Submitted by Joan Regan
Continuing on from my column last issue…
The green tinge had deepened, hmmm… if I thought my garden in Hamilton was a challenge – wow! Welcome to the rock! Yup, that’s all I had at my new garden on the Bruce. Rock, rock and more rock. No soil, just rock. And definitely no access to any water.
My first attempts to have a garden on this rock were a complete failure. Three inches of soil, all from bags (spent a small fortune) and the ground just swallowed it. Lots of perennials from Walmart and all died (no water).
However, my passion to have a garden continued. Now the soil was coming in by the truck load. Lots of it. Maybe my dream was way too big. Maybe I should have started small and worked into it. Too late! I was hooked, and I wanted a big garden.
After weeding one morning, I happened to notice a path forming. Hmmm… More paths went in and now there were 1/2 dozen gardens and they all looked so nice – rock borders (no shortage of rock). It was beginning to look like I knew what I was doing. NOT. However I did notice that green tinge on my hands was a tad brighter.
Soil was a huge issue. Much later I am happy to be able to get some good soil, and following my Dad’s suggestion, compost (yucky, but wow did it make a difference). I now have three composts on the go – one ready, one working, and one just starting up again. After a few arguments with bears and raccoons, I have found that just shredded paper well mixed up keeps them out.
I am so happy with my garden, and can sit and enjoy it more now that it is not quite so much work.
And now my second cup of coffee is calling me. Time to go sit “In The Garden”.
Joni
jpregan@amtelecom.net 519 596 2389