My new sustainable garden is bringing so much joy.The soft purple of the jacaranda amongst the larger trees at the bottom of the garden is one of the many joys.
But as the garden develops I have noticed a metamorphosis in my gardening style.
Planting a choko on an existing bush as below is one such change.
Originally my garden was about control and order but now I am allowing the plants to evolve and enjoying the discoveries.
These Chia plants are an example of this. They were purchased as small seedlings at the markets and now they are growing well in their allocated position.
I don't know how they will grow. This is a new plant here and the person selling them is asking me how they are growing.
I looked forward to discovering their growth pattern.
This nutty flavored cress is another such find.
It is growing from a small cutting I was given and its mother plant is large.
It seems to be enjoying its position and I am again looking forward to seeing how it progresses in my garden.
Dandelions are also a new discovery. The one to the left is a magnificent plant that is only small because I eat from it each day. I cut the dandelion and have it on top of a hot dish or salad. It is plant I find gives me energy.
The beans above hanging on a frangipane tree are a pioneer bean called lazy housewife's bean. They were also another market find and seem to be the strongest beans I have grown. They grow quickly and are very large so am beginning to see why they are called lazy housewife beans.
The goji berry plant on the left is also an innovation. It was in my local plant shop but noone there had seen it before so could not give any information. It looked frail when first planted but now seems strong and I look forward to seeing its progress.
The soil is the garden is now becoming richer and perhaps this gives the confidence to try the untested. Every vegetable scrap is recycled straight back onto the garden where after the birds have had their fill the remainder seems to quickly break down into soil. Leaves, grass clippings, all unsprayed green matter are put straight onto the garden and it is creating a fibrous, strong earth for new plantings.
Soon I hope to add rock dust to my soil. This will further increase the food quality of my vegetables. More on that later.
