Summer has left us for another year as autumn rolls in like a gentle morning fog. Like all tragic hipsters, autumn is my favourite month (I wish I was more original in my choice but autumn has the alluring smoky, sophisticated charm of a gentleman who dresses well and drinks fine single malt whisky – look, just bear with me, I’ve been single forever and the men I’ve been involved with of late have all the charm, allure and sophistication of a bowl of three-day old salted porridge). But I digress – here’s some highlights from the end of the season.
READING:
A Sand County Almanac: Aldo Leopold. You know all those books taking up space on your bookshelf that you’ll definitely read again one day? Yeah, those. All of those. Anyway, this is one from the ‘haven’t picked it up in nearly 20 years’ section of my bookshelf, and it really is a beautiful read. Aldo Leopold is regarded as the father of conservation biology (probably in part because of the pathological lack of recognition our society has bestowed upon female writers, artists and musicians throughout the last few centuries). Gender bias aside, it’s one man’s deep and tender observations of the north American landscape he called home and although I’m sure if I dig around enough he’ll turn out to be another racist, misogynist jerk at least it’s not bloody Thoreau for a change (click here for some insights into why Thoreau is kinda problematic…and I hate to break it to you but so is Muir).
LISTENING:
Muddy Boots. Australian gardening podcasts that aren’t just repackaged talkback radio shows are few and far between – but these weekly 20 minute episodes cover a great range of topics for us antipodean gardeners.
IN THE KITCHEN:
Plums are in full force in February, and at least one of the several trees in my collection is always reliable. This delicious spiced plum cake went down a treat at office morning tea. And in my kitchen.
WANDERINGS:
A daytrip to the northern midlands to check out John Glover’s restored house and garden in Deddington (aka ‘Glover country’ – so named as he painted many landscapes in this region). Sadly many of the beautiful gums and healthy plains captured in these paintings have been replaced by a treeless agricultural monoculture. It’s a definite contrast to the gentle rolling woodlands and rugged shores of my home in the south.
The biennial Wooden Boat Festival was finally back after a pandemic hiatus. But as my nautical expertise extends only as far as getting on boats that other people own, I’m not the right person to provide any valuable insight beyond ‘if you like wooden boats then this is the event for you.’
GARDEN DELIGHT:
Obviously it’s the dahlias. February and March are peak dahlia – which will keep blooming until the first frosts. I’ll do a recap of how I’ve found myself in the situation of a dahlia obsessed wingnut in a future post, but yeah look not gonna lie it’s instagram innit.
GARDEN VISITORS:
Shiny little green bugs. This past summer has been a riot for new and interesting invertebrate visitors. Don’t know if it’s down to the very wet spring or the addition of rotting wood and insect hotels around my place, or a combination of both but I’ve definitely come across a few that have got me scrambling to identify them on the exceptionally useful Insects of Tasmania website (which has come along beautifully since its recent revamp). Pictured here (L to R) is a jewel beetle, a long-legged fly (I think) and a mayfly (probably a swamp bluet). Fun fact, if you’re not sure how to tell the difference between a mayfly and a dragonfly, only mayflies can fold their wings back.
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