My grandmother was an avid gardener. For most of my life she lived on a five acre block that she transformed from an empty paddock into a wonderful garden. I inherited her plants last year and am loving having indoor plants for the first time. She loved flowers and her camellia has just started to… Continue reading Happiness as Anarchy #355: My grandmother’s plants
Tag: garden
Happiness as Anarchy #341: Digging
I wanted to plant a tree and ended up having to dig up a concrete slab and a tree stump. Needless to say, I haven’t yet planted the tree, but after many days of hard labour in the cold and sometimes rain, the slab is a pile a rubble. It feels good to have vanquished… Continue reading Happiness as Anarchy #341: Digging
Happiness as Anarchy #333: Germinating seeds
I found a bucket of old seeds in the shed. When I say old, I mean pushing a decade. But I’m an optimist, so I planted anything that should be planted in autumn, whispered an incantation over the veggie patch and crossed my fingers. The optimist in my failed to note what I planted where… Continue reading Happiness as Anarchy #333: Germinating seeds
Happiness as Anarchy #310: Ox Tongue Lilies
My mum is quite the gardener. She’s been coaxing things to grow in the hard, clay soil around the house for many years. Not everything does well, but lots of plants thrive. Among the success stories are these ox tongue lilies (Haemanthus Coccineus) which provide a spectacular greeting for visitors in the driveway. At other… Continue reading Happiness as Anarchy #310: Ox Tongue Lilies
Happiness as Anarchy #307: Cheery Flowers
The geraniums are oblivious to the world beyond the weather in our backyard. Watered sufficiently they pump out their fluorescent blooms to tempt the passing bees and delight the eyes of weary humans. Grown from a stolen branch, simple and bright, they seem content to be as they are, no more, no less.
Happiness as Anarchy #300: The neighbour’s flowers
My street has a couple of well-tended gardens and some magnificent plants (remember the pink magnolia I posted a while ago?), but in the main most of us are not up to much. Along my driveway fence, however, the neighbours have been so lovely as to plant a row of wonderful and varied roses. I… Continue reading Happiness as Anarchy #300: The neighbour’s flowers
Happiness as Anarchy #292: Sweet Cherry Tomatoes
The season is a strange one this year on many levels. The tomatoes are late and not very prolific, but the ones I have managed to coax into existence are quite delicious. Sweet, juicy, and zingy, the little red orbs hang like jewels from the dying branches. They shout their tiny victory over the weather… Continue reading Happiness as Anarchy #292: Sweet Cherry Tomatoes
Happiness as Anarchy #282: Home Harvest
The bounty from one’s own garden is so much sweeter than from anywhere else. Today the nectarines called to me as I wandered in the back yard, and although it is not a large harvest, they are quite delicious. I’ve watched them from my kitchen window these last few months, growing from tiny, hard, green… Continue reading Happiness as Anarchy #282: Home Harvest
Happiness as Anarchy #238: Wild Fennel
Wild Fennel grows taller than me in my backyard. It’s brilliant yellow flowers and green stalks stand proudly, reaching for the sky, and it release a wonderful liquorice fragrance when you brush against it.
Happiness as Anarchy #235: Pink Magnolia
My morning walk takes me past a neighbouring magnolia. This morning I noticed the first few flowers had opened, the tree appearing as though it had been splashed with pink paint. It will be a daily joy over the coming weeks to watch the buds unfurl in all their colourful glory.