When the writing becomes a blur

a few things from here and there

It has been a busy week and I’ve hardly stepped into the garden. I’ve had my head down editing my word and photo project that I have been working on for the past year. It has been such an interesting experience not just in creating something but also in how I work on a creative project. It has definitely been a journey of many ups and downs and I look forward to sharing it with you in April. So it is a quick catch up this week as I spend my time playing with words else where.

---

I noticed a bumble resting on a flowering sedum while in the garden which made me realise we are entering into late summer in the garden. The bees are more present in the garden at this time of year as the main honey crops of clover and mānuka are no longer yielding. It is a good time in a garden to have offerings for bees as they are busy building up their food stores for the coming winter. Here are 5 bee friendly plants that are currently flowering in the garden at the moment:

1. Echniops - I love the little pops of blue and whitish grey as they appear in the garden.

2. Echinacea- mine took a long time to flower this year as we had a cold early summer but they are finally here - yippee!

3. Eutorchium -This is a favourite of mine and as my ma in law said, a good background plant in a border.

4. Single bloom dahlias - always a good plant to have in the garden even if they aren’t as trendy as other dahlias.

5. Agastache - I love the blue and I am loving the white.

---

With all my writing I’ve been a bit quiet on the reading front. I find, of late, reading for me is more a nibble each night and I think once I have finished my project I will take some time to disappear into some books. Current nibbles include:

1. Piet Oudolf at work - I think have Piet Oudolf in the title says it all.

2. Tom Stuart Smith “Drawn from the land’ - Another beautiful landscape gardener who has a lot of knowledge to share

3. “Everybody Needs Beauty - In search of the Nature cure” a great summary and commentary of nature and wellness.

4. “The Writers garden - this one has been a wistful escape into some stuning gardens.

5. “A memoir of My former Self” Hilary Mantal - A collection of essays - the perfect nibble read.

---

Just a quick thought or idea. Does anyone want to gather in a garden? I will be in Wellington for a short break in March and I thought if anyone is interested I could arrange a gather in the garden at the Wellington Botanical Gardens where like minded souls can meet with or without cameras for a stroll. It would either be Satuday the 9th of March or Sunday the 10th. I thought perhaps around 9am. If you interested send me a reply to this email.