Planted tomatoes plants already from self-seeds, hopefully they will give me a good harvest.

Must pick some lemons, rosemary, a roast lamb is on the menu this weekend.  Easy cooking is my choice this time, and some tips I will share.

Roast Spring Leg Lamb

1200 g leg of lamb

Juice of half lemon, and mixed fresh rosemary

Salt and oil to rub

Preparation for the lamb to roast.

Wash and pat it dry

Rub the meat with juice of lemon, rosemary and salt

Place it on a roasting tray, drizzle the lamb with oil and add 1/3 cup water

Method

Set the oven up to 175 degrees C (oven forced)

Place the prepared meat on the middle of the oven and bake for 22 minutes.

Reduce the heat to 150 degrees C and continue cooking for 45 minutes for just tender and pink

Take it out of the oven, and leaf on the baking dish for 11 minutes.

Transfer the meat to a warm dish cover with foil, before carving.

Make the gravy out of the juice from the lamb,  by adding some stock and thicken it with flour and butter.  Salt and season to taste.

Everyone has different method of roasting, but I think there is a standard method to roast meat, I do follow it as well.  But often I do my own way as long as it works.  The sample is this roast of spring lamb, it worked beautifully.  As for the garnishes it is as your own choice.  I did with baked un pealed sweet potato, parsnip and boiled peas dressed with butter.  The meat was pink, juicy and tender,  we had a good meal and family loved it.

I hope you like the tips-my method how to roast this spring lamb.

Today is the second Sunday of September, a very sunny and beautiful spring weather, I wish you all to have a lovely day, and enjoy the Season!

Until Next Post

Susy

Orchids 2016

Cymbidium orchid is easy enough to grow and to care for, this year I have more new orchids to add to my collection. 

Beautiful Orchid Flowers

New Orchids from Phalaenopsis to Tracyanum.

We had a great time visiting an Orchid Show in Sale, and I took home Tracyanum orchid. It is so pretty, and it has a lovely fragrance.

Another new orchid is Pleione - peacock orchid,  it was a gift of a friend, thanks, Anne. It is in flower now, I am very proud and pleased that it is doing so well.

Australian native orchids are beautiful with its fragrance, I have a couple of those, dendrobium and Dendrobium speciosum.  The flowers are not looking great this year, but I am hopeful next year they will be flowering better.

A new dendrobium, a gift of Chris from the Gippsland Orchid Club.  Thank you.

Now it has finished flowering, and I am hoping that the plant grows well and it will have more flowers in the future.

My orchids are overall not doing badly but could be better.  The family has been enjoying the blooms, they make a beautiful display inside the house.  From Autumn to Early Spring we have an orchid, and soon in late Spring to Summer, we will have a fresh cut flower of roses and hydrangeas.  It is good to have fresh flowers throughout the year for our home.

Added 10 of  September from Dendrobium grower in Traralgon.  Two beautiful dendrobium speciosum orchids.  Bekarghi and Kayla.
 

Dendrobium Speciosum Bekarghi

Dendrobium speciosum Kayla

Until Next Post

Susy