It's felt a bit like a writers block, only for gardeners. The guilt has a funny way of finding you even when you think the gate is closed and latched tight. that garden's still just outside the window, right around the bend, on the path to the worm bin. I've even let the worms go hungry, and the kitchen scraps build up so as not to be reminded. Reminded that I am far behind my self imposed schedule in the garden. Not so new really, the mad dash to get the Autumn bounty preserved in time to start holiday preparations and celebrations generally leaves me a bit tired and avoiding the garden. You all might be covered in a sweet, restful blanket of wintry-white snow but here in California there simply is no rest for the gardener, no excuses, no seasonally mandated break. So, the guilt I mentioned....
Today it had to be done, I really had to feed the worms, and get the scraps off the counter. As I walked past the garden Gavin insisted that I look at his Johnny-Jump-Ups "Mama, look they're blooming, you must come see". Oh boy, here we go. Time to face the music of my mostly bare beds and thriving weeds. But, ya know what? There's yummy stuff growing in that neglected garden, stuff that made me run for my camera and rework my dinner plans for the week.
I see kale chips for mid day snacks tomorrow, carrot and fennel soup on Wednesday, chard and broccoli with something another day and a delicious salad with johnny-jump-up blossoms on top (if Gavin will part with them).
This garden is still growing. Perhaps I'll face the music and reach for the seeds...it's planting time!