A Day in the Garden

I always write this blog from the dining table, looking through the kitchen into the garden. It's an inspiring view, of where I cook and where I garden. Sometimes there's a sparkling stash of jars of jam or chutney in view. Sometimes there's a cake cooling on the wire rack. Sometimes there's a splash of red in the garden and a raspberry or tomato is ripe enough to eat. Sometimes I spot aphids. Yes, really, from this distance--it's a sixth sense--so I dash out with my aphid-killing paint brush, and kill the little bastards.

I spent most of today in the garden, but it wasn't my usual happy place. I felt pretty sad actually. It's Fall, and all the summer abundance is over. Clearing out all the finished plants has resulted in more green waste than I can cope with in our yard, so I've started a stealth compost heap in a neighbouring yard that nobody uses, so why not?

But it's not just the end-of-season blues. I'm feeling like I missed so much garden time over the summer. I dashed in and dashed out. I didn't wallow in it like I really love to. And now that I've cleared the jungle, the whole place looks barren and un-lush. Certainly not photogenic.

Anyway, while dashing in and dashing out of the garden these last few months I did take some photos, so here's a recap of summer, what I saw and ate while dashing, and what I miss so much today...

I'll start with the lushness. This is the salsa garden, which has delivered kilos of tomatoes, tomatillos, coriander and chilies. As well as mint, strawberries, shallots, garlic... It's simply amazing how much food grows in that little spot. Today I gave it a load of zoodoo and planted spring onions, beets, carrots, fennel and radish... all for mid-winter cheer.

The echinacea was spectacular this year. I still don't know what part of the plant is used for medicinal purposes, but just looking at it is an instant mood enhancer for me.

This is our cranberry. Next year we'll have so many we'll need to flood the front yard to harvest them, but this year I was thrilled to have one.

The first carrot harvest. Who knew we could grow them? I'd never managed to pull it off before. Sweet, crunchy, perfect grated as a salad.

The peas and beans were a bit sparse this year. There was never enough for a meal, but it was lovely to snap them off the plant and eat them lazily, thoughtfully, while wandering up the path.

The blackberries were astonishing... to the point that I think maybe they aren't blackberries. Maybe boysenberries? Loganberries? Who knows? I can't wait to see the first one next summer, shining, daring me to eat it before the birds do.

Oh my. We have harvested so many tomatoes. And I have written all about them before, but picking this box was pretty awesome. So awesome I entered it in Kings Seeds photo competition and I really hope it wins.

OK, this has cheered me up. And re-inspired me. I will get the camera out and photograph the winter veges. There are heaps of them... Today I planted fava beans, beets, carrots, radish, all manner of lettuce, broccoli, spinach, fennel... winter is a lush time here in Wellington, and I'm starting to think I can make up for the lack of summer wallowing by paying a bit more attention in the darker, cooler months.

Confession: I did something novel today. I planted seedlings and seeds in straight rows. Just to see how it feels.