While the folk of Tighes-Hill-Ville have been hibernating through
an unusually cold winter, the Terrace Garden has been quietly, slowly, almost
imperceptibly - growing!
Winter vegetables such as kale, silver-beet, rocket and
rhubarb have provided a steady harvest. Many
of us (including your dear chronicler) were amazed to learn that Brussel sprouts
actually ‘sprout’ from a central stem!) Carrots and beetroot took hold initially, but didn’t
like the soil (too rich?). The compost has been busy composting (this important
contribution rarely gets a mention, so “good on you compost!”). Also, what a
star performer is the artichoke with its beautiful silver-green raiment and
geometric design. Notice I said ‘performer’, not ‘producer’! Now that we know it likes to show off by
taking up as much room as possible, it will be relegated to a sunny spot all of
its own where it can receive delegations from admirers, privately.
No one will be surprised to learn that Miss Mulberry Tree
fell sound asleep about April or May. After a busy summer season producing several
harvests of juicy berries, she was the target of a nasty encounter with a
chain-saw. Against all odds, and having barely recovered from that trauma, autumn
set peacefully upon her like a quietly setting sun. Resting peacefully and having shed
all her leaves, she was seen to shiver only occasionally against the grey
winter sky and the odd blast of chilly Antarctic air. If you have visited the
garden in recent weeks you will see that Miss Mulberry is in fine form and
almost completely recovered from her ‘annus horribilus’. Sporting a trimmer figure (don’t mention the
scars!) and new summer fashion of Sherwood Green cheekily trimmed with lime, the
ensemble is tastefully finished with royal ruby earrings and speaks ‘confidence’
for a successful season ahead.
People appeared only occasionally in the winter garden apparently
to undertake such diverse activities as harvest vegies, smoke herbs, meet
lovers. Although I did not witness these
activities myself, there was sufficient evidence to be found while watering the
vegies early morning or late afternoon. During these quite, reflective moments I was often
accompanied by a rather friendly and laconic magpie chick which seemed to enjoy
walking a few steps behind me, nodding and chirping approvingly here and there,
and occasionally sifting nearby debris with his beak. His name is Col. Yes, apparently named thus by
his southern-born parents after a football team called "Collingwood". Some
parents should be shot! Now you know his name, please do say “hello” when next
you see Col. Don’t be too upset if at first he appears to ignore you and does
not reply.
Another unusual item to be found growing in the Terrace
Garden over winter is a pile of what most of us would call “bricks”. They are
in fact a pile of “old bricks”. And they have definitely been observed
to be growing (in number, not size!). Word is going around that the bricks are
gathering in great number for a "Pizza-Oven Making Conference" to be held on site
later this year. Please keep an eye out for advance notice of this promising event. In the interim, the bricks have agreed to
host a gathering for local snails. Reliable word has it that this gathering will be followed soon after by a banquet for blue
tongue lizards. The nice thing about community gardens is that everyone helps everyone else!
Well that’s what has been happening in the Garden over
winter...a lot...but not much, depending on your point of view. So now we have caught up on all the gossip,
let us spring into Spring before Spring is sprung.
