lilly pilly eco christmas tree

What happens in a decorative Permaculture garden for an Aussie Christmas?
Well, the rhubarb is frilly and heathly, with its lovely pink legs. Sage has just started blooming with mauve flowers, fitting right in with the violas, that make their way into festive salads.

Tiny pansies to make salads nourish more than just our bodies

Chives, chamomille, and strawberries and mint give us things to eat (or drink), but the lettuces are spindly - not enough sun and water where I've put them.

Lilly Pilly christmas tree, with Dutch passers-by

I was Eating a quiet Christmas breakfast behind the lilly-pilly christmas tree, when Diana wandered into my garden, all the way from Holland. Diana lived here a few years ago, and is now a freshly-graduated architect, with a lovely new architect man to work with and love. Like the other two Netherlanders who have stayed with me here, she is as sunny as buttercups, and has endless capacity for cheerful hard work. Knowing her character, I'm confident they will succeed at building beautiful buildings together.


Being designers and Dutch, Diana and Rou went straigt to work, reprogramming my automatic dripper system, and planning better ways for me to get my tank water overflow to my thirsty lettuces.
Note the lillies. They were from rejected bulbs my WWOOFer collected and planted while I was overseas. The first ones bloomed on Christmas Eve, giving us a frothy sea of pink above the rocket seedlings to enjoy. To enjoy until the hot day, when the buds were toasted like marshmallows. Had there been more moisture in the soil they may have been fine. So my search continues for a handyperson to help design a better shade watering system for the next 46 degree day we can expect this summer.

Galliger the cat contributes to the Christmas Spirit

How is this for an edible container garden? I found it in the dining room on Christmas morning, Created by Stephan Lau, the German scientist who is staying here over the summer. So next time you are tempted to say that Germans and Scientists are not creative, please recall this snowy scene. It was delicious.


So here's the gist of Melbourne Christmases: they are not white, but blue. Jacarandas, Agapanthus, and whatever Hydrangeas survive our water restrictions. That's what I think of when I picture December, a quiet time for tying up the loose ends of all the years projects and tasks. Merrily.