it's cooling down

Hello! Yesterday was World Naked Gardening Day (who dreams up these things?) but it wasn’t conducive to that in my part of the world where there was a ‘feels like’ temperature hovering around 2 degrees for most of the day. That’s certainly more favourable for reading garden magazines indoors than galivanting in the garden. 😀

Have you noticed that Instagram has made changes to the display of feeds in their app? It’s hideous. With free software we have to take what we’re given, work a way around it, or stop using it. I’ve stopped using the app on my iPad and, instead, am viewing and adding to my feed through the website. It’s easy to do and there’s still plenty of white space around posts, which is what my eyes prefer. Do you like the changes?

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IN THE GARDEN

I started digging up my dahlia tubers this week. Some have been in the ground for three years and have multiplied into clumps, so it will give me the opportunity to have tubers to give to friends. I’m planning to relocate my dahlia plantings but need to clear the area first.

It always amazes me how industrious plants are, reproducing under the soil. Who would think that these unattractive tubers can produce such stunning flowers?

I joined another garden club and went to my first meeting this week. The guest speaker was Dianna van Gaal from Antonia’s Irises, which is located in Vittoria between Bathurst and Orange. It was an interesting talk about tall bearded irises and all the rhizomes Dianna had for sale were quickly snapped up.

The sense of community in the group was obvious from the friendly vibe. I talked to the President of the club about that and he told me he quickly recognised it was a social club of people with a common interest, rather than a more serious horticultural group, although there is a lot of specialised knowledge among the members. I’ll be back.

I planted my Dutch Iris bulbs this week, probably later than I should have. My tulips are next to go in the ground. Planning is essential with gardening so as to synch with the plants’ growth requirements, but I’m often tardy. Somehow, I bumble through.

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WHAT I’M READING

Last week, I mentioned I’d finished reading An A-List for Death by Pamela Hart. My review is now on my website.

I highly recommend all of Vanessa McCausland’s novels. I finished The Lost Summers of Driftwood this week. It’s so beautifully written. My review will come soon.

The first week of each month is when masses of new issues of magazines download to my iPad. I use the Libby app to borrow them from my local library for free.

I’m a firm believer in public libraries as sources of information and entertainment and they constantly need supporting. I know how important usage statistics are to help libraries justify their existence, so every loan counts. It’s an easy way to support your local library and you get to read wonderful magazines. Win-win!

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WHAT I’M MAKING

A thick fog rolled into our area one afternoon recently. The restricted visibility reminded me of a quilt I made some years ago, depicting that aspect of autumn. I wrote about it this week.

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Have a lovely week.

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This weekly newsletter is written by me, Erica Spinks, so I can share stories about books, gardens and quilts with you.

You can also find me on my website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.