Garden Journal, Paengawhāwhā -April 2021

This isn’t my first Garden Journal; I have had many over the years but I struggle to keep up with them. Hopefully this will be a good record for me to look back on.

Why keep a garden journal you say? Well, it’s helpful to track what’s been sown and planted and when. What my successes have been, and what were the disappointments in the season. Changes to weather, the first and last frost date in my region, and planning for the next season.

Let’s dive in… A bit about us, Blooming Local. We grow along the east coast of Christchurch, where the soil is free draining and sandy. A thick layer of compost is added yearly, either autumn or spring. To keep up with the natural loss of nutrients in our free-draining area. But I think it’s important to add compost yearly no matter where you are.

Soil is the foundation of a garden and a necessary place to start. Head outside dig a hole and scoop up a hand full of soil, start to know the soil you live on and what it needs. Healthy soil is dark and has a crumbly texture like crumbled cookies on top of ice cream. There should be a myriad of living organisms under there, seen and unseen. It’s a whole world under the very ground we walk on, and it’s our job to care for it and, respect it. If you’re interested, I would definitely recommend researching Charles Dowding, the no-dig movement, and watch the Netflix Documentary ‘Kiss the ground’.

Anyway, I’m getting carried away with soil. This month we can see and feel the changes in the garden, the speed at which our flowers are growing is definitely slowing down, and the evenings are so much darker. Winter is coming and I’m looking forward to the slow down, and rest it brings. What will you do this winter on those cold nights? I hope to read by the fire, knit a scarf, host some dried flower workshops, and plan, and dream of my garden in spring.

Seeds sown: Snapdragons, Iceland poppies, Larkspur, Nigella, Pansy, Godetia, Corncockle, Sweet pea, Honesty, Bupleurum, Canterbury Bells, Chocolate lace flower, Strawflower and Yarrow.

Seedlings planted: Eucalyptus silver bullet, Pansy, Iceland poppy’s, Anemone (pre-sprouted)

Weather: No frost but temperatures are cooling.