Garden after a while / 久しぶりの庭

I am currently taking part in an artist residency program, so I did not have many opportunities to visit my garden in July. When I finally went back last weekend, I was relieved to find that the plants were doing well, thanks to a friend who rents the neighboring plot and had been watering them for me.

I harvested some tomatoes, beets, beans and herbs to eat during my short stay at home. This was actually the first time I had managed to grow beets this large. It gave me an unexpected boost of confidence in my gardening skills, and I started imagining sowing beets for autumn and winter once I return home—and making borscht with beets from my own garden.

I also picked a few blackberries growing along the path to the garden. They were delicious with yogurt. I froze the rest to use later in smoothies or a clafoutis.

During my short weekend stay, I managed to visit the garden twice 😄 On the second visit, I did some gardening together with my garden friend from the neighboring plot, and afterward we went for a beer at the beer garden inside the allotment grounds.

We talked about how perhaps the ideal garden for us is one that can be left alone for a week and still somehow manage. Some people achieve it so we can make it in the future.

Once the residency is over, I would like to buy a small grass trimmer and tidy up the garden.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week. Happy gardening!

レジデンシープログラムに参加していて、7月はなかなか庭に足を運べませんでした。先週末久しぶりに行ってみると、隣の区画を借りている友人が水やりをしてくれていたこともあり、植物たちは元気でほっと一息。

週末の滞在中に食べるトマトやビーツをもらってきました。実はビーツがここまで大きく育ったのは初めてで、妙にガーデニングの自信がついて、帰ったら秋冬分を育苗して、庭のビーツでボルシチを作りたいな・・・なんて。

そのほかは、庭への小道でなっているブラックベリーをちょいちょい採集。ヨーグルトにのせておいしくいただきました。残った分はスムージーやクラフティ用に冷凍しておきました。

週末の短い滞在の中で、今回は二度庭に行く機会があり、二度目は隣の区画を借りている庭友達と庭仕事をして区画内のビアガーデンにビールを飲みに行きました。「一週間あけてもなんとかなるくらい放置できる庭がいいのかもね」なんて話をしたのでした。

レジデンシーが終わったら、草刈機を買って、庭をすっきりさせたいです。

それではみなさん、いい一週間のスタートを。Happy Gardening!