Another 200 natives planted

For reasons I won’t go into here, it is fair to say 2020 has been the worst year right from day one for us, With the help of friends, Lorraine and I managed to beat the biggest of all curve balls, then just as I thought we might catch our breath early March – that damned virus arrived.

You’d think a creative introvert hermit would be in their element at home, and I usually am but the loss of choice to wander was a kicker. Combine Winter income worries with two shows cancelled and level four lockdown there was no mojo left in the tank – exhaustion set in. In between doing the tedious necessities, I am pretty sure April was spent curled up in a ball. Thoroughly sick of myself after a month of glum, I put my gumboots on and dragged my sorry arse out to face the garden which had gone completely rogue, it was depressing! May and early June were spent putting things back in order, by mid June it was back in the fun zone planting and improvements including new compost bins and converting the chickens’ space for deep litter composting system. The fresh air and physical work has done wonders, it was a relief to feel my brain finally switching from survival, back into creative mode.

The Spring rain appears to have arrived with gusto, grass is greening up and growing like mad, the ground is very soggy under foot. The front paddocks are beginning to look almost like there is a plan (there isn’t), with paths and a vehicle track being cut with a weed eater and lawn mower. Over the past four months another 200 hundred natives have gone into the ground, cabbage trees, flax, pittosporum, ribbon wood and Ake Ake. so the total now stands at 450 approximately. A few casualties are expected.

Along with the natives some exotics that the bees should love have been planted too, just a few at this stage in a lower paddock to see how they cope with the soil. Also several varieties of basket willow are growing. Two fence lines have been pole planted with willow to provide some shelter from the winds. these will be coppiced back at some stage. Still debating the plantings for the western boundary.

Using some on site recycled timber, the orchard has some new wonky garden beds, I just can’t do straight! Plans for this space include a six bay compost system, more beds and another entrance way from the house for easier access from the back door. There are still many more home grown babies to go in the ground, more natives plus lots cuttings taken for the orchard space and surrounding gardens this year – raspberries, black and red currants, strawberries, grape, fennel, comfrey, rosemary, lavender, daisy, and hydrangea. Fingers crossed for Karo and Tagasaste – Tree Lucerne seeds planted recently – I was sold on the latter when I read that wood pigeons love these trees.

Hopefully the next update will not be so far away, looking forward to sharing new creative work at the Manawtu art trail in November, fingers crossed. I hope you are coping with all that 2020 is throwing your way.

Plant Count: 550+

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath.