At the end of two weeks of self-isolation in our home in Canberra, our neighbours sent us this lovely, and much appreciated card.
We recently visited our daughter and family in Melbourne, Victoria, during a time when Melbourne’s Covid numbers were on the rise. In order to do this we agreed to self-isolate in our own home for two weeks once we came back to Canberra. We had regular police visits during this time to check that we were doing just that. We also had a Covid test at the end of the fortnight.
All went well, but I’m glad we could open the gate at the end of a fortnight
Spring growth in the garden was just beginning when we left for Melbourne.
By the time we got home, thanks to the frequent rainfall this year, everything had grown and the garden was full of lush greens and yellows.
The tulips in the front garden were a lovely surprise, and even impressed the police who came to check on us. We couldn’t go into the front garden, but could view them from the window, and that was enough.
Unfortunately we missed the lovely apple tree blossoms, but here is a photo from last year…at almost the same time.
Canberra has an abundance of busy birds visiting gardens in spring, and our plum tree attracts various parrot families at this time of the year.. The plum tree is near the house, and so it is easy to take photos and watch them all day ……instead of looking up exercise programs, and/or de-cluttering the cabin.
On rainy days the cockatoos fly in to check on the almond tree….they love almonds, especially if the shells have been softened by rain.
I have read that cockatoos spread out their crests when they are happy, active, annoyed, or purposefully going somewhere. Perhaps active and happy in this photo.
While we were weeding all through the garden (Paul did 90% and I did 10%) I listened to a podcast on gardens, gardening and our mental health.
Geraldine Doogue on Radio National was interviewing Sue Stuart Smith, the author of a new book called The Well Gardened Mind. As a psychiatrist the author was interested in the connection between gardening and mental health. Her grandfather, Ted, had been a P.O.W. during the war, in a camp near Gallipoli. He returned home malnourished and shell-shocked.
His wife took great care of him on his return to England, but he still remained traumatised by his experiences. In 1920 he was able to enrol in a government program, a Horticultural Rehabilitation scheme in Hampshire. This program taught people the full range of horticultural skills, tending the soil, growing vegetables, seasonal changes. Ted became a keen gardener, and lived a long and full life, growing his own vegetables.
Sue Stuart Smith writes about cultivating the land, and the enormous benefit human beings have when connecting with the land. The gardener is drawn into the rhythm of the garden, the structure of the seasons is stabilizing, and we are pulled along by its growth.
The garden doesn’t let you procrastinate for too long, the seeds have to be sown in autumn or spring, the weeds have to be removed!
I haven’t yet read the book, but everything Sue Stuart Smith said in the interview was interesting and so true.
While we were self-isolating we received regular messages from ACT Health to check on any Covid symptoms, but also on our mental health during this period of isolation.
Over the two week period we had a few friendly conversations with the police who visited daily. Each time they mentioned that most people self-isolating in Canberra, are returning from overseas, and have no choice but to quarantine in small rooms in hotels or motels, often with small children.
During our two week of quarantining we had enough living space in our house, and plenty of gardening jobs to fill four weeks rather than two.
One of the young policemen said ”well you’ve got your garden…you’re okay!”
I bet he comes from a family of gardeners!
As well as the garden, the cockatoos provided a bit of every day humour to our lives. This cockatoo doesn’t look impressed with his pick of the crop…
Our garden was very important during this period of isolation, along with the birds, family, friends and neighbours. I will definitely buy Sue Stuart Smith’s book to read further on this interesting topic.
Here is a lovely quote from her interview:
”When we sow a seed, it is an action of hope”
Thank you for taking the time to read my post, and may you have a few rays of hope in your garden today.
Copyright Geraldine Mackey: All Rights Reserved.