Changing Seasons
28 August, 2025
I was pottering in the garden last week when I heard the telltale sound of a baby bird waiting for a feed. Peering into the hedge, I could see a young honeyeater patiently waiting for its parents’ return. At this time of year, when the baby birds venture out of the nest and take their first flight, I can always feel a certain level of anxiety in the garden. The baby birds seemingly oblivious to their parents’ frantic movements and warning calls, as they fearlessly explore their new surroundings. Their little wings appearing to struggle to keep their bodies in flight. Yet somehow they manage.
Whilst the cold and rainy weather continues, it might seem like spring is far away, except for a few little signs from Nature that there’s a change in the air. The first hoverfly sighting for the season, wildflowers and bulbs in bloom and the faint hint of jasmine from our neighbour’s garden.
Working with Nature over the years has shown me that change is inevitable, each season bringing new experiences, challenges and joys. After the last few years, with winters being short and mild and summers long and dry, we’ve had a contrast of a wonderfully wet winter, here in the south west. The earth has finally had a good soaking and the relief is palpable. Dams, lakes and rainwater tanks are full and rivers spilling over. The frogs are singing and the ducks are happy.
Whilst some plants and trees will be nourished from the deep water soak, others will struggle with the wet and cold conditions. Our Wild Rosemary (also known as Coastal Daisy Bush), is not looking happy and time will tell if she can adjust to the new conditions.
Some trees will find it hard to keep a hold in any waterlogged soil and fall, sprouting new life from their base, whilst others will become habitat for wildlife and, in time, return carbon back to the earth….as is the cycle of life.
“There is beauty to be found in the changing of the earth’s seasons, and an inner grace in honouring the cycles of life.”
Looking at our little garden I can see the structure of our soil is improving with water being held, but not waterlogged. The moist conditions have meant a few more slugs and snails, but not too many to cause any concern or need action from me. The garden continues to look after itself, with our resident frogs and birds helping to keep excess populations in check.
There are plenty of 'leafy greens’ in our garden at the moment, with different varieties of kale, silverbeet, rocket, lettuce, mizuna, mustard and Japanese cabbage.
Bare Necessities Kale,
A new variety of Kale I grew from seed this season is “Bare Necessities” from Thrive Sustainability (a WA Seed Supplier). It has a milder flavour and a softer leaf than other varieties, with frilly edges, so it’s perfect for adding raw into salads. It also keeps its softness as it matures. I’ll definitely be saving seeds from this one!
If you’d like to see the range of seeds Thrive Sustainability have for the Spring Plantings, I’ve popped their website link below.
Sautéed Greens on Buckwheat Sourdough,
A favourite way I like to enjoy leafy greens straight from the garden, is sautéed with a generous tablespoon of ghee and a pinch of Celtic sea salt, on toasted buckwheat sourdough. In this mix of greens I used a handful of kale, Japanese cabbage and Chinese broccoli, along with one spring onion and a sprinkling of calendula and mizuna flowers. Easy, simple, nourishing and yum!
Winter in the Greenhouse,
Production in our little greenhouse slows right down over the winter months, with harvests only from some peas, lettuce, silverbeet, chives and bok choy. The chilli plant and capsicums are starting to show signs of getting ready for summer production with new leaves and flower buds forming. The pots that I grow tomatoes and cucumbers in over summer, currently have a cool season, green manure crop growing in them, to help provide a foundation for preparing the soil for the new season plantings. If you’d like to learn the technique I use to grow a food garden in pots, I have a new workshop to be held in my home garden this Spring, Growing a Potted Food Garden. See here for more details.
A Vibrant Nemesia,
Nemesia’s are a favourite of mine so when I saw this one at our local garden nursery, “Nesia Tropical”, I couldn’t resist and brought a few home with me. Nemesias are related to the snapdragon family and are easy to grow with long flowering periods. Their flowers resemble dainty snapdragons and are nectar rich attracting bees and butterflies, as well as adding a pop of colour to the garden. What’s your favourite flower?
Til next time, stay cosy,
Alisa🏡🌦️