A number of you lovely readers have been asking Lisa from Tasmania, Australia to update us on Great Aunt Ruby. She obliged and I love every second of this update. Great Aunt Ruby rocks! This 99-year-old has more energy than I do. Tell me you don’t want to be her when you grow up?! What an inspiration!
Spring 2015 at Great Aunt Ruby’s:
My lovely energetic Great Aunt Ruby turned 99 this year! Her initial thoughts on cutting back the garden a bit have clearly come to nothing as the whole yard is a thriving mass of flowers and vegetables!!
So much has been happening!! Where to start? Probably in the hothouse.
I discovered a while ago that Ruby’s usual plan to give the hothouse soil a bit of a renewal and boost was to cart by hand dirt out, find some different soil somewhere in her garden and cart it back in!!! Yipes! Since I am the gardener for the heavier work I was thinking to myself I am way too lazy to do that!! So my husband, Jeff and I went and picked up a trailer load of mushroom compost and dug several wheelbarrows into the soil.
As you can see, the hothouse has been thriving and Ruby is totally thrilled with it. She is determined to have a tomato for each of the families for Christmas! Ruby is very fond of her tomatoes and gives them all the very best start she can.
Even the seedlings in the hothouse get a little protective fence around them while they are finding their feet (roots). She leaves watering cans of water in the hothouse to warm up to use on her seedlings. She recalls being told off severely by an elderly relative for using cold water on her seedlings! “You wouldn’t give cold milk to a newborn would you??” And Ruby the nurse, suitably chastised, has used warm water ever since!! Her granddaughter in-law, Marsha, giggles and suggests that another trick is to tie up your tomatoes with scraps of your old knickers!! One thing is clear – when you live through two world wars and a depression you don’t waste a single thing!!
Ruby also advises to water well and consistently along with feeding to get the best from your tomato plants. I have been collecting seaweed for her to use as mulch and we always put aside the kelp to make ‘kelp juice’ which gives the plants a beautiful nutrient boost. She keeps it handily in a blue bin near the garden with a scoop – all these little things can help as her eyesight is a real problem.
Flowers in the garden and on the trees really give the property a gorgeous look. There is always something flowering. My favourite tree and story is the Magnolia. Ruby planted it in memory of her first husband, Bill. The first one she planted didn’t survive, so back she went and got another one – larger, a bit more costly, but she wanted one the size the original should have been!! She covered it religiously during the cold months and tended to it carefully.
It is now a magnificent tree, and the beautiful thing is that it flowers for her birthday every year. Ruby remarried at age 80 to my Great Uncle Ted, which is how I am so lucky to become part of Ruby and her family’s life.
The garden is not without its challenges. We have all come to the conclusion that Oxalis is evil. It grows exceedingly well!! It develops a little bulb of seeds that detonate and scatter when you dig them up. The stalk is also weak, so you cant yank them up as you leave the seeds behind. You have to dig under them and at times they go down a looooooong way!! We have invented new swear words for Oxalis. If anyone has any short term solutions to offer we will be all ears!! 🙂
Potatoes are possibly even more important than tomatoes!! I love how no sooner than I have dug up a plot, Ruby gets in and plants it with something!
There are two “Official” plots of potatoes, and the rest that have popped up everywhere are from the random scraps Ruby tosses into the garden.
She never pulls them out – there is always an extra feed on those!!
The peas and beans are going well – the peas had a slight setback with a hungry hoard of snails that were living under the rhododendron nearby. They were doing a snail drive by at night and royally pigging out on pea seedlings. The poor things looked so woebegone! We got under the rhodie and cleared them out and all the peas and beans are now forging ahead. There are also carrots, beetroot, onions, broad beans, pumpkins, zucchini, strawberries, runner beans and herbs. The plum tree is also going to be fabulous this year for fruit – if we can beat the birds!
One of the nicest things about Ruby is her warm welcoming nature and hospitality. I love working as her ‘sometimes’ gardener. As well as the stories, there is always a cuppa and cake, scones or bikkies! Our recent guest, Asuka from Japan, was welcomed with open arms and was declared to be “One of The Family.” Asuka helped me in Ruby’s garden and was given a scone making lesson and was treated to a fabulous goodbye lunch at Ruby’s! No wonder the poor kid sobbed when I put her on the bus to leave!!
Ruby has been pretty proud of her roses – this year they have been fabulous!
As soon as the first one was ready, she had it inside to enjoy!
The flowers have been incredible this spring.
It has been an ongoing delight!
I do love catching Ruby having a little catnap in the sun – I also caught her getting back into work when she promised she would be resting!! She feels terrible when people around her are working and she isn’t!
I am sure it is this energy and zest for life, along with fierce independence that keeps her so sharp! She inspires all around her and we love her to bits!
I hope you have enjoyed the “Great Aunt Ruby Update.”
~Lisa
If you would like to have your garden, chicken coop or something you’ve made featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:
- Your Garden Pictures and Tips – I’d especially like to see your garden set ups, growing areas, and know if you are starting seeds indoors this year. If so, show me some picture of how you are going about it.
- Your Chicken and Chicken Related Stories – Coops, Chicks, Hen’s, Roosters, Eggs, you name it. If it clucks, send us some pictures to share with the world.
- Cool Arts & Crafts – Made from your very own hands with detailed {and well photographed} pictures and instructions.
- Your pictures and stories about your pets. The more pictures and details the better.
- Garage Sale, Thrift Store and Dumpster Diving pictures and the stories behind the treasures you found including how much you paid for them.
If I feature your pictures and the stories behind them on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20.00 gift card to the greatest store in the world: Amazon.com.
Go HERE for the official rules.
Carole Browne says
What an adorable and amazing woman! God Bless her! I hope I can be that active in my garden if I reach her age. She must love what she’s doing or she wouln’t be as successfull as she is. What an inspiration.
Lisa Millar says
Thank-you – and yes, she does love her garden!!
Susan says
I also would like any suggestions for getting rid of Oxalis.
After my misguided attempt at hoeing the plants up,
(only to find I had accidently propagated it everywhere),
I am curious if it can be gotten rid of.
Lisa Millar says
I feel your pain!! Ruby dug it in one year because she wasn’t well enough to do much else – it flourished!!
Not using particular garden plots and spraying it until it comes up no more would be one idea. Unfortunately when you are 99 we tend to look for more short term solutions!!
Digging it up by hand is tedious to say the least. You never get them all, but you can slow them.
Luckily up at our place I have only seen the occasional plant – which has been dug up promptly and seeds thrown in the bin not the compost!!
Good luck – I will share if I find a miracle cure! 😀
Dale says
What an amazing Garden. Thanks for some more inspiration. Just love seeing all the gardens and gardeners from around the world.☺
Gail Golden says
What a great story. G-d bless her. She is such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Blessings,
GG
Chris M says
The picture of your Great Aunt Ruby catnapping while holding the umbrella is priceless! Made my morning!
Lisa Millar says
Can you imagine how thrilled I was to see this AND I had my camera with me that day?? 😀 😀
Glad it made you grin too.
Tina P says
We need to get a girls trip and all go visit Lisa and her Great Aunt Ruby. The stories I bet Ruby could share!!!
Lisa Millar says
haha – That’d be quite something!
Our gardens are about to start producing in earnest so pick the best time!!
(Just ate the first raspberry!!)
🙂
Teresa says
What a wonderful woman! I can tell she is cherished by all her family. Imagine finding love again at age 80. Fantastic photos, very inspiring. Thank you Lisa, Aunt Ruby and Mavis for a wonderful update. Happy Thanksgiving to you all too!
Tamara says
Thanks so much for such a nice update! Both of you are quite special! Praying Ruby continues to enjoy good health and doing the things she obviously loves! Happy Christmas!
Melanie says
I can’t tell you how excited I was to see Aunt Ruby when I clicked on today. Lisa, thank you so much for sharing with us — your family, your homeland! These posts bring joy and inspiration to so many people!
Lisa Millar says
So glad you enjoy the posts – its so nice of Mavis to let me back and share our patch of Earth with you.
I think Ruby is so pleased that people around the world are learning a bit about her beloved Tasmania!
Kimberley says
Bless you Ruby! You have a wonderful garden, such beautiful flowers. I loved reading about you.
janet in woodway says
Delightful!! Thank you for the update, you put a smile on my face.
Susan says
I always look forward to the updates from Lisa and Great Aunt Ruby! So adorable and sweet.
Lisa Millar says
Such a lovely lot of comments! Thank-you so much!
I will look forward to perching Ruby in front of the computer to read to her the post and all the comments. (And of course indulge in a cuppa and something sweet)
xxx
GREAT granddaughter in law Marsha says
We are so very lucky to have Our Nin with us and so spritely for her 99 years. Thanks Lisa for always keeping us included with new photos and amazing stories. We live on the other side of the country, but our family is always in our thoughts.
Start saving your old undies now so your tomatoes will thrive like Ruby’s!!
Lisa Millar says
lol Marsha – I just find so much stuff that has been reused, recycled, upcycled, downcycled, or put aside until it has a use!! Its awesome!
xx
Teresa Young says
What a beautiful garden – and to be tended to by a 99-year old! Aunt Ruby, you are a ‘wonder from down under’!
I want to put the idea out there that we have a virtual birthday party for Aunt Ruby! She is amazing!
Lisa Millar says
funny! Will keep you posted about the 100th party!
Ruby refuses to make rash promises to us about being here for it! 😀 😀
We just enjoy every moment we can!
LauraZ says
Aunt Ruby is fabulous!! Thanks for sharing your family with us!
Deb says
I have visited Tasmania and it is just as beautiful as all of your photos. I love Great Aunt Ruby…what a lovely and feisty “young” woman. Here’s to lots more lovely gardening for the both of you.
Lisa Millar says
I am glad you found Tasmania as beautiful as I do! Thank-you!
Lilypad says
I have to compliment Ruby on that magnificent head of hair, so wavy and such a beautiful color! My grandmother (1907 – 1995, she lived her whole life in Washington State and Oregon, USA) had hair like that and it made me smile to see Ruby’s. Thank you for sharing the photos and stories. Keep ’em coming!
Lisa Millar says
I will make sure I read your note to Ruby!
Grandmothers/Nanna’s/Nins etc are so precious and its lovely to be reminded of them.
Thank-you 🙂
Johanne says
I want updates on Great Aunt Ruby even if they are not garden related! What a delight for you to share her with all of us. I wish I could be part of that girls trip mentioned in the comments above and I TOTALLY want to be part of sending her happy 100th birthday wishes. Mavis, can you do a post on that when the time comes??? 😉
Lisa Millar says
GAR Update – she is digging up potatoes and has picked several ripe tomatoes out of her hothouse!
I read all the comments and the article to her and she had a good chuckle
🙂
Tracy L. says
THANK YOU Mavis and Lisa!!!! I’m sorry I’m late posting. Been a very hectic couple of weeks so I’m trying to catch up! I’m SO GLAD I didn’t miss this post!! Thank you Lisa for sharing Aunt Ruby and her beautiful amazing garden. Wonderful woman, and I hope to grow up to be just like her someday. LOVED your beautiful pictures, and LOVED Aunt Ruby napping! I think she’s earned herself a good nap! Hope to continue to hear and see your updates. It’s cold and rainy here and it’s so nice to see things growing…….somewhere.
Lisa Millar says
Thanks Tracy!
Glad you caught the post!
We are sadly lacking rain but have plenty of wind! Nice and sunny tho! 🙂
Ruby has been picking potatoes AND tomatoes (so I am jealous) but I have the first ripe cucumber! (Not that we are competitive or anything…. hahaha)
I am now picking large bowls of raspberries so this time of year is officially my favourite.
Keep warm!
😀
Tracy L. says
YAY!!! I was hoping you saw my comment. We have flood alerts from all of the rain, I wish I could ship you some. I’ll trade you rain for cucumbers!! Oooooooh fresh cucumbers, I LOVE THEM!!!! But I wouldn’t mind some of Aunt Ruby’s tomatoes either!! Happy gardening to you both. And THANK YOU for sharing!! I’m going to look for that mushroom compost this year! And I’d never heard to water your plants with warm water before, and kelp and seaweed??? I’ll have to google that one! But if Aunt Ruby says it’s good, it’s good enough for me!
Lisa Millar says
Rain for cucumbers! Now there’s a bargain!!
Hope your area doesn’t get too soggy!
We still aren’t getting much rain (so weird for Tassie) but we got a bore dug last week!! Still have to get pump but it will be amazing having plenty of water for the garden. I am very excited! They went down about 120ft. to find it!
Kelp Juice – just collect some kelp and put it in a big tub/barrel/container and fill with water (preferably rainwater) cover and let it sit for 2-3 weeks. Then use liquid on garden as a fertiliser – mix it with fresh water when putting it on the garden – kinda like weak tea.
Easy!
Today’s raspberry harvest was nearly a kilo!! (couple of pounds)
Good luck sourcing the mushroom compost. Its great stuff!
Cheers!
Tracy L. says
Thank you Lisa! I have no idea where to find kelp or mushroom compost, but I promise I will be searching for them both! We have a lot of flooding, sometimes you can get to much of a good thing.
Wow!! SO many raspberries, I’m sure they’re delicious! And I’m sure Aunt Ruby has recipes for everything!
Thanks again for the tips, happy gardening!
Fiona White says
Ruby has given my sons and myself our tomato gift. Yum, on my sandwich today. My father Ted married Ruby after my mother had passed away. Dad died in 2001 but Ruby has filled our lives with love, laughter and stacks of scones, biscuits, jams, relishes and vegetables. She is a constant inspiration and I feel so lucky to have her and Margaret in our lives.
Lisa Millar says
😀
Glad you stopped by! xxx