This Lamb Dish Is Amazing! - Mar 27, 2025
Dear gardening friends
Autumn is here so it's time to garden again.
It's just so nice to find a nursery who is still growing Mini Roses. The guy from Canberra, who supplied all the nurseries, and big sheds retired, and that's why they have been so hard to find.
So when we found a grower who had these super popular Roses we said we'll take the lot. So now we have these Mini Roses in the most beautiful colours.
They are covered in flowers and so inexpensive at just $18.99.
Some have slightly larger flowers so you can choose the varieties you love the most. They are beautiful, come see.
It's purple day and I've just looked up and there's James's smiling face. He looks 10 years younger today, he's just returned from another cruise. He's come to tell me how rough it was this time. On the way to New Zealand, they struck cyclone Alfred.
He was sailing on a huge ship called The Ovation of The Seas, with just under 6,000 passengers and a few thousand staff. The waves were huge, up to 10 metres. Everyone got sick, but I didn't get sick, he's telling me.
We missed two ports, the Bay of Islands and Christchurch. The winds would have blown them onto the rocks in Christchurch. Such a shame, but safety first.
The Captain retired after the trip, after 45 years of service. He announced as they arrived back in Sydney that because the trip was so, how's it going, they would all get vouchers to spend next time.
James has already used his voucher.
He's done 23 cruises with his wife, no he's not rich, he tells me, we just save up, and go on cruises. We love it.
What do you really love about cruises?
The cruise life is the holiday, and the ports are a bonus.
Have you ever done a cruise, Tim?
Mate I could think of nothing worse, I'd be jumping off as we were leaving Sydney harbour, and I'd swim to Manly.
James has a great shirt on today. I give him the purple plant to hold, it is Purple Day. He gets the shirts at LOWES. He's fun to listen to.
We have a cuppa.
I wanted to show you just how big Tibouchina Alstonville can grow. I just spotted this magnificent tree growing in Ingleburn. It's at least 6 metres high and 6 metres wide, and it's covered in these beautiful purple flowers.
I've seen Tibouchina Alstonville planted as street trees in Summer Hill. They look so spectacular when they flower like this every autumn. The more rain we get in summer the better they look in Autumn.
Tibouchina are thirsty plants, that's why they grow better in the ground, than in pots. They can search for water themselves on those hot days.
Alstonville is famous for its tree lined streets. The guy who bred this magnificent tree had a nursery up that way so he donated heaps to the local council.
They can be pruned and kept smaller. Simply prune them back hard in spring then feed with Tim's Cow manure. Mulch around the base with Woodchip to help stop the water from evaporating.
Gardening is simple.
Come and see us for all your Tibouchinas. We have Alstonville and new dwarf varieties that stay small.
Tibouchina "Little Beauty" only grows one metre high.
It's time to fertilise your indoor plants so what should you use. I've used Tim's FAST FOOD on my Fiddle Leaf Fig and it's grown enormously. It's grown up to the window. I think it wants to look out.
Tim's FAST FOOD is a granular fast acting fertilser that turns your plants bright green. The leaves will grow huge, your plants will reach their full potential. It contains everything that plants need for healthy green growth. It costs just $19.99. Come get a bottle while it's raining.
I cooked this beautiful dish last night. I started dreaming about it late in the afternoon even though I knew I really had to eat Pumpkin Soup.
The Lamb chops won. They cooked beautifully with the Eggplant, Onion, Garlic, Capsicum, Mushrooms and Cherry Tomatoes. I drizzled honey and soy sauce over the top with a squeeze of fresh Lemon juice.
I've sprinkled fresh Rosemary over everything then cooked it in the oven on 180 degrees for about 35mins. I always use fan forced.
Served with a big plonk of Hummus. You could add Broccoli. It's time to plant Broccoli and Broccolini.
Have you got a Rosemary Plant?
You have to have a Rosemary plant. Mine is growing in a huge terracotta pot using Tim's Best Potting mix. It's my most used herb, I love it.
Honey from Dan's beehive.
Happy gardening
Tim