Well… not exactly. I have enough thyme. It is just it has been in the ground for so long now that the centre is dying out, despite the lush growth and the frequent clippings I’ve been giving it. It tastes so good in all my hearty winter dishes. Even with its bald patch in the centre, it seems determined to take over my herb garden, like some sort of crazy fairy ring. But I can’t have that. I do like a bit of order in my garden and so it will have to go. Not to worry though – my herb patch won’t be in the classic thyme-less style as there is a little seedling that is all lush and fabulous that is being groomed to take its place. It is too much of a cooking must have to go without.
But what I am running out of is time. The proper stuff. We have 11 days left of winter and I still have oodles to do to get the garden spring ready. Having said that, this seasonal change in the calendar has no real bearing on the day to day goings on in the garden. There won’t be a dramatic change in the weather, with the cold, wet and miserable set well and truly behind us for the next nine months. No it will be business as usual as winter reluctantly relinquishes its hold and spring prepares the way for summer.
The line in the sand, the circle on the calendar is more for me. I work much better with some kind of deadline than a vague suggestion that maybe soon something should be done. Without something to force my hand and get a job done, I waft about the place with such a procrastinating style, achieving nothing at all. Despite not having specific dates for tasks to be done, the garden does still have a time line so the season can proceed smoothly. A six week window can easily pass by if you aren’t careful.
So before we get to the magic date that turns winter into spring, I need to get my A into G and do some digging, weeding, mowing, hammering, constructing, sowing, painting, tidying, sorting, planning, possibly a little shopping and get this season started.
But what I need most of all is for it to stop raining! Especially the random showers that come out of nowhere on what seems like a sunny day. The clouds hover over the roof and wait for me to come out and put my gumboots on. It is like I have stepped on some kind of booby trap because when I take about a dozen steps the rain begins to fall, only to stop once I come back inside and settle to a different task. It is becoming predictable. I’m beginning to believe I can control the weather, but not in a useful way.
Come again soon – I’ll get out there and do stuff, even if it means getting a little wet.
Sarah the Gardener : o )
Oh it is being nice to the bees and the bugs … wonderful images Sarah. Don’t seedlings look great when they shove the dirt aside. They always look for the world like they are wearing hats. I’m bad, I haven’t sown anything as yet. Must hurry up!
Hi praise indeed Julie. I love your images they are amazing. I hope you are able to find the time to get your garden underway again. Although at this point we have heaps of time and so I’ve only really sown peppers and leafy greens. Tomatoes will be done next week – in spring, oh super exciting!
Cheers Sarah : o)
Aw, your seedling looks so cute and vulnerable!
Hi Jen. I love watching little seedlings spring to life, and I fuss over them and worry about them. Well for the first couple of batches. By October the pumpkin seeds pretty much fend for themselves!
All the best with your improvements this season.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Awesome update thank you for sharing your garden will be fine you will be surprised how you will get it done all in time have a blessed day
Thanks Linda. I am getting there with everything that needs to be done, all though I have slipped a little with my commenting. But I will catch up eventually. It feels like I am always chasing my tail.
Have a wonderful week.
Cheers Sarah : o )
I can try to ignore the passing of the months and kid myself that autumn is ages away ……. but a walk around my garden shocks me back into reality, with yellowing leaves on the main crop potatoes and onions screaming the truth in a language I can’t ignore 😐
Hope the weather starts to style down for you xx
“style” should read “settle”
Hi Elaine. It is amazing how the seasons sneak up on you. I think autumn is the worst because it allows summer warmth to linger a little longer and you look up and all of a sudden winter is making its presence felt. Having said that autumn is beautiful.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Sarah I love your voice. You write with such a fresh, appealing style. It’s always a pleasure to stop by.
Great idea leaving the brassicas to flower. I used to obsessively dead head flowers before learning that the seeds were great for the birds. Letting vegetables go to seed when the rest is done is great too. I pinched back the basil all summer, but since we didn’t get the tomato crop to go with it, I’m letting it flower too.
I know I should say that I hope the rain stops once and for all, but those words don’t flow naturally from my lips. I will say, I hope spring is all the things you’re hoping for in that beautiful garden of yours. Best of luck with the deadlines.
Hi Alys. Thank you so much for your thoughtful words, it really means a lot. The weather has made a bit of a shift, and for now seems to be milder. It is starting to feel like spring, and the rain doesn’t seem so harsh and cold. Having said that we are still in winter for a few more days.
Cheers Sarah : o )
xox
I’m so glad to hear that the rains are warmer up and that a taste of spring is in the air. Yeah you!