Farewells and Welcome Summer

I had been away from the gardens for a couple of weeks returning at the end of October. I couldn't get over how the ground had dried out in that time - the abundance of cabbage trees in flowers also indicating it will be a long hot summer.   The colour palate of the flowers has changed from the predominant yellow and orange of the calendulas of winter to the pinks, reds and purples of summer, like these Cornflowers in varying shades.

Now there's plenty for the bees and other pollinating insects to harvest and it's lovely seeing the bright colours of summer appearing in the plots. 

Red soldier poppies, calendula and bronze fennel in Rosie's garden and in the background are the broad beans
ready for harvest on 29 October.

Meanwhile in my plot everything had gone mad.  I had left the radish to keep producing it's pale pink flowers and crunchy seed capsules for harvesting in salads. 

But ten days away and they just took over the plot.

The garden tells us it's time for summer crops like beans and lettuce, with the winter greens 

rather beautifully changing shapes in an effort to flower and seed. 

I particularly liked the radicchio  in Jen's plot and its shape shifting to become a cone.  Radicchio is a member of the chicory family that is revered in Italy and throughout Europe as a fresh, zesty addition to salads, pastas, and pizzas.

Its close relation the Endive resides in my plot and now resembles a Xmas tree - quite a transformation from a large lettuce like form all through winter.  

Endive - conical shape centre of picture.

I kept one endive to go to seed so that Bev and Trevor could plant them again next autumn.  The Endive harvested whole was an excellent seller at the Grey Lynn market all through winter.

But the demand for kale is never ending at the market so Bev planted  a second crop with some of each variety in one of the community areas.  And there is a new one this time...Dutch Red Kale.  

Dutch Red Kale

I tried a little. If you eat it raw it will keep its colour but, a little like beans,  when cooked it returns to dark green. For the market one week I made a bouquet of all our different varieties and the red is certainly eye-catching when contrasted with the dark brooding green of Cavolo Nero.

What about these perfect cabbages in Ramesh's(or perhaps it's Davids) plot. 

Parsley, especially the Italian variety, just wants to run to seed at this time of the year.  You can stall this by keeping cutting it but what a gift visually it is when it does flower, not only for us but for the many predator insects that rely on small flowers and good umbell landing pads like parsley.

Italian Parsley in flower - Oct 29

And what a treat to see two of the herbs we planted last year to flower in their second year. 

Soapwort Saponaria - as the name suggests it is used as a soap alternative.

There are a lot of varieties of soapwort and this variety has the tiniest delicate flowers - about the size and look of the blue forget-me-not.  The one I grew years ago has flowers a couple of centimetres across.

The second herb we have been waiting to see flower is Valarian that we struggled to grow from seed in the glasshouse last winter, put on great foliage last summer and last week rewarded us with it's first flowering of delicate palest pink flowers. If you ever want any identification of the plants in the herb garden, Liz who works plots nearby is the one who can help you.  Actually the herb garden looks at its best before the full heat of summer so take some time to wander through before Christmas. Thanks to the hard work of Liz the herb garden is looking magnificient in its second year of establishment - there is hardly an opportunity to spot earth in this garden - its so full of herbs. I noticed that the Marshmallow plants are looking very healthy this year so look out too for their delicate blooms this summer.

Another success story in the gardens has been the passionfruit that Bev planted last year. It has more than met expectations to cover our sitting shelter area that VJ and Clement built for us to deal with the hot summer temperatures.   

Trevor harvesting the Loquats before the birds do.

On the day I returned I discovered Trevor harvesting Loquats to share out with the community gardeners.

I was given a few to try and  I made Loquat jelly and it turned out amber in colour.  I also used some in an apple crumble and it gave the crumble a real lift. Its an ideal jelly as it is related to the Japonica, originating in Japan.

Bev said I could pot up a seedling that I discovered while weeding the asparagus patch and I was going to plant it in our flat's garden, but now I'm going to take it down to Dunedin with me.

Yes, just like the winter greens, it's time for me too to say farewell. Peter and I have purchased 50 acres on the Otago Peninsula. 

From one corner of our land looking down to the Otago Harbour and our
house has a red roof. You can't see by this photo but our house is in the township
of Portobello. It may not have the choice of Ponsonby but we can still walk down
the road and get a coffee or a beer.

Taking part in the life of Sanctuary Community Garden has been one of the best introductions I could have to Auckland and thank you Nigel and Jane for introducing us to the gardens in the first place in 2013. I have learnt an enormous amount from my plot neighbour John who always plants things at the right time, studied organic horticulture with Sinead for a year, got wise planting advice and philosophy from Sarah and Richard, observed and learn't about using plant design from Liz, learnt how to harvest and sell at the Grey Lynn market, enjoyed sharing produce, seeds and laughs with Clement and VJ. ..and partook in the best shared lunches I have ever encountered. It's true people who garden also appreciate good food. 

My final thanks must go to Bev and Trevor who tirelessly work to create an exceptional and special place of sanctuary in the middle of Auckland city.

Photo of 2015 potato crop taken 16 November.

I will leave you with a view of the fine potato crop - those flowering on the left are 3 rows of Maori potato varieties and the remaining rows are early potatoes that will be ready for Christmas.

Jeannie Hayden

www.Jeannieskitchen.me