You’re not alone in having the glums as the year sort of slides away and the fairies cause garden chaos - it’s hard to keep on top of it all. A few days away sounds marvellous - hope it’s somewhere lovely! Xx
My friend and I talk about this a lot! It is difficult to sleep properly when it is so light all the time and nature goes wild. I think the solution is to just “let it go” What’s the worst that can happen? A few weeds or droopy plants. It all dies off in the winter anyway and gives us a chance to rest and reset.
I really enjoy your writing and podcasts. Thank you
I am really enjoying your writing! I’m waiting for my teenagers and decided to indulge…then started laughing out loud at this: «How do I explain “looking a bit sad but don’t overwater” in precise language?» I’m glad you’re going to be able to let go a bit. And I hope you and your house sitter keep enjoying what sounds like a marvellous garden (weeds on steroids and all!).
I say embrace the anarchy. Or choose a small space to do that. Enjoy your time away! Our growing season is so short I have to simply appreciate what comes. It can never be perfect. After living my life in perpetually sunny places, I look forward to our Fall and Winter here. The stunning beauty and color is something to behold, then the long monts of snow and cold allow for a true “Wintering” as Katherine May has written.
I can imagine, are you in the US? I would love to see The Fall colours one year. And yes, I love ‘Wintering’ but again, it can be easy to embrace it in theory, somewhat harder in practice.
Yes, the US. I live in Maine which might as well be Canada. I understand theory vs practice. I’ve struggled with it all my life. I have embrassed “good enough” for my sanity.
I love this - it echoes my (and I suspect a whole host of people’s) feelings about this time of year. I have looked forward to the thought of lovely long summer days and balmy evenings and now that they’re here, it’s such a lot of work to keep on top of it all… and it does feel as if it’ll be no time till we slide into more autumnal weather…
But despite all that, I’m determined to enjoy each day wherever the weather and not let all the tasks get me down- after all it’s me who created them!
Your piece of writing, beautiful as always by the way, is a timely reminder to slow down and stop being so busy that you miss the highlights!
Watering especially I’m trying to do a lot less frequently. It used to be a nightly routine that took two of us at least an hour.., no longer - things are hardier than I think and will survive just fine without all that cosseting. Having said all that, I’m off to check on the greenhouse and have a perambulation around the garden to see what’s a-happening! Enjoy your weekend away - I’m sure the housesitter will be great!
Yes, I often have a little melancholy during the Australian summer - knowing this glorious weather and all the delights of the garden won’t last. Now I am in the season of woodfires and scratchy jumpers and my garden looks dead!! I think the hardest thing is walking my dog in the dark, morning and evening before and after work. And my Substack feed is full of summer. It is weird. Was it you who wrote recently that summer gardens are made in the winter? That’s what I’ve been clinging to as I’ve prepped beds and pruned and stared at bare branches under a cold sky. Just as your autumn is inevitable so is our spring 💗
Yes, that was me! Inspired by an ad on the tube in London that was ‘summer bodies are made in winter’. I was curiously obsessed and infuriated by it.
It’s so strange hearing about winter in our summer, my brother lives in NZ and is in peak hunkering down mode. I am actually a little jealous right now.
They do look like furious little rain clouds!
You’re not alone in having the glums as the year sort of slides away and the fairies cause garden chaos - it’s hard to keep on top of it all. A few days away sounds marvellous - hope it’s somewhere lovely! Xx
It’s Dorset, so not the most thrilling few days.
Oh but Dorset is lovely! And you should have the loveliest weather ☀️
It is! It's glorious but I'm doing dutiful parenty things NOT sunning myself on a beach which is a travesty.
😂😂
I agree with you, winter is just endless rain and in the UK especially
My friend and I talk about this a lot! It is difficult to sleep properly when it is so light all the time and nature goes wild. I think the solution is to just “let it go” What’s the worst that can happen? A few weeds or droopy plants. It all dies off in the winter anyway and gives us a chance to rest and reset.
I really enjoy your writing and podcasts. Thank you
🧘♀️ 🌱 ✨
Oh thank you Jo! And you’re so right, sometimes, it’s best just to step away and let the chaos wash over you. Although often easier to say than do.
I am really enjoying your writing! I’m waiting for my teenagers and decided to indulge…then started laughing out loud at this: «How do I explain “looking a bit sad but don’t overwater” in precise language?» I’m glad you’re going to be able to let go a bit. And I hope you and your house sitter keep enjoying what sounds like a marvellous garden (weeds on steroids and all!).
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
I say embrace the anarchy. Or choose a small space to do that. Enjoy your time away! Our growing season is so short I have to simply appreciate what comes. It can never be perfect. After living my life in perpetually sunny places, I look forward to our Fall and Winter here. The stunning beauty and color is something to behold, then the long monts of snow and cold allow for a true “Wintering” as Katherine May has written.
I can imagine, are you in the US? I would love to see The Fall colours one year. And yes, I love ‘Wintering’ but again, it can be easy to embrace it in theory, somewhat harder in practice.
Yes, the US. I live in Maine which might as well be Canada. I understand theory vs practice. I’ve struggled with it all my life. I have embrassed “good enough” for my sanity.
I love this - it echoes my (and I suspect a whole host of people’s) feelings about this time of year. I have looked forward to the thought of lovely long summer days and balmy evenings and now that they’re here, it’s such a lot of work to keep on top of it all… and it does feel as if it’ll be no time till we slide into more autumnal weather…
But despite all that, I’m determined to enjoy each day wherever the weather and not let all the tasks get me down- after all it’s me who created them!
Your piece of writing, beautiful as always by the way, is a timely reminder to slow down and stop being so busy that you miss the highlights!
Watering especially I’m trying to do a lot less frequently. It used to be a nightly routine that took two of us at least an hour.., no longer - things are hardier than I think and will survive just fine without all that cosseting. Having said all that, I’m off to check on the greenhouse and have a perambulation around the garden to see what’s a-happening! Enjoy your weekend away - I’m sure the housesitter will be great!
It’s so hard to stop occasionally and enjoy the thing you’re creating, especially as summer is so fleeting.
And, lord, yes, two hours of watering a night is a lot!
Yes, I often have a little melancholy during the Australian summer - knowing this glorious weather and all the delights of the garden won’t last. Now I am in the season of woodfires and scratchy jumpers and my garden looks dead!! I think the hardest thing is walking my dog in the dark, morning and evening before and after work. And my Substack feed is full of summer. It is weird. Was it you who wrote recently that summer gardens are made in the winter? That’s what I’ve been clinging to as I’ve prepped beds and pruned and stared at bare branches under a cold sky. Just as your autumn is inevitable so is our spring 💗
Yes, that was me! Inspired by an ad on the tube in London that was ‘summer bodies are made in winter’. I was curiously obsessed and infuriated by it.
It’s so strange hearing about winter in our summer, my brother lives in NZ and is in peak hunkering down mode. I am actually a little jealous right now.
And I should say also yes, summer gardens are SO much work and I do not miss the endless watering and trying to keep everything alive 🤣
Summed my feelings up perfectly thank you.