Sunrise over the Remarkables - Queenstown

Welcome to Summer

Welcome to Summer. It is almost like November never happened!  One moment I’m happily doing my thing, tending seedlings getting ready for the season ahead and sharing it all with you and then next thing I’m listening to Christmas carols in the warmth of early summer!   It has been a bit of crazy period.  Since I last updated, I was throwing myself in to preparations … Continue reading Welcome to Summer

Garden list for December

Things I want to achieve in December 24 This year has flown by.  The feels like start of summer has arrived all of a sudden and I have no choice but to embrace it.  The garden has been planted out for the season and managed to survive largely unattended throughout November with just weeding and watering from my handy helpers. But now it is the … Continue reading Garden list for December

Insect netting over tomatoes

Tomatoes are the Star.

Tomatoes are the Star In my opinion, in a summer garden – of all the wide range of plants that can be grown, the tomato is the superstar.  The one that just owns the season.  Sweetcorn could come in a close second if it wasn’t for the fact that in spite of their sunny yellow disposition, which can be stored in the freezer to bring … Continue reading Tomatoes are the Star.

salty windows

Joy in the garden

Today is the longest day and finally I have something to be joyful about.  The weather seems to have turned.  It is sunny and warm; the sky is blue and the cicadas are singing.  Now that is kind of summer I’ve been looking for. The garden is bursting into life.  The plants are putting out tender new leaves, accentuating their old weather weary leaves that … Continue reading Joy in the garden

Love in the Garden

The weather is still being weird.  It is still gloomy but the nice days are fighting for their right to shine, so we have had a couple of days that offer the promise of summer.  But for the most part this struggle of the seasons are showing themselves as hot and humid with bursts of rain temporarily cooling things down.  The garden is coping well … Continue reading Love in the Garden

Poppies

Peace in the garden

After days and days of the wind whipping through the garden and whistling through all of the gaps, tearing at the windbreak, requiring repairs, it stopped.   It was kind of abrupt in that I went to bed with sound of the wind knocking on my window and awoke to birdsong.   It had gotten to the point that  I thought it would never end and I … Continue reading Peace in the garden

Hope in the garden

Today is the first day of the meteorological summer, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it.  The forecast suggests that the temperature won’t rise above 18°C and I’ve gone back to wearing a scarf.  The wind hasn’t settled down and is howling a hoolie.  I have taken a quick look at the garden in between the showers and there have been casualties, but nothing that … Continue reading Hope in the garden

Seasonal stuff

This is always the most challenging time of year in life and in the garden.  As we get closer to Christmas, the pressure mounts.   The start of the month is fraught with the tension of end of year deadlines that must be done before everything shuts down for the year.  As a result, computer gardening and ordinary computing muscles its way to the top of … Continue reading Seasonal stuff

The Strangest Year

2020 was an odd year and to be honest I am pleased it is behind us. January started with pest and disease and turbulent storms in the garden.  Little did I know this would be a metaphor for the entire year.    February lulled us into a false sense of security and was more settled.  There seemed to be a rhythm and routine and order and … Continue reading The Strangest Year

Merry Christmas

The run up to Christmas has been a little bit hectic, with last minute shopping and a busy work life balance, but I can now finally throw myself into all things Christmas and enjoy the festive season with my family.  But before I completely switch off my computer gardening and indulge in festive kitchen gardening and gentle garden gardening to maintain all that is growing … Continue reading Merry Christmas