Final December meme post, and some fannish links

[dolorosa_12]

Today's prompt from chestnut_pod brings this year's December talking meme to a close, and it's been a great run of questions. Many thanks to all of you who left a prompt! This final prompt is to talk about how I learnt to garden, plus any longstanding plant friends in my garden.


I don't really feel as if I properly learnt to garden — the short answer is a lot of trial and error, plus the knowledge that my vegetables at least seem to thrive in circumstances of benign neglect. I didn't make any formal, systematic effort to learn, but I've picked up a lot by osmosis from following gardening accounts on Instagram (focusing on those of people who live in similar climates): nettlesandpetals, poppy.okotcha, thefrenchiegardener, botanicaltales. From them I learnt a lot of basic stuff about no-dig gardening, sowing seeds, and the seasonal gardening cycles in the UK. I should try to find accounts that are even more local to me, since there are a lot of quirks to the soil and climate here.

Regarding plant friends in my own garden, I guess I could say the five main fruit trees (two cherries, one apple, and two pears) — they bring me a lot of joy, especially in spring — but to be honest, my favourite tree was this one in one of the parks in town, but it was cut down last year and I've not found another to hold the same spot in my heart. I miss seeing it every time I walk out to the pool, especially in winter, when it was always laden with bright red berries.


fandomtrees is due to open for reveals on 10 January, but it will only do so when every participant has a minimum of two gifts each. This post on the comm links to a spreadsheet of needy trees — there are still a substantial number of participants with only one gift, or with no gift at all. My own tree is here.

And the new year means that snowflake_challenge will be rolling around again. I'm always so happy to see the consequent burst of enthusiastic activity on Dreamwidth!

Comments

What a lovely tree

[jesse_the_k]

that was in the park--do you know its variety?

It's so weird to lose landmark neighborhood trees. I've been walking to my pool since 1995. A handful of tall ones have been cut down by new house owners who want more light (not a trade-off I can imagine). Two favorites were flattened by a tornado that came entirely too close to my house.

You've clearly learned a lot from your garden: it thrives so.

Re: What a lovely tree

[dolorosa_12]

I don't know the tree's variety, unfortunately.

Sorry to hear about your own neighbourhood trees — it is always sad to lose them.

[merit]

Knowing your climate is so critical! I always have to side eye 'full sun' plants because that is not always the case here. Currently, I am mostly just growing herbs - fresh rosemary and basil is always delightful.

[dolorosa_12]

Herbs are excellent! I have massive rosemary bushes and bay trees, plus some sage — all planted by the previous owners. I'm using some of the sage leaves in tonight's dinner. We planted mint and chives which return each year with the spring, and this year I also tried to grow dill and flatleaf parsley, with varying levels of success.

[merit]

I can also get oregano and marjoram growing well. Flat leaf parsley... mixed success. It is alive. However, I I think if I planted mint in the ground soon it would take over.

[dolorosa_12]

Oh yes, my mint is in pots for exactly that reason!

[chestnut_pod]

Thank you! I am glad to know that one can trial-and-error one's way to a beautiful and productive garden; that's very hopeful. I admire your fruit trees and am sorry for the loss of the tree in the park. It really is a loss when one is lost like that.

[dolorosa_12]

I can't take credit for the fruit trees — we've only lived in this place for five years, and they were well established (and indeed the thing that convinced us we had to buy the house) when we got here. But they do bring a lot of joy.