SOS 14/3/20
As the world begins to lockdown, the garden couldn’t honestly be a better place to spend one’s time, could it? Here in our garden, we’ve finally had a decent rain which has lifted everything along and despite that the borders are all dried and crisp on the edges, basically shutting down, plants are happier, as if they too can see hope for next spring.
The odd one or two are having a floral burst, having not flowered at all through summer.
And the cosmos, bless it, has popped up from last year’s seeds. That really surprised me!
The first of winter’s hellebores are flowering and yet we haven’t really started autumn yet.
Likewise, Spring’s anemones are bursting from the soil.
The veggie garden has been an absolute star, filling the house and freezer with largesse. I’ve cooked like mad and there are soups, savoury flans, savoury loaves and pies and given the possibility that we may have to go into a 14 day isolation by choice or necessity, then all that home grown and home cooked food will come in very handy. We also have 3 households to feed through these strained times, so we made a decision to keep the veggie garden going as long as we can (we normally put it down to a green crop in autumn) and planted out more snowpeas, varieties of lettuces, Asian greens, carrots, spinach and beetroot. We are still digging Kipfler potatoes and have yet to break into our parsnips, so we won’t starve.
And finally, my little cutting of that gorgeous white climbing rose from my dog walks had been dying, thanks to summer’s cruelties. Now, after rain and a decline in wind, it has put a bud. Who knows? We might just make it!
*And just for interest, we had purchased tickets for the Melbourne International Garden Festival (Australia’s Chelsea). Due to fly over in ten days. It was cancelled yesterday.
For other wonderful gardens, have a look at https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/six-on-saturday-14-03-202/
The perfect place to be, going to start the seeds of in a bit once finished lunch, did some baking this morning, I have plenty in the freezerz too, and can supply my children and neighbours too if they can’t get stuff, even if its leaving it at the door Keep safe my friend xxx
I wish you were my neighbour, Libby. I’d beg for your Lemon Drizzle Cake!
Prue, if you were my neighbour I would make you one ?
Oh you are so lovely!
We have our gardens and we have each other. It is a nice thought that we can be supported by friends around the world, all without going out the front door. Glad you have had some rain, your plants look refreshed. Take care.
Absolutely true. I’ve done so little gardening with the drought and now I can feel it calling me. I suspect I will be busy most days doing this and that. I wonder if we will still be able to go to nurseries. I had put off my catalogue orders because of attending the Melbourne Garden Festival where I’d planned to buy up big. Now that’s not happening, I foresee some lovely time spent with the catalogues. So glad I kept them…
Amazing how a little rain has changed things for you. Hope the white rose makes it.
Lora, it truly is a gift from the gods. You could almost hear the garden sighing with relief, and now I swear I can hear it growing! The garden that is. The white rose? Oh, so do I!
Your kitchen garden looks good ! Are these “cages” in the rows against birds? squirrels?
Morning Fred, although technically evening for you, I’m guessing. The wire is to protect the soft seedlings and any rows of seeds from birds – mainly starlings. We don’t have squirrels in Australia but we do have possums. There are territorial squabbles in our garden nightly. But strangely, they’ve never bothered with our veggie garden or our orchard. Stay safe my friend.
Lovely to see things looking so green. Hope you stay safe and well.
And you, Barbara. It’s worth heading into autumn just to see the plants breathe and smile again!
In the US, where virtually everything has also been cancelled. I realized I need chicken wire in the vegetable garden (like yours) the rabbits ate virtually everything except oddly, carrots and arugula. I ate the rest. Chin up and carry on! I shall try to do the same.
It’s the British ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ thing that keeps we gardeners going, I think! 😉
What lovely, healthy plants and vegetables you have! My fruit cages are finished so my raised bed has no excuses now……it should look as good as your vegetable garden. ? I do like seeing comments from different seasons. That #1 son-in-law of mine had a great idea starting this blog thing. Thank you for your comments.
It’s a pleasure, Granny. I think it’s so nice to be able to enjoy opposite ends of the globe and different seasons. Your spring and summer keep me going through the winter and as for gardening chat, my gosh, I reckon at the moment we all need it!
The cosmos looks great. What a nice surprise!
Love it when favourites show up. Found another this evening – my autumn crocus is beginning to display!
A bountiful veg patch is a blessing at any time but right now seems even more valuable. It sounds like it’s given you many a delicious dish. Mine looks bleak right now but your post has reminded me before long it will give up its bounty. Right – I’m off to sow some carrots and greens…
Katharine, I’ve filled a fridge-sized freezer with its output this summer. Rather a lot of zucchini-based dishes from the River Cottage Veg Book because the zucchinis just keep on giving. But what a blessing it is to just wander out and pick fresh veg and herbs every night for dinner. I foresee us needing the garden until at least July-August. The berry garden sadly is going to sleep and opur orchard was too stricken by drought to produce any fruit this year. We’ll prune, feed and hope that there will be even more rain than the small break we’ve had.
The garden is definitely going to be a place of solace and peace for many of us for quite some time.
What lovelier flower could surprise you at the end of your summer. Well done Cosmos.
Your achievement in the veg garden is to be admired!
It’s the BEST blessing at this time, Catherine. The supermarkets are currently battle-zones with C-19 hysteria, so better to just wander out and pick a few zucchinis, potatoes, carrots and beans – enjoying the birdsounds and the fresh sea air and pretending that all’s right with the world.
Well done for growing all that veg despite the drought. I struggle with veg, but I’m hoping for a better crop this year.
Thank you. We worked very hard at keeping the veggie garden going through the Big Dry (16 months without meaningful rain) and now that we need food for these interesting times, I’m so glad. I love ornamental gardens but there’s something amazing about growing veg, fruit and herbs to eat. Of course, now we’re getting a bit of moisture and are over the moon!