Our dam was dry, and the roses in the gardens were suffering. I knew that if we didn't get good rain soon we would lose many of the roses. Even though they're tough heirloom roses that can survive severe weather, they had reached their limit. Water is essential for everything to live and it is only the length of time without water that determines what will eventually suffer.
So when the rain came we were so grateful. We didn't suffer like so many others did with loss of power, flooding, wind damage resulting in loss of homes and farm businesses. It was difficult to be too joyful that TC Debbie had brought rain to the gardens. But, oh, the relief at seeing the dam full once again and the dry soil moist and crumbly, perfect for bringing life back into the rose gardens.
And so now as I wonder through the gardens daily, picking roses and herbs for our tussie-mussies, red fragrant rose petals for our edible petals, I am daily delighted at the gorgeous blooms coming back into life.
Not only are the roses flourishing once again, the birds seem to have come back to life in the gardens. And there are bees again, native and honey bees, foraging among the roses and herbs. And most delightful of all, teeny tiny baby green frogs are hiding among the rose petals, peeping out from their soft rose petal eiderdowns. I know that the balance of life is back in sync in the gardens and that the few roses affected by scale and other pests will provide meals for predator insects.
While all this life is teeming and flourishing though, it is also time to plan for the next long, dry spell that seems to be an integral part of this lush, green sub-tropical climate. And now is the time to plan for chores that will carry us through and keep the garden flourishing and producing into the next hot, dry spell.
Mulching thickly is essential. Not only does it keep weeds under control, it also helps the soil stay moist for longer, protects the soil from drying out and crusting over and encourages beneficial microbes and worms in the soil. Mulching also protects the rose roots from heat and frost. It also provides places for beneficial insects to hide and birds to forage. We use sugar cane mulch as it is readily available and re-cycles spent sugar cane that would normally be discarded. The only down-side is that it can import weeds, but overall it has proven to be very beneficial to the gardens.
Ensuring plants are deeply watered is important as it helps them put down deep roots, rather than foraging at the soil surface for moisture. Further down in the soil profile, roots are protected from heat and frost and can find moisture. So a water system is going into more beds. We already have under mulch dripper lines in some beds, but are extending these through the remaining garden beds and even to roses growing alone in lawn. This will ensure less water loss from overhead sprinklers and more efficient watering. While I find dripper lines annoying, especially when digging in the garden, I've learnt they are necessary to keep up a good watering regime in the garden. And they're a time saver too once they're set out.
The other important chore is to try and keep on top of the weeding. We don't use glyphosate here in the gardens, although I am very tempted sometimes when I try to eradicate weeds by hand. But I would rather have a slightly less tidy garden, than a garden marred by brown patches where poison has been sprayed. And I can rest easy knowing that children can run on the lawn barefoot and pick at the herbs without worrying about toxic chemicals. And our roses are pesticide free, so they're also safe to sniff (and eat)!
The one final chore is to enjoy. There is no point in having a large country garden, or a garden of any size without enjoying it. Even if the garden were only a few pot plants of herbs, I would still need to enjoy it. Too many people say that gardening is a chore, but it is far more than that! It provides pleasure in so many ways; in colour, fragrance, softening landscapes and providing shade and shelter for humans and all sorts of animals. Where would we be if we didn't have gardeners growing our food and flowers! Or propagating trees for shelter, or discovering new remedies and foods.
Despite the challenges of gardening,
the benefits far out-way anything else!
So ... happy gardening!
