October has been a full month with clearing, getting beds ready and planting up and as a result the gardens are looking so good. Still everything is so green, we are getting the spring rains, winds and sun and the warmth is sending all plants into full growth mode. The work done by all the volunteers has been amazing and I'm almost running out of things to give them to do. But as always with gardens you can always find something. We are coming up with ideas and are going to clear areas that haven't been used for years, so I and everyone are very happy. It's time to take a break and look at all that has been done and to let our minds 'wonder' about other possibilities. We have just cleaned up an old rotten seat and have replaced it and planted up flowers and put a chamomile lawn in front so on hot days we have somewhere to rest and cool off. Some apple crates have been used by one of our weekly groups to make new gardens for them and to have them more accessible them, they have cleaned up the area and laid broken mussel shell to keep the weeds down. We appreciate what groups are doing to making their area looking good and producing well. . |
A demo bed of new potatoes that have missed the frosts and are now double this size. I think October must be the fastest growing month. As the warmer weather comes things slow down as they don't get as much rain and even tempetatures. I love the mildness of October as now it's starting to get too hot for me from around 11am
Yesterday we had a trustee meeting and we welcomed Dean & Stephen as new trustees. Both are keen and are a great support to me as garden manager. Dean has been using Biodynamics for years and already he has been a useful help in the gardens for the last couple of months. He has moved to Nelson from Christchurch in recent times. Stephen has been looking after the Perennial Area of the gardens under the fruit trees and has now taken on the tunnel house (above) and is growing sub-tropical plants and many heat loving things like chilli, capsicum and eggplant. Welcome Dean and Stephen as trustees and may we all work well together.
So now it's time for us to slow down a bit and start putting some time into repairs and enjoy what we have achieved in the last year. Yes it's one year since this lot of trustees took over the running of the gardens, some have left and now we have a full team again. We all seem to be humming to the same tune and the gardens are smiling as a result.
Watch out for coming events in the new year. Now we have the gardens well organised we will now get on with events so that you can all come and enjoy the gardens with us. So far it's seemed like work work and more work. Now it will be a bit of work and fun.
Always remember the best way to learn is to come to the garden and learn by doing. Every Monday and Wednesday we are there with lots of people enjoying getting their hands dirty.
Happy summer gardening
Helen Lynch
Garden Manager