London has the Chelsea Flower Show, Melbourne has the International Flower and Garden Show and, well, I guess Tasmania has Longford Blooms. Driving through the agricultural township of Longford, in Tasmania's north, you wouldn't immediately suspect that it's home to a hidden wealth of beautifully manicured gardens, a dozen or so of which open their doors every year to a steady stream of hundreds of visitors who come looking for ... Read the Post...
evandale and elderflower
The mid-spring frothy white riot of elderflower heralds the start of a new season of preserving in my kitchen. Starting off slowly with some batches of elderflower cordial, stewed rhubarb and perhaps a few containers of broad bean hummus to be frozen for mid summer spreads, the pace quickly picks up until I'm drowning in jars, resolutely making as yet unfulfilled promises that this will definitely be the year I sort my jar collection and ... Read the Post...
there’s snow on the mountain
A pair of black swans flash their white wing tips against the indigo-grey sky. The weary limbs of apple-burdened trees hang low in the groves. The first hint of yellow in the poplars, and a hint of woodsmoke in the breeze. There's snow on the mountain. ... Read the Post...
goodbye summer
Summer has left us for another year as autumn rolls in like a gentle morning fog. Like all tragic hipsters, autumn is my favourite month (I wish I was more original in my choice but autumn has the alluring smoky, sophisticated charm of a gentleman who dresses well and drinks fine single malt whisky - look, just bear with me, I've been single forever and the men I've been involved with of late have all the charm, allure and sophistication of a ... Read the Post...
