Most of the time, my blogging schedule has me sitting in front of the computer as soon as I'm awake. So a cup of coffee is essential if I'm going to make any sense at all.

And it got me thinking, I'm sure every other garden blogger enjoys either a herbal tea or a mug of freshly ground coffee as they sit down to compose their posts for the day. Then WHAM!!!...an idea hit the fore. Wouldn't it be great if we started a new meme where everyone showed off their coffee (or tea) mug and shared their caffeine preferences?

So here's my choices (the cup above is actually my son's but I thought I would use it for this illustration as it's a great coffee mug - he only enjoys Milos in it BTW);

What's your preference - coffee or tea?

Mine is definitely coffee. I do like some teas but coffee always gets me going.

Instant or Brewed?

In the mornings it has to be instant. However, I will usually put my little Turkish stove top pot on once I've finished and then sit back and relax with my wife before heading off to work. It's our little thing....

How do you take it?

White. One teaspoon of coffee and one spoon of sugar.

Do you have a favourite cup?

I did - until it got broken. It was a Mr Happy cup that I was given for a birthday present. Nowadays I just try to go for the biggest cup.

How many will you enjoy during a normal day?

It used to be ten. But I've cut back to four now as I read somewhere that four was the maximum one could have without any health side effects (though I'm sure some will disagree with this).

Does it matter if you don't start the day with a coffee/tea?

Yes. I get grumpy and somehow feel grubby like I haven't had a shower. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I started a day without a cuppa.

Now it's your turn. Choose 5 people you know that are coffee/tea drinkers and ask them how they take it.

I'm not going to select 5 people but if you would like to run with it take it on and share your coffee drinking habit with us all.

UPDATE:

• Here's Val's offering and she's bought a few coffee drinkers out of the closet if you keep reading her comments.
• Rosengeranium doesn't drink coffee.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (7)

I was tagged by Kathie Thomas over at Virtual Assistant. Cheers Kathie! Being tagged means that I need to share 7 Random facts about myself and tie them to my blog Gardening Tips 'N Ideas.

So here are my 7 Random Facts:

1. Offering gardening tips to other gardeners seems like preaching to the choir but I realised early in the piece that you can never know everything - especially when it comes to gardening. Even though I offer garden tips and inspirational ideas on my blog it's mainly the things I found out from others.
2. I would love to take a year traveling around the world blogging from different gardens, both renowned and hidden secrets. If someone beats me to this one, let me know and I shall subscribe immediately.
3. My greatest gardening triumph came when I first succeeded propagating some lavender cuttings. It hooked me from that point onwards and I've never looked back.
4. I've always been intrigued by the idea to garden naked, but I'm not sure I would ever go through with it - (a) the fences are too low, and (b) I can't afford trauma counseling for all 4 of my kids.
5. I secretly desire that one day someone will nominate my garden for Australian Garden of the Year. I'm not sure such a competition exists but if it did could you imagine the size of the trophy - whoppingly huge, I'm sure.
6. As I'm looking back over the history of my blog - from the security of my banana lounge perched on the patio - I hope that I will be able to reflect on all the gardeners I was able to help inspire and encourage in their hobby. Who know's, maybe this blog might be instrumental in helping young people take up gardening instead of spending their life on the PlayStation. Wouldn't that be awesome!
7. It was my birthday yesterday. I turned 35 and became really mellow as I contemplated what a mid-life crisis might look like. Hopefully it includes a red, convertible mower.

And for the 7 people I'm about to tag, here are the rules of engagement;

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their own blog with their 7 random facts as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.

Here are 7 of my favorite blogs and or people:

1. Marcus Holt - Holt Press
2. Scott Vawser - No Guarantees
3. Colleen Vanderlinden - In the Garden Online
4. Val - Val has her say
5. Kim - A Study in Contrasts
6. Peter Holt - Holties House
7. Kerri - although she's very busy at the moment at Colors of the Garden

Adding Kerri to my list just reminded me that I promised to dish out the Thinking Blogger's Award that Kerri so generously awarded me. I promise I will do that this week.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (8)

Purple would have to be one of the most common flower colours growing in most gardens. Shades of violet, mauve and lilac can make up a large part of our garden colour scheme.

So, as to start a meme - or you can comment here - name 10 purple flowers that are currently blooming in your garden or that will over the next few months.

Here's my ten;

1. Hydrangeas


2. Tibouchina "Jazzie"


3. Lavatera Tree Mallow


4. English Lavender


5. Alyogyne Hueglii - Native Tree Hibiscus


6. Agapanthus - that have just finished blooming recently


7. Native Violets


8. Buddleia Davidii


9. Hellebores


10. Borage

If you have another colour that's prevalent in your flower garden, try creating a similar list with that colour.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (2)

I no longer subscribe to any magazines but occassionally pick one up at the newsagents if it catches my attention. So, being the nosy blogger that I am, I'm keen for you to divulge your personal preferences when it comes to subscribing or buying gardening magazines.

And, has your subscriptions changed since you began reading blogs?

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Ok. Here's a cool meme to share your life in ways you never dreamt, let alone desired.

What fruit and vegetables are sitting in your refrigerator right now. That's right...get up from your computer and go and check what you have residing in there. Then compile a list and pick a few unlikely hero's to target for their responses.

Here's what I found lurking in our fridge;

• Half a cucumber
  
• 3 tomatoes
  
• 2 heads of broccoli
  
• Granny Smith and Hi-early apples
  
• A couple of oranges
  
• A kilo of carrots
  

Alas, none of it is from our garden...yet!

And the people I choose to further this inane conversation are Janet, Andrea, and Claire.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's a challenge to all you gardening addicts out there in cyberspace. If you were only allowed 6 words, or less, to describe your passion for gardening (and they had to make a cohesive phrase) what would you use. Here's some examples to get your creative juices thinking;

Can't get enough enjoyment from gardening
I'd still garden with no limbs
Gardening comes before breathing

Ok. Now it's your turn.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (6)

Nutbuk from nutbuk.blogspot.com tagged me during the week to participate in a book meme. I had been so busy that today is my first opportunity to respond with some answers. So here goes,

1. One book that changed your life?

This would have to be the Bible. I haven't met too many people who haven't read it and been changed by it. You can't help but have your life transformed by what these pages say.

2. One book that you have read more than once?

I'm not a big fiction fan (my wife could actually answer these questions better than I could). Having said that, I'm a fan of Jeffery Archer and while I haven't read any of his novels twice, I easily could.

3. One book you would want on a desert island?

"Getting off Deserted Islands for Dummies"

4. One book that made you laugh?

"Body Language" by Allan Pease. I found it very hard not to analyse people after this book and people-watching became a big hobby of mine. I laugh because I find myself reverting back to some of the postures he explains when I'm in uncomfortable situations.

5. One book that made you cry?

"The Power of One" by Bryce Courtenay. I love stories where the human will prevails.

6. One book you wish had been written?

"The Art of leaving your husband to sit on the couch on Saturday afternoon to watch the footy while drinking a few beers with his mates."

7. One book you wish had never been written?

Romance novels. Ugh!

8. One book you are currently reading?

"A stroke of luck" by Kirk Douglas. It's a mini autobiography of his struggle to regain his life after suffering a massive stroke which left him unable to speak.

9. One book you have been meaning to read?

Lots more autobiographies. Reading the challenges that others have faced in their own lives and careers is not only inspiring but also incredibly helpful.

10. Tag 5 people to do the meme!

Definitely have to choose Val now that she's enjoying life through retirement she'll have lots of time to reply to this, Susan from Takoma Gardener and also Garden Rant, Trey the incredible blogging nurseryman, Andrea from Heavy Petal and finally Chloe another great Australian gardener/ blogger.

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I've been tagged by Val for this new meme. I tried tracing it back to it's source but gave up after 4 blogs so I'll say it's Val's meme!

4 Jobs I've had in My Life
Only 4?

• Commercial Detergent Salesperson
• Chef
• College Bursar
• Youth Pastor

4 Movies I Could Watch Over and Over

• Schindler's List
• The Incredibles
• Any of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy
• Zoolander

4 Websites I Visit Regularly

• Statcounter.com (To see who's been coming to my blog and why?)
• Darren Rowse's Problogger
• Lots of gardening blogs

4 Favorite Foods

• Grilled Eggplant (Aubergine for those who don't call it eggplant)
• Roast Chicken - especially the cholestrol enhancing skin
• Salted peanuts
• Chocolate

4 Places I Would Rather Be Right Now

• Bed - it's 6am on a Public Holiday
• Basking on some deserted, sun-drenched tropical island with my wife
• On a plane - I love travelling in planes
• Laying on a hammock in the garden

4 Books I Could Read Over and Over

• The Bible
• Kane and Able - Jeffery Archer
• My gardening encyclopedia
• The Mighty Blues - A tribute book to the legendary Carlton Blues

4 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over

• As Val said - The Carlton themesong (especially after a game of football)
• Love is all around - Wet Wet Wet
• Vivaldi's Four Seasons
• Any other football team's themesong after a win over Collingwood

• To stretch myself. Trying to balance being true to myself and encouraging others to come on my journey is not any easy task but a great challenge.
• To meet new people. I'm making some great new friends through blogging which I didn't think was possible until I gave it a go.
• To learn more about the things I talk about. I think I've learnt more about gardening through research for this blog than I have in the past 10 years of gardening.
• To make a residual income which will hopefully free me up to do the things that I want to do, rather than have to do.

I'm going to tag Katina, Nelumbo and Erica. Enjoy!

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (3)

I'm a big fan of meme's. It's a little window into a bloggers life that possibly wouldn't be seen through normal posting. The questions can be so random and intrusive and still we love to answer them sharing a view of the world we live in. So, I thought I would start my own this time. Here goes...

If I was only allowed to keep one plant in my garden which would it be?
Definitely my Magnolia Soulangeana. This is so immature at the moment and has only had one flower but I'm optomistic that in the next couple of years it is going to be an awesome winner.

If there was only one thing invented in the past 100 years that I was permitted to keep, what would it be?
My Kombi. I know it only just scrapes in by a few years but it definitely counts. However, seeing as I could only have one thing it wouldn't be able to run without the unleaded petrol I use to keep it motoring,

Name 3 animals you saw yesterday (excluding cats and dogs).
1. Chicken
2. Shetland pony
3. Hermit crab - my eldest son's.

Which season do you like the most?
Summer - definitely. I love being able to do nothing and not having to justify myself. Everyone understands that it's too hot to go and work.

Name the person who inputed the most wisdom into your life?
My TAFE lecturer, Ray Pond. This guy was on a par with the Dalai Lama I think. Just kidding! There have been so many things he has said that I have applied to my life. The number one thing was "Spend the first hour of your day planning the rest of it." Simple, but wise.

This time I'm going to tag Alice (coz she's the blog of the week), Val and Susan. Enjoy!

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