(A paid post with the good people from GARDENA NZ) Historically, back in the day I was a bit of a malingerer, I would be slow to clear away the seasons end. Not because I was lazy, but to acknowledge the season was over was too much to bear. I’m just as bad with my Christmas decorations and this year they made it to Valentine’s … Continue reading Tidy up time
May is done. We are now in a new month and a new season. Winter. The easy month. The one where it is ok to hunker down in a cosy spot and dream dreams of dream gardens without a weed in sight. It is a time for resting, recovering, and planning. There are a few things in the garden that can be done in a … Continue reading A month in review
I have to say I am rather glad I am trying to make the month count that is the least productive as far as effort required in the actual garden. I have spent way too long this week doing computer gardening and kitchen gardening for my liking. Having said that, the kitchen gardening is because of the garden. You have to process your produce or … Continue reading Five photo Friday
This takes us to the final phase of what I got up to this week. It got a little muddily towards the end of the week. The wind died down to just a gentle puff which was lovely. The first time it happened I remember this weird feeling of something being missing, as the sound of the wind whistling through the cracks and crannies in … Continue reading The state of the Garden Part Four of Three (or possibly four)
There has been an imperceptible shift in the garden. Up until this point I feel like I have been managing tender young seedlings, doing what I can to nurture them into independence. They have been scrawny, scrappy and poorly and several even died. I replaced a few, more than once, to ensure the garden matched the plan I drew up during the long cold winter … Continue reading Change Comes Quickly
While I have been taking a few things here and there, like the globe artichokes. I have been quite simple with these – just pick, wash and steam until tender. Then we normally dip the scales into melted butter and lemon juice but there was this time when we didn’t have enough butter or even any lemons, so I tried a range of other sauces … Continue reading First Proper Harvest of the Season
But that is the beauty of the garden – it is completely forgiving. Plans can be made, but nothing is set in concrete – except the things actually set in concrete like fence posts! Over the last year I have spent ages pouring over my plans, making adjustments, then working on the crop rotation and then hoping to never have to plan again. It can … Continue reading Change of plans… again
The days are long, the sky is blue and the temperatures are soaring. It is the perfect combination for the veggie garden. I am seeing a harvest and am completely delighted. There were a few points in time when it didn’t look like I would get there and while it isn’t as prolific as I would have liked due to the lateness of the planting … Continue reading Food in Hand
It seems like forever since I have been in the garden. Last week I was at the flower show which was exciting and inspiring, and I loved every moment. This week we had a bereavement in the family and while it was a blessed relief from suffering it was still a very sad and sombre week. And the garden waited on the side line for … Continue reading Back in the garden
A spoonful at a time! While most of the garden is still very new and either recently planted or still to be planted, there are some crops that have been in for ages. The onion and the garlic were the first to go in and have been there since mid-winter. The old adage, plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest is a … Continue reading How do you eat an elephant?
