Spring beauty

For the first time yesterday, I dressed in a summer shirt. The sunshine and warmth were so welcome after what seems like a particularly long winter.

Although there is a heavy fog this morning, I am hopeful the day will turn out like yesterday. But at least this glumness gives me an opportunity for this writing. After sleeping in yesterday morning, it was too beautiful to stay indoors any longer.

I managed to weed two small garden areas that have got away on me and in one, by the house, I planted the cosmos I started as seed some weeks back. These have not done well, as without a cover at night, they have been exposed to too much cold, which has stunted their growth. Many of the seedlings were already in flower, sitting at a mere, spindly 9cm. I am hoping with the rush of fresh soil, that they will grow and reach their potential. They are the tall variety, I was reading on the packet yesterday.

I sprinkled some slug pellets around the planted seedlings last night and I see they are standing proudly with no ill-effects from their new home. The slugs and snails had been my biggest worry as there are many living in the nearby bromeliads but it seems they have not touched the cosmos.

In the other garden, pineapples have spread too far, blocking off our backward route past the house. I did prune these once, but the plants suffered from this so I have decided to dig two of these out and give them to the neighbours, who are developing their section. That creates a win for us both as I didn’t want to throw them out or plant them anywhere else and now I will have easy access when walking past the back of the house. At least I will, when I dig them out.

I also planted stock and cornflower seeds at the same time as the cosmos and neither of these have even reached 2cm. I am sure if I planted them today, they would be just as big in a week or two. For many years, I grew all my vegetables from seeds and each year, they all germinated. I didn’t ever thin them out as I was instructed, so there were always plenty to give away. I had the perfect germinating area, a north-facing covered-porch. The trouble with here is that the porch doesn’t get enough sun so although I did put the seeds around the corner in a sheltered sun-lit area, it was night time, when they were outside, that they suffered. I did buy a mini greenhouse once, but I think the kikuya and the wind took care of that. It wasn’t successful so I have never bothered again.

On Saturday, I added some new seedlings to the vegetable garden, which is flourishing. I have an abundance of spinach, and the broccoli is just coming ready too.

I have explained before, but I like to have my vegetable garden ready early, as once Christmas hits, there are too many bugs and it is usually too difficult to hydrate the ground. From now till Christmas is the best growing time for me, and the white butterfly and green beetle are not yet active.

I am certainly looking forward to being outdoors more and even swimming. With the warmth we experienced yesterday, one felt that pastime was not far away but I guess we only need a southerly to change that thought.

It is still foggy, but brighter now. I think I can feel that sun trying to emerge. Yay.