A Little Jar of Lavender

Straight from the garden, a sweetly-scented gift from my two youngest sons.

Solar Panels

 image courtesy of www.techvert.com

 In early June, 18 solar panels were installed on the roof of our house (a 3 kilowatt system).

Over the past few days I have noticed with much excitement that we are generating more electricity than we are using every day, and it's still late winter.  We currently have the old-fashioned type of meter with a dial that spins backwards when we produce more than we use - a fantastic sight!

In September, ETSA (our state's electricity infrastructure provider), will (finally, after more than 3 months) install a smart meter that will mean that we are paid extra for any electricity that we return to the grid.

From now on, in spring and autumn when the days are relatively long and almost always sunny, I am pretty sure we will have no electricity bills, and may even make a profit.  The same is true for summer, although I expect that during heatwaves the air conditioner will probably use up most of the solar power produced.

In the long term, with electricity prices rising exponentially, I believe the solar panels will prove to have been a very wise investment, especially as we were able to benefit from Government rebates that reduced the cost considerably.  The benefit for the environment will be significant too, of course, in a brown-coal dependent state like South Australia.

Since having solar panels installed, I have become much more aware of which appliances use a lot of power, and am trying to restrict their use.  I am much more conscious, for example, of only using the oven when several things are cooking, and not just to heat one item.

Do you have solar panels?  How have your electricity bills been affected?

Nectarine Blossom

The nectarine tree I planted in the back corner of the garden not long ago has just started to flower.  Such delicate, pale pink blossoms!

I chose a nectarine rather than a peach because my children prefer the smooth skins.  The variety is Goldmine, a late season, self-fertile variety with red skin and white fruit.  

Another reason I selected this variety is because the fruit is 'freestone'.  This means that when the fruit is being processed for jam or bottling, the seeds slide away easily from the flesh.  If the variety is 'clingstone' the seeds will cling to the flesh, making processing much more frustrating, in my experience.

I am now itching for the rest of my baby fruit trees to flower.  Spring, I love you so much!

It's Starting to Feel Like Spring

Days like today, where the sun shines and the breezes are balmy, can easily deceive us into thinking that spring has arrived early.  The garden is certainly acting as if spring has sprung.

Yet before I start planting with too much enthusiasm I have to remind myself that freezing, wet weather could be just around the corner.

the beginning of rhubarb

rocket in flower

just emerging peas

chillis left on the plant since last summer

broadbeans