I feel like I’ve been hiding under a gumtree all season — because I basically have. If you’ve wondered why I haven’t shared many garden updates lately, it’s because spring has been nothing short of relentless. Every time I thought, “Right, I’ll take a photo and do a quick post,” the weather said, “Oh no you won’t.”

We’ve had gales strong enough to blow the washing into the neighbour’s paddock, hail that arrived with the enthusiasm of a toddler shaking a glitter jar, freezing rain, then more gales just for good measure. The sort of spring where you look outside and think, “Surely this is character-building for someone… but it’s definitely not me.”

Meanwhile, the rabbits have absolutely taken over. I swear they’ve formed a small government in the back paddock and are currently discussing ministerial portfolios. They’ve eaten everything except the weeds — typical.

And the garden? Let’s just say it’s not exactly the lush, thriving spring showcase Instagram promises. The wind packed the soil down so firmly it now doubles as an Olympic-level landing mat. Seedlings have either clung on bravely or waved the white flag entirely, and I’ve been mostly in damage control rather than growth mode.

But tomorrow is 1 December, and with a new month comes a new plan — and a tiny dash of optimism (the healthy kind, not the delusional kind).

Here’s what’s happening from tomorrow:

🌱 Soil Reset
A deep water to soften things up, then a gentle fork-through to crack open the rock-hard top layer. Plenty of compost, organic matter, and a little seaweed tonic to coax life back into the beds.

🐰 Rabbit Defence Round… I’ve Lost Count
Reinforcing the netting (again), checking the tunnels (yes, tunnels), and putting in a few more deterrents so they stop treating the garden like an all-you-can-eat summer buffet.

🌿 Quick Wins & Summer Crops
We’ll be leaning into warm-season, bounce-back-fast growers: zucchini, cucumbers, basil, beans, lettuces, cherry tomatoes, and some heat-loving herbs. Nothing too fragile, nothing too dramatic — just good, steady growers to rebuild the pantry flow.

🌞 Shade & Shelter
Given how unpredictable the weather has been, the shade cloth is staying close. Seedlings will get dappled cover until they toughen up, and windbreaks are going up where the gales were funneling through.

💧 Water Strategy Refresh
Deep, slow watering early, focusing on rebuilding soil moisture after so many drying windy days. Mulching will be heavy this year — the good kind that actually sticks down.

🪴 A Gentle Return to Routine
After a season of pure chaos, I’m easing back into the garden with fresh eyes, less expectation, and the humble hope that summer might be slightly less dramatic.

So yes — it’s been a season. A loud, windy, soggy, rabbit-infested season. But tomorrow we start again.

Here’s to a calmer summer, thriving beds, and fewer furry squatters.
Bring on December — I’m ready.