Because it could easily be mistaken for an instruction. And taking a fall in the garden is less than ideal, as I have just experienced! This weekend I have been working on Room Two in The Palace Garden and I have been so excited about it, I’ve even been dreaming about it. This week was to be the culmination of months of thoughts and preparations … Continue reading Why we don’t call ‘autumn’ ‘fall’.
In typical style for out here on the wild west coast, this week’s storm’s last hurrah is wind! There are still a few spotty showers, but the wind right now is averaging around 50 km/h with the inevitable stronger gusts. By this time tomorrow it should be all over or getting that way. The forecast for tomorrow says ‘Fresh southwesterlies easing.’ Fresh is an interesting … Continue reading A fresh wind is blowing through
Finally, after 6 weeks without decent rain (not counting the pitiful amount that arrived 4 days after the 115mm deluge), and enduring higher than normal temperatures, the dry spell has been broken. This has been looming tentatively on the weather outlook for weeks, teasing us with its variably as it finds its final position on the forecast. But even as recently as yesterday morning they … Continue reading The rains came!
The garden seems to be in some sort of holding pattern. The old summer plants are limping along, being supplemented by frequent watering and liquid feeds like they are on some kind of life support. They are still productive and there is a modest harvest, but it is so dry. And while we are no longer in those heady high temperature days, it is still … Continue reading Waiting for rain
… And a few words to go with them. The mornings are turning out to be quite productive as the cooler starts stretch well into the day before the heat drives me indoors again. The temperature is still getting up to 30C in the garden in the hottest part of the afternoon. But it isn’t just the pleasant working conditions that make gardening great, the … Continue reading Mostly Pictures
Last week was a strange week. In fact, it seems we are living in a strange world and there is so much uncertainty than concentrating on anything for too long can seem overwhelming. But the garden is always a place of peace and somewhere to lose yourself in. The mornings have been much cooler and it has been lovely to potter about without overheating, but … Continue reading Dry Days
Or is it? Depending on how you look at it today is the last day of summer, or it isn’t. Going by the meteorological system that divides the seasons by the calendar says today – the last day in February is the last day of summer. However, the astronomical system that divides the seasons based on the location of the earth in relation to the … Continue reading The Last Day…
This summer has been hot and dry. The last decent deluge was back in December when I despaired that my young plants would be ruined – stricken with fungal disease before they even got started. But alas no, they pulled through and went on into the growing season looking great and the garden looked healthy and promising well into the new year. Not to mention … Continue reading Just add water.
I can say that, for this week, progress has been made. But it feels a little like it was hard fought for. Aside from easing myself out of a boom and bust yo-yo cycle where I do too much one day and pay for it the next, (this doesn’t seem to be swinging so wildly between the stages of frenzy and inertia so much anymore, … Continue reading Juggling the Heat
Today was a good day. Yesterday, not so much. MS doesn’t cope well in the heat, and it is inclined to drag me down with it, especially if I’ve done too much in the previous days. I can end up with a frustrating yo-yo effect where I’m well and super productive – mostly trying to catch up on the previous day where I found myself … Continue reading A Day in the Life of Me
