Well, I did it – after a marathon effort over the weekend the last of the lingering cool season crops were given the old heave ho.  I salvaged the edible bits where I could and now have nine silverbeet meal additions in the freezer.   Then the last of the beds were given some compost and blood and bone love and for a moment in time the garden was at that pristine stage between seasons. 

Then I set about checking the irrigation system to make sure it had come through the winter in working order ready to go again for a new season.  Which is just as well, it has been so hot and breezy that things are drying out so quickly that watering is almost a chore again, even with the irrigation!  But while checking the system it turned out I had at some time during the winter put a spade through a pipe without realising!  Fortunately, it is an easy repair – if not a little inconvenient! 

Finally, it came to the planting.  Each plant was lovingly put in place after a good soak in seaweed tonic.  It always, even after all these years, feels weird to just leave them out there in the middle of the garden.  It feels like leaving your kid at school for the first time and you’re not sure if they will like it or not!  But I had the extra worry about Brian the Bully possum bothering them.   But so far so good, only 2 plants look like they won’t make it, and I have spares. 

With a zero tolerance for bully behaviour, we have managed to ‘remove’ three Brian’s from the garden… so far.  They are so big and ugly.  They are being ‘relocated’ to where I want to plant fruit trees so we should end up with some pretty fertile soil in my soon to be mini orchard.

The garden looks completely different from what it did a fortnight ago and is all set ready for the garden visit tomorrow!   Then I need to do my final preparations for going away on Sunday.   This time next week I will be soaking in some amazing gardens at the Taranaki Garden Festival. 

Now I have noticed we are being spammed by some ‘colourful’ characters.  Chances are they are bots and not real people, so don’t take anything negative personally and don’t engage with them.  I have gone through and deleted the dodgy comments I have found, but I will ask Amie and Fiona to keep a close eye on things.  

This week’s free seeds go to the lovely ABBIE.  Congratulations.  I’ll get those seeds off to you as soon as I can.

So, this is my last Monday (on a Tuesday) post for three weeks.  Like I said, I will still be reading your posts, but won’t be as engaged for a while.  The team at Yates, most likely Fiona or Amie will be popping in and checking on how you are all going and will be able to help with gardening and challenge related issues.  You can still get in touch with me by leaving a comment below this post.  I’ll come back and check often.

Happy gardening and as always – if you want to get in touch leave a comment below – someone will see it and help you out.

Sarah the Gardener  : o)