The RHS ran a survey earlier this year to find out more about the UK’s gardening habits. 71% of the random sample of people questioned said that they gardened for personal pleasure, well over half of respondents were wanting to create beautiful spaces, and a fairly respectable 38% said that they gardened for wildlife. A positive finding for the birds, bees and frogs of the UK… positive but with plenty of room for improvement.
Given my gardening priorities, I was a little disappointed that growing food didn’t make it into the top 5 reasons for gardening… maybe it was a close number six in the list. More reassuring was the fact that just over 40% of people said they had bought plants or seeds to grow their own food.
Whatever your reasons for gardening, it’s getting towards the time of year here when the idea of sitting indoors, cup of coffee in one hand and a stack of seed catalogues on the table, is much more appealing than going out in the cold and damp. This would be fine if there weren’t so many jobs that still need doing out there. The one that’s been dragging on for a few weeks now is raking up the leaves off the grass. So many leaves… I’ve filled bags for leaf mould next year, topped up the compost bins, made a big heap of them, and still there are more.
It’s a leafy story in the vegetable plot too. Edible leaves here though. The garlic is in and starting to show green shoots. I’ve planted both softneck and hardneck varieties, and am already looking forward to the first green garlic pizza next year. There’s chard just about taking over one of the veggie beds, with kale doing its best to keep up in leaf production. I need to find some inventive ways to hide these two vegetables in winter soups and pies… there are some members of the family who aren’t keen on eating them. While I search for recipes, the plants are looking decorative as the frost melts slowly in the weak sunshine.
There’s been a slug invasion in the greenhouse – winter lettuce plants have disappeared overnight, and they’ve had a good munch on the spinach too. No signs of any damage on the chervil though. I’m not sure how we’ve ended up with so much chervil… I’ll need to be looking for recipe ideas for using this too.
The main job for this winter though is to dig out more space for vegetable growing, and have it ready for spring sowing. I have a design for the vegetable patch, but before I can start digging and shaping the beds there are a lot of plants to be moved and either relocated or added to the compost heap.
Whether you’re a keen gardener, or just enjoy reading about gardens, there’s always a good collection of seasonal tales to be had through the Garden Share Collective over at Lizzie’s blog, Strayed from the Table. And as we’re approaching the shortest day here in the northern hemisphere, the photos of early summer flowers from the Australian and New Zealand bloggers who join the collective are a great way to brighten the day.
And to finish, a quick Garden Deli survey – why do you garden?
The Garden Deli 
I garden primarily for food and along with that to live more sustainably. I also garden now so that I have fodder for my blog and because of blogging I’ve become aware of the wildlife aspect of gardening too 😊.
I garden as I adore it and love eating straight from the plot! I know what the plants are fed and being organic is another bonus! Love your pics .. I think I read somewhere that chervil will ward off slugs.
I garden because I love growing edible plants, and there’s nothing like eating homegrown food! I find getting my hands dirty therapeutic, too 🙂
Oh so many reasons, I do try and follow the principal of don’t plant it unless it has 3 uses. That doesn’t apply to most of the veggies, they are just to eat knowing they are unadulterated. Calming of the soul after a busy day, cleaning the air, habitats for bees, bugs and birds. Its also good because you can’t do any housework when you have tasks beckoning!
I garden mainly for food (fruit for the most part). I am envious of all that chervil. Do you think it might make a good pesto? I’d try one similar to Sicilian fennel frond pesto made with almonds instead of pine nuts. Chervil does have that slight anise flavour.
I love it when the garlic’s in, it feels like the start of the new season.
I garden for the pleasure of seeing bees and butterflies, for colour, for peace of mind, and for herbs to enjoy!
I wonder if the chard would be disguised enough in a curry… I used my chervil in place of parsley this year and it goes very well in a carrot salad.
are we allowed more than one answer? i garden for lots of reasons! for food, for colour and pretty flowers around my house, to bring birds and bees, to create a sanctuary for myself away from the world, away from work. having said that, gardening is not always a pleasure – seeing plants die for no reason is very heartbreaking, as it lack of rain.
you have a lot of work ahead of you with all that digging, GD. i hope you have some helpers – good luck.
I love your photos, the colors are so bold, and convey such a sense of hope.
I garden for the food and the beauty. 🙂 Right now, our world here is covered with about 6 inches of snow so my gardening pleasures are through blogs like yours and books.
I garden because it is essential to my well being and part of my connection to the environment. So I grow vegetables to give us healthy delicious food, flowers for the wildlife and the sensual pleasure they give me and others. The garden is also a place for exercise (mental and physical), relaxation and a haven. I am and therefore I garden.