So at last winter is over. Thankfully, the month of August ended with a few warmer than usual days, which was great, to lift the mood. I was really over winter, and the warmer days were exactly what I needed, to get me enthusiastic about life again. It happens every year, that I get gloomier and gloomier by the time we get to August. By then, any novelty there is to winter, is well and truly over, and I’m starting to yearn for warmth.
Garden
Due to the brutal winter, I spent less time in the garden than usual. In previous winters the weather hasn’t kept me from the garden. I’m usually happy to be out there, whatever the weather or the season. Eventually, I knew I just had to bite the bullet, and brave the cold and wet weather, as the weeds were quickly multiplying by the day. I’ve always said that the hours spent in the garden in winter, make gardening easier in spring, so it was time to get busy. Winter in the garden, in Central Victoria, is mostly about surviving the frosts, keeping tidy and waiting for the awakening in spring.
Other than weeding, there’s been the vegie garden to get ready for spring/summer planting. At the moment in the vegie garden there are snow peas, sugar snap peas, three varieties of lettuce, bok choy, spring onions, silverbeet, cabbage and potatoes.
I’ve spent a large amount of time tidying up, dividing and feeding the irises, ready for spring flowering. This is a job I love as I find it quite relaxing.
Early in the winter, all the succulents were tucked away in the hot house where they will stay for a few more weeks.
I can’t show you lots of pretty flowers in this post, as the garden is dormant for the winter, causing everything to look very boring. But I’m happy to say that we do have a few signs that spring is not too far away.
There have also been the roses to prune. Most of the roses here are young so pruning isn’t time consuming. I find pruning the roses to be another relaxing job.
The Bearded Iris has had a tidy up in readiness for spring flowering.
We are surrounded by wattle just now. I love seeing it when it starts to flower towards the end of winter as it’s a sign that spring is coming.
Covid
Regional Victoria has been in lockdown for most of August, so it’s been a quiet month. We are restricted to only going 5k from home, including for exercise. I’ve still been able to walk, as we have the Bendigo National Park at our front gate, but unfortunately cycling is out for now. It really isn’t worth getting the bike out for such a short distance. Covid is back with us again, and looks like getting out of control, so a visit to my son and grandchildren in Queensland is doubtful in 2021.
While in the garden, I seem to have got into a routine of listening to the Premier’s press conferences updating virus information. I’m not sure that I will continue to do this, as it’s beginning to become quite stressful.
I had my second vaccination during August, and was surprised at how relieved and grateful I felt to be fully vaccinated.
I couldn’t resist showing you the ducks on our dam. It’s great to see them return each year.
I came across this image, that I’ve had on my phone, for so long that I can’t say where I found it. I consider gardening to be exercise so this chart is a fun way to see the parts of my body that have worked hard, after a day in the garden.
This post is linked to Denyse’s Life This Week
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I love that gardening as exercise pic and the yellow that’s beginning to herald the end of winter. I have taken to having the press conferences on in the background as I work, (Qld at 10, NSW at 11, Vic 11.30ish) but found it was beginning to consume me so now tune in for the numbers only.
Hang in there…warmer weather is coming…
I think quite a few a tiring of all the bad news. Let’s hope things improve soon
Hi Jen, I found myself nodding along as I read your post – yes to winter being over, yes to welcoming some warmth and spring flowers, yes to being fully vaccinated and the relief I felt knowing I was covered and yes to stopping listening to the daily press conferences – I just had to stop doing it for my mental health. I now just wait for the updates sometime later. Take care and lets hope we will be able to get to Queensland some time soon to see our grandchildren. x
I love your comments Deb. My fingers are crossed for you too x
Oh yes gardening is good exercise but I’m afraid I don’t do any. My gardens are horrendous and overgrown and thankfully I seem to have some tough things planted cos I ignore it. Some of my neighbours are avid gardeners however and have lovely flowers and plants etc…
That gardening exercise picture really is spot on! I also consider gardening to be good exercise, and I’d add the lawn mower to the list! As a treadmill or similar…
I really enjoyed reading about your garden and seeing the photos of your plants. Also in Ireland the weeds can grow quite a bit during the cold months, and I’m not happy about being out there when the weather is wet and dreary. Luckily we can get quite nice days during the late winter or early spring.
The lawnmower is perfect for this life Susanne! I wouldn’t want to think about gardening in Ireland in winter. I’m sure it’s much colder than our winter. Thanks for visiting
I applaud your dedication in nature Jen. A love of the beauty and the hard work that goes into it is obviously something you enjoy. I am married to someone who hates Winter…and I am not a fan of a hot summer..somehow we make it work!!
Warm wishes,
Thanks for linking up and I hope to see a post old or new for next week as I mark 5 years of Life This Week, Blog Link Up. Warm wishes, Denyse.
Love that gardening exercise pic – your garden looks blooming wonderful. We’ve had a wonderfully mild winter. I love the cooler months – it must be the English in me!
Hi Jen,
For what it might be worth to you, I too was fully vaccinated last March, but it did not stop me from getting it in very late August. I’m almost 3 weeks done with covid now and compared to what many go through, I’m getting off very easy. At age 66 with multiple risk-increasing factors, I’m suffering about as much as I would with any low grade flu. The doctor tells me that I’m doing so well most likely because of the vaccination and I tend to watch and deal with my numbers. Oh – and I sleep like I can’t recall sleeping in years. I’m guessing that I sleep about 50% more than I did just 4 weeks ago. I have to be careful about eating because I lost most of my appetite (and 10 lbs. which is nice but a hard way to lose weight).
I was glad to read that you are vaccinated. But it’s best to follow your experts advice and stay safe until this passes.
Hi Gary
I hate to think how unwell you may have become if you hadn’t been vaccinated. Thanks for explaining how it was for you. You’re the first person I’ve come across who has had covid. I hope you start to feel more like your old self soon. I agree that we need to follow the health advice and be patient. Do take care.
Congrats on being fully vaccinated! I think gardening is good physical exercise and mentally therapeutic. I enjoyed seeing your garden photos and the Gardening image. Good on you for managing such a big garden. I hope it brings you many beautiful flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables in the coming months. Thank you for linking with #weekendcoffeeshare.
Thanks for dropping by Natalie. I appreciate your support and interest
Beautiful photos. We are entering fall here in the Pacific Northwest. Our mornings are cooler, days still a bit warm and evenings cooling down. LEaves are starting to change.
I love the change of seasons Kirstin, especially after a hot summer