Orange and Green
As a dyed in the wool militant emerald serpent, the Izzie despises a certain colour with a pathological passion. It’s all fake bright and cheerful and a wishy washy attempt at being both smily and sunny and fiery and passionate. It also represents a bunch of bitter twisted prudish puritanical people who cannot stand the thought that some one out there just might be having fun.
But for four weeks each year this serpent abandons her detestation and not only embraces this colour but positively and utterly adores it and is intoxicated by its presence
Yessss. In this bit of the world, September is Orange Blossom season. It is a week or two later than usual but as intoxicating and as magical as ever.
It is reassuring to know that in spite of all the toxic toads out there, some things don’t change. The seasons are generally shifting but they remain just the same.
After the turmoil of the last two months, it was time to return to some semblance of normality. The scheduled programming of gardening days on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays had been somewhat neglected of late due to a combination of rainy days and being so brain dead due to toadish toxicity zapping the Izzie green fingers.
Was supposed to be planting tomato seeds but in the end was contented with doing some serious weeding. Assorted grain grasses and nasturtiums had been running rampant and it was time to do a bit of sorting. Weeds are better than bare soil but there’s some serious planting to be done in the six week window of opportunity.
The Chemical Centre had an open day two weeks ago and were offering not just free Ph testing for soil samples but also analysis of trace elements and water repellency. Due to a last minute promotion on a local ABC gardening show they were totally inundated with samples. As well as providing a free service to gardeners and good public relations there was another motive. They wanted a diverse selection of soil samples to map the local area
Normally it would be a complete waste of time doing such tests as the cost of getting them done would be better spent buying a few cubic metres of lupin mulch, blood and bone or all sorts of other soil improvements.
Izzie took advantage of the opportunity to get such an amazing freebie. Figured that it would make most sense to snatch a sample of our crappiest unamended soil. No point in turning up will a pile of piggie poo totally overloaded with nitrogen and other useful elements
So was out with a container and garden tools at 10 in the morning. Picked a crappy patch amongst the rampant nasturtiums. It was kind of reassuring to be told that they could not do the water repellency tests due to the soil sample being damp. Had not watered the patch in question. The water content was basically morning dew which lingered due to the soil being protected by all those wicked weeds preventing evaporation
It was a wonderful geekish day but had to leave at 1pm due to needing to be at work for 3pm. August is seriously the most nerdish month of the whole calendar. Not only do we have four university open days but the Chemical Centre has its open day that month and of course there is the wonderful National Science Week
But September is wildflower time and an opportunity for serious gardening. Time for planting tomato seeds and taking a chance with pumpkins. Everything is coming to life. The fig tree has tiny little new leaves slowly unfurling along with the teeny weeny fruits. The woolly bush has little red flowers and the wattles are all yellow and fluffy.
The almond tree has finished flowering and now is covered in leaves. It turned out not to be self pollinating as the label claimed. Any day now the grape vine will be producing little buds that will turn into leaves and the mulberry tree has scrawny green fruits and lush leaves.
All the citrus trees are blossoming and the aroma is totally intoxicating.
Tomorrow will be time for planting all those seeds. Soon last week’s Diggers order will arrive and this serpent will have her very own wasabi plant and a juniper berry bush. Petunia will be getting that one as part of her birthday stash as she has a much better record for keeping plants alive and well than a certain serpent. Still regretting not giving her half of those ten very precious saffron bulbs.
They were not available at the markets this year and last year’s lot never did make it through the sizzling summer. The serpent has learned her lesson the hard way. Number 4 Privet Drive is our own personal version of the Svalbard Seed Bank. Ever precious plant that ever comes our way must be shared with Petunia. She has much greener fingers than this wannabee. Her and her two girls Thelma and Louise have magic powers when it comes to gardening.
Izzie is still a dabbler in the dark art of gardening. A bit more practice and some constant never ceasing vigilance might prove to be the secret.
The two months of sizzling summer will separate the wheat from the chaff. Maybe this time the Izzie will be prepared. Only time will tell
But for four weeks each year this serpent abandons her detestation and not only embraces this colour but positively and utterly adores it and is intoxicated by its presence
Yessss. In this bit of the world, September is Orange Blossom season. It is a week or two later than usual but as intoxicating and as magical as ever.
It is reassuring to know that in spite of all the toxic toads out there, some things don’t change. The seasons are generally shifting but they remain just the same.
After the turmoil of the last two months, it was time to return to some semblance of normality. The scheduled programming of gardening days on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays had been somewhat neglected of late due to a combination of rainy days and being so brain dead due to toadish toxicity zapping the Izzie green fingers.
Was supposed to be planting tomato seeds but in the end was contented with doing some serious weeding. Assorted grain grasses and nasturtiums had been running rampant and it was time to do a bit of sorting. Weeds are better than bare soil but there’s some serious planting to be done in the six week window of opportunity.
The Chemical Centre had an open day two weeks ago and were offering not just free Ph testing for soil samples but also analysis of trace elements and water repellency. Due to a last minute promotion on a local ABC gardening show they were totally inundated with samples. As well as providing a free service to gardeners and good public relations there was another motive. They wanted a diverse selection of soil samples to map the local area
Normally it would be a complete waste of time doing such tests as the cost of getting them done would be better spent buying a few cubic metres of lupin mulch, blood and bone or all sorts of other soil improvements.
Izzie took advantage of the opportunity to get such an amazing freebie. Figured that it would make most sense to snatch a sample of our crappiest unamended soil. No point in turning up will a pile of piggie poo totally overloaded with nitrogen and other useful elements
So was out with a container and garden tools at 10 in the morning. Picked a crappy patch amongst the rampant nasturtiums. It was kind of reassuring to be told that they could not do the water repellency tests due to the soil sample being damp. Had not watered the patch in question. The water content was basically morning dew which lingered due to the soil being protected by all those wicked weeds preventing evaporation
It was a wonderful geekish day but had to leave at 1pm due to needing to be at work for 3pm. August is seriously the most nerdish month of the whole calendar. Not only do we have four university open days but the Chemical Centre has its open day that month and of course there is the wonderful National Science Week
But September is wildflower time and an opportunity for serious gardening. Time for planting tomato seeds and taking a chance with pumpkins. Everything is coming to life. The fig tree has tiny little new leaves slowly unfurling along with the teeny weeny fruits. The woolly bush has little red flowers and the wattles are all yellow and fluffy.
The almond tree has finished flowering and now is covered in leaves. It turned out not to be self pollinating as the label claimed. Any day now the grape vine will be producing little buds that will turn into leaves and the mulberry tree has scrawny green fruits and lush leaves.
All the citrus trees are blossoming and the aroma is totally intoxicating.
Tomorrow will be time for planting all those seeds. Soon last week’s Diggers order will arrive and this serpent will have her very own wasabi plant and a juniper berry bush. Petunia will be getting that one as part of her birthday stash as she has a much better record for keeping plants alive and well than a certain serpent. Still regretting not giving her half of those ten very precious saffron bulbs.
They were not available at the markets this year and last year’s lot never did make it through the sizzling summer. The serpent has learned her lesson the hard way. Number 4 Privet Drive is our own personal version of the Svalbard Seed Bank. Ever precious plant that ever comes our way must be shared with Petunia. She has much greener fingers than this wannabee. Her and her two girls Thelma and Louise have magic powers when it comes to gardening.
Izzie is still a dabbler in the dark art of gardening. A bit more practice and some constant never ceasing vigilance might prove to be the secret.
The two months of sizzling summer will separate the wheat from the chaff. Maybe this time the Izzie will be prepared. Only time will tell