The past week has been one of new beginnings with a new job and a new routine. It has taken a surprising amount of energy to concentrate and adapt to new tasks, learn new things, meet new colleagues, start new routines but it has been a great start. After an intense week of adjusting to working full time again after such a long time, it has been perfect to get out into the garden and relish the potential of spring. Quite a few of the seeds have germinated:
This probably isn't the most exciting photo but there are tiny basil, borage and dill seedlings - just so amazing to come home and find they had popped up!
The broccoli and kale have both grown since the recent rain and warmer days:
The mauve stems of the kale are a gorgeous colour against the blue grey of the leaves . . . and I had no idea that broad bean flowers were so stunning (see below).
I planted three strawberry plants in front of the kale and started weeding the front rose garden. I'm thinking I'll plant beetroot and bush beans in between the roses as the front garden gets more sun than the mainly shady back garden. With the success of the seed raising, it's dawning on me that I won't have enough sunny garden space in the backyard. I'm also planning on extending the herb garden in front of the chook pen so I have room for the herb seedlings when they're big enough to transplant. Pumpkin seeds saved from fantastic pumpkins grown by Farmer Son have also been sown into pots which he is planning on planting out at the farm near the dam. So there's lots of dreaming going on which is always a good start!