I spent the day working on the deck — it was cool outside, but pleasant in the sun. I filled all of the containers, and more or less positioned them for best effect and sun/wind exposure. One whole side of the deck — the side facing the roof of the Revue and the rooftop equipment and ductwork — will one day soon be a wall of sweet peas and red morning glories. I planted snap peas a couple of weeks ago, and they’re just starting to peek out. The spinach has germinated, so I threw another handful of seeds in so that I’ll have a fairly continuous harvest and won’t have to eat it all at once. I also bought a couple of herbs, the kind that don’t mind cooler weather (I hope) — lavender, tarragon, thyme, oregano, and tucked in some cute violas, or Johnny Jump-Ups, around them. They were a favourite of mine when I was a kid, but I only remember purple ones. Nowadays there’s an amazing choice of colours. I also laid down some basil seed and laid a clear plastic cover over top, since this is an herb that demands warmth. It’s still a bit early….but I couldn’t resist.
I also dug up a climbing rose-bush and clematis from my old garden downstairs, and dragged them up to the deck, just for the hang of it. I don’t know if they’ll appreciate their new accommodations, but they’ll be trampled if I leave them where they are. I got a bit of a twinge while digging, a longing for a real garden of my own close to the earth. One day. For now, I have every reason to be thankful for this wonderful deck. A vast improvement from last year.
The hardest part was leaving some of the containers empty. It’s still a bit too early, a bit too cold at night. No, I take that part. The hardest part is deciding what to put in which container, weighing the future possibilities of warmer weather. A couple more weeks, and the choices will expand….
POLLENATRIX 