So, yesterday we really put it on. We have been trying for the last few weeks to get our house sale ready, which involves a lot of little annoying jobs that, lucky for me, Husband has taken on. (I think that keeping this house civil, with a 2 and half year old and a 2 month old is a job unto itself, so I’m telling myself to not feel too bad about not doing as much as I really think I should be.) So the garden was priority number one. Many, many hours have been spent by little and bigger men folk digging and reclaiming and rearranging. Thankfully (kind of, but kind of not) we have an overgrown laneway behind our house which many people have used (previously, because, um, no I would NOT put up with that now if it happened) it as a dumping ground. Both backyard neighbours and apparently a gardening company dumped plenty of waste back there. At first it was a problem because of the in season stream that runs in the area.With such a big build up of soil-ish material we had deep pooling our first year here, which ended up with the Great Crash of the willow tree that almost killed my husband. But, nevermind that. Now we have a rich source of soil close to home that we don’t have to pay for. Hold on, I have a picture somewhere of the Great Crash.
I have plenty more, but that sums it up quite nicely. Just imagine that thing crashing down on someone who you love more than anyone else ever. I think I can be forgiven for the panic attack I had afterward.
Anyway, this area of the garden has mysterious properties. About three years ago we found this beautiful flowering grass type thing thing growing, just the one. My husband dug it up and transplanted it, where it took root and went bananas. We now have groups and groups of them all over the garden. They are a beautiful orangey yellow, and attract good bees and hummingbirds. I approve. Here: maybe somebody knows what they are. I know they are used extensively in city plantings, as I’ve seen them on boulevard gardens and in big planters in Kits.
Okay, anyway, so what did we find growing back there? Thimbleberries! What is a thimbleberry? Well, to be honest, it kind of scared me at first. I had seen the giant blooms, which looked just like blackberry blooms, and had figured they were just giant blackberries. But then my husband pointed out that, hey… what are those? They looked a bit like sloppy raspberries, big and oddish. One fell off in my hand when I picked it (and I kind of flung it away, shrieking, as I have never encountered a berry that just fell like that). I went inside to investigate and found out that what we had were thimbleberries, which are not cultivated because they are so soft. Thimbleberry jam is a rare treat, and apparently the natives used to (or maybe still do, how would I know?) press them into cakes. So, out I went to taste test. Delicious! Tart but sweet and very, very nice. Some pictures:
This one is overripe. I could photograph it as it was close, but it wasn’t good to eat. As usual, and as a berry, they like to hide under the leaves. Here’s a shot of some underripe ones:
Anyway, how cool is that? I wish I knew more so I could figure out what else wants to spontaneously grow in my yard.
Anyway, what else? Oh yes, we did a bit of garden shopping. Sadly this season has been cool and wet (glad I’m not in the nursery business) so even though I felt sheepish about going at the end of July to get bedding plants, we were certainly not alone.
Anyway, we found some shade plants and have filled up our front garden. Just a bit of painting to go and I think we might be market ready.
Stressful, but I’m trying to stay positive (a bit hard with the post natal hormonal woes I have been enduring). Here’s front garden! I hope the mailman likes it.
We also reinstated our house address post, so now we won’t have to explain exactly to everyone where we live. It’s good. Even if it doesn’t sell, it’s good to have these loose ends tied up.
Okay, baby crying off and on and I can put this off no longer. Next time I post… a brilliant baby sweater! I’m quite excited and not that far from being finished. Lucky baby dressed in Malabrigo sock!