Succulents at Government House

 We have made some new friends that live close by. They have recently started homeschooling. Their oldest son is interested in succulents He has a small collection of the ...only 70 or so. Ds has decided he would also like to collect succulents, so be prepared when we visit to share a leaf or two! Here are some we observed at Government House open day.

Government House Open Day

looking into the city

The first Government House, the "Government Hut" was constructed of timber slabs, wattle and daub, a thatched roof, calico ceiling, and external stone chimneys. It is believed to have been on a site between the present railway station and the River Torrens, and was destroyed by fire in 1841.

pretty roses

a door in the wall

a closer view

icecream anyone

spotted these strange people!

Did you know , Government House, Adelaide is the oldest Government House in Australia.

pepper trees have their place!

ditto!

name the flower?

Birds,blossom,bees, brooks and branches!

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive at where we started
And know the place for the first time.
- T. S. Eliot

Botany Study

We have begun our study of Botany this year using the resources:Botany in a Day and Shanleya’s Quest.
This week we read about the mint family and the boys enjoyed collecting samples from the garden.

Both boys were quick to use the characteristics of the mint family to help them identify plants that belonged and to dismiss those that didn’t.

Today we used information on making herbal teas using two different methods, infusion and decoction. Infusion is the way most teas are made, by pouring boiling water over the

top of the herbs and steeping them. The decoction method involves bringing the herbs themselves to a boil and simmering for thirty minutes. Toby experimented with both methods and we sampled both.

The boys both enjoyed drawing their own version of the mint guardian.