66 Square Feet

Within minutes of walking back into the apartment I was on the terrace sniffing about for news of spring. The tarragon has many shoots, and deserves a larger pot. Although I tend to lose interest in it in summer. All the chives pots are sporting sappy green bristles, and the cat's nepeta has new grey leaves.

Last night should have been welcome-home-roast-chicken-with-tarragon night, but I passed out before 8pm. Vince had an afternoon nap while I did a rather-more-than-ritual cleaning of the apartment. Hm, that sounds bad. He really was very tired. And had already cleaned the bathroom.

Our trip was a little eventful, with a camera left on board our flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg - please hold thumbs that it surfaces - they actually found it and reported that to our New York-bound aircraft but with so many hands through which it must pass the likelihood of seeing it again is perhaps slim. Just before landing I contrived to break one of my toes, stubbing it on a piece of rigid airplane. But I have nine more.

Yes, the cat is fine! Indifferent to us, up at 4am, all as usual.

Hm. Calamintha seedlings. I let some of them live last year, but shan't again. Any takers? At least...could they be summer savoury? I'm going to have to look at last year's pictures again. Savoury stay, calamintha (although I love the flowers) go. Many baby fennels, too.

The climbing Iceberg is very healthy and prepping for its May party. We've extended our lease on the tiny apartment so will definitely be here. The New Dawn is also well, but very sad news is that the Abraham Darby didn't make it. It was a little diseased already last year, but the healthy branches made a huge effort and lots of flowers. I'm not sure why it succumbed this winter.

So that is at the top of my shopping list. Have to have one, can't live without those flowers and that fragrance.

I also need a new, tall Thing for the big pot in the corner were I grew my tomatoes last year. It used to house the standard Iceberg that I took out. Possibly another standard, or even a very small, trained fruit tree. Currants? Apple?

The New Dawn might come out after May. And perhaps a grape will go in. The rose does not rebloom, and in this tiny space I want as many seasons of interest as possible from a single plant. Pressure. A grape will give us leaves to eat as well as, well...grapes.

The fig is alive. Green tips.

Above, the juicy shoot of the Silk Road lily. By July it will be 6' tall. I think I will order some more Formosas for April planting.

Today? Perhaps some compost for repotting of herbs and fig. I must prune its roots. And spread mine.

And maybe plant some garlic cloves...