Winter gardening

Ah, we've had just the most perfect winter weather over the past week or two. We've had a few frosty mornings and it's cold in the shade, but the gorgeous blue-skied sunny days just make it my kind of winter weather.

I got out in the garden today to do a bit of tidying up - has been way too long since I was out there. I had decided to let some weeds grow to give protection to the plants, but it seemed that it was keeping the ground a bit too cold and some plants seemed to be rotting where there wasn't good air flow or the sun able to reach in and warm the soil. I've missed being out in the garden, but equally I haven't been enthused for a while now. I've noticed that the seedlings in one of my vege beds (bottom left bed in the photo) just weren't growing, and today, since I actually took the time to be down in the garden realised it was because it was totally void of sun at this time of year (this photo is taken about 3.30pm once we've lost almost all sun to the garden). So, I decided to do a bit of replanting into places that I'd just pulled up a bunch of old brassica plants.

(This photo is about half the width of my backyard - to the left of the photo is the same amount of space again, however, during winter is pretty much in full shade due to my neighbour's backyard being up higher and having a lot of tall trees).

~ The garlics are all up and looking really good.

~ Eating: spring onions, lettuce, broccoli, broccoflower, leeks, spinach, kale (not huge amounts, as things are definitely on a go-slow).

~ I got very excited while weeding the garlic bed to chance upon 5 little stinging nettle seedlings. Yes, kind of weird I know to get excited about them, but I have been really wanting nettle in my garden so I can start to harvest and dry it for medicinal uses. I then accidentally found another one in another vege bed when I brushed  my arm against it. Ouch. I may reposition them when the weather warms up into a designated corner of the garden near my comfrey. I figure they like where they are for now since the garden beds are warming up quite nicely during the day when the sun's out.

Chickens got moved into a more sunnier patch as well. They still free range every day, but was nice to give them a warmer position anyway for the times when I have them shut away if we're away from home all day.

We were hit with some sort of viral/sore throat/fevery thing earlier on in the week - so out came the trusty garlic honey from last spring (due to make some more), some fresh thyme, sage, lemon balm drunk as a warm tea (would have added some lemon juice if I had some).