#23

It’s been 3 months since I last wrote - and I’m only really starting to get back into the garden and working on things the last week or so. I got quite sick over winter with various bugs and viruses going around, I spent a week in Fiji at the end of July which was much needed. I turned 42 a month ago which feels both old and young!

The Sweet Peas on the deck are looking so healthy and happy! It’s going to look so amazing when it’s all in bloom. The bed under my kitchen window is incredibly overgrown, but the Alyssum is pretty. I’m pretty sure there are a couple of Jalapeno plants hidden in there too. I’m considering clearing it all out and planting some herbs for the Spring / Summer. What are your go-to / must grow herbs? I am also going to grow Jalapenos again this year as they were delicious!

The garden has been slowly waking up a bit, but there have definitely been more frosts than usual this winter where I live. I’ve been preparing for Spring planting, and have an ambitious dahlia project planned for the Summer, growing all my dahlias from seed - more about that later!

This Camellia tree is actually in kind of an annoying place, but the flowers are so pretty in winter so I just leave it there. The Lavender by the front door is blooming, and a few bees are out and about.

I went down to Christchurch for the weekend for the zinefest which was so good! I had a great time catching up with special friends and chatted with many flower lovers. The riso postcards and zine I made sold out, and I also sold heaps of my moon zines and linocut prints. I wish I could have spent more time checking out the stalls though as in the last couple of days I have seen heaps on Instagram that I wish I had come across on the weekend!

I plan on doing more of the postcards and wildflowers zines and creating more gift bundles that include my printed seed packets.

It’s funny as with Riso it’s a bit of a gamble with what you get. I was happy with how my zines came out, but will definitely make a few changes to the next lot.

In other news, we adopted 2 rescue kittens from a local lady. Jones (black with white spot) and Zelda (tortoiseshell) have had a rough start in life, but with some love I’m sure they will thrive. It’s been so cool having cats again, and my son is loving helping to take care of these cute babies.

Hopefully this time next month, I will have some flowers in my garden!

Rach xo