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The Garden Beckons

© Sonia Fluke

Oh, it's that time of year...The time when it's not quite Spring but Winter is well and truly over. The time of year when the frost has all but gone, but the soil isn't quite warm enough to plant the tonne of tomato seeds we have waiting. This time of year can be incredibly frustrating for gardeners - particularly those who are growing some or most of their own food. We have seen a few warm days - as far as our gardening fingers are concerned it's Spring. We have mulched, weeded, watered and prepared new beds. We have tolerated winter vegies, minimal flowers and bare spaces for long enough - we want action.

Unfortunately (at least where I live), it isn't that simple. I cannot just simply take action and plant like a woman possessed - the last lingering bit's of frost, lack of rain (drought declared recently)and cold soil will ensure I don't get the same result as I would if I waited just a few more weeks, and my labour of love would be wasted by my impatience. Instead, I will, through clenched teeth, continue to check on the brocoli, cauliflower, carrot, beetroot, snow pea and lettuce seedlings that are emerging in the old chook pen (the chooks are scratching happily in their new one)....and hold onto my seed packets just a little longer - although my fingers ache to plant capsicum, tomatoes, corn, zuchini, butternut pumpkin, rockmelons and watermelons, leeks and cucumbers to name only some ....just a while longer.

I have laboured happliy in the garden these past weeks. On a recent weekend away, our cattle managed (yet again) to break the gate and had two glorious nights of frolicking in my flower gardens - thus I was greeted upon my return with no flowers (they ate over 200 passionfruit and all of my lemons too, but that's a different story)and some nicely trampled beds of dirt...So, I took a deep breath and decided to extend the beds a little further. The small flower border I had surrounding my water tank has increased right over to the driveway (there was Kikuyu grass there before)and has been heavily mulched with lucerne hay. Normally I wouldn't bother with the digging (although I do find it therapeutic!), but with Kikuyu you don't take any chances so I dug until I thought I would fall over...In the centre stands the remains of a Margeurite Daisy I grew from a slip and have been nurturing for two years (I am taking solace in the fact that it will come back stronger). Near this my husband has added a trellis which is now housing sweet pea seedlings and some snow pea seeds should emerge soon, and I put an obelisk in for Scarlett runner beans. I have plans for a row of sunflowers across the front to provide some shade from the merciless afternoon heat we have here in summer, and already have a scattering of herbs like parsley, sage, basil and lemon balm. Along the other side I shall have rows of capsicum and rhubarb, a few egglants and perhaps some zinnias to add a little bright colour. Dreaming of all of that just makes me want to start planting it all - NOW. It's exciting to say the least - I often wonder if this excitement about the garden (which used to be non-existent in me and now get's stronger every season) ever leaves?

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