...Homemade Rainbows...


Monday, August 10, 2009

the wild things

I am loving the wild things right now.

Having been away unexpectedly from my garden and it's *space* for most of the winter it has, just a little, taken on some extra life of it's own....in a fantastically free kind of way.

There is not so much order or discipline in it's growing. And I am loving that too... it's wild abundance, it's desire and search for survival and bold liberation.
Instead I am noticing and smiling at the lettuce (and mint) popping up in the lawn....and in the gravel...

The wild rocket, aptly named, that insists on it's ownership of a bed which is also sprouting a second sowing of sweet baby snow peas...

The same wild rocket that also insists on embracing my garlic and shallots...


I spy wild organic cherry cherise tomatoes making a home out of the side of the compost bin and in a corner by the fence.
I see they are kindly accompanying, or perhaps beckoning home, some large green trails of lush nasturtiums that seem to think the grass is surely greener on the other side.


I remember my lessons in passionfruit... and think it seems maybe patience is also a lesson learnt. I am grateful it is indeed fruiting now together with caressing, clinging and re clinging to a tree that it has a preference for over it's own rather large and long trellis. I adore the search among it's wild leafiness and curling tendrils for it's round jewels.


I am watching...
still more banana's on the way
masses of papaya hanging heavily from the trees
a peach that I know should start to produce next season
kale, kale and more kale
flower buds appearing on my blood orange and lemon trees
spent snow pea crops (with a satisfied belly)
awaited pineapples, baby olives, avocado's, apples and more guava's in Summer
all wildly interspersed with herbs.....and the lettuce of course!

My eyes are also feasting on the rainbow chard and the masses of the deepest purple beetroot leaves that are right now providing the wildest splashes of colour...not to be wildly missed of course because the chard is always eaten, by chickens, guinea pigs and people almost as fast as it is sown and grown.


And while noticing, watching, remembering and loving all this wildness, abundance and colour... as the bougainvillea too stretches up through the branches of the poinciana tree above us and lazily drapes outside the other fence lining our space....


I love that when I am outside admiring it's flowers I can also spy....back in through the palings.... just as much wildness and freedom sharing this space....in the people that live here....

and our neighbourhood friends that like to come and play with us here amongst our wild things....

16 comments:

Stephanie said...

Absolutely beautiful.
Lovelovelove that last shot.

Bananas.
Bananas!!
Psh.
I'm gonna send you snowballs in a few months. :/

Theresa said...

ditto stephanie's thoughts...

Kelly said...

I love all your wild things! It has been so long since I have seen bougainvilleas.

Melanie said...

what a gorgeous look into your world. I too love the last pic.

Jennifer said...

What wonderful things to see! Thanks for sharing.

Erin said...

Beautiful photographs!

Patricia said...

Hey Leanne
What a delicious fruit you have in the garden!
WOW! Is that a play at the neighbors ?.... NICE:)!!!

Leanne said...

Hi Patricia...that is indeed our house...I would feel a little guilty posting sneeky pics of the neighbours place! ;) x

Madeline said...

I want to live where you live! Y'all can grow such an amazing variety of plants. Lucky, lucky ducks. And, although I am very much looking forward to the coming Autumn, I am just a tinge envious of your coming spring.

Amber said...

Oh beautiful, all your wild things have the same healthy glow as your non wild things...hehehe
Life is so rich and warm there it oozes through...xxx

Kate Moore said...

Sounds idyllic. Tell me. How do you know when bananas are ready? I had some on last year and must have cut them down too soon. Will they yellow on the tree? Is it when the flowers stop falling? How does one know?

gardenmama said...

Hi Leanne!
Your writing and sentiments are gorgeous!
It is so lovely to see pieces of your gardens and your creative spirit in this space! I too love the 'wildness' of the gardens...

Pip said...

I am slightly envious of all those lovely things you are able to grow in your warmer temperatures. I too smile when I see a parsley or lettuce popping up in an unexpected place.

Sabrina said...

Oh yes! Love those wild things. All of them!
Glad to see you've returned with all these pretty pictures top share.

Bird Bath said...

wonderfully wild! Your garden is always brimming with gorgeous homegrown beauty. It's very inspiring to me.
That cubby must be THE hangout for the neighbourhood kids - looks awesome.

The Magic Onions said...

I love this post! I'd love to share it with everyone on my blog today... would you pop over and post it on Friday's Nature Table.
Blessings and magic.