The Box gets curioser, and curioser

Phase 2 of my Summer planting season started today!

After harvesting the Swiss chard and transplanting the Marogo (African spinach), chamomile bushes, yet more tomato plants, another 10 seedling avo trees and the sprawling Nasturtiums, I could see my soil again and say in godly fashion to myself "this is good".

Once over the relief of less foliage, I planted a different variety of ground-dwelling tomato, decided to give spring onions another go (the last crop wasn't very competitive), planted a colourful variety of chard, some onions (which I have to wait 7 months for) and radishes (someone stole my last batch but at least it was appreciated!)

Looks so neat now, prior to germinating, doesn't it? The carrots and beetroot in there will be just in time for Christmas - think I'll impress family with another basket!

Infused with an uncharacteristic equilibrium of energy levels in the 35 degree Jo'burg midday sun, I decided to plant more tomato, bell pepper and jalapeno seeds in trays. That done (and NO, I was not drinking G&T's for energy), I thought... hey! Let me start an open vegetable garden in the back. 

So off I trotted with digging, composting and tilling equipment and two hours later - voila!

Although the pumpkin leaves were camera-shy, they've spruced up since, and the Nasturtiums form a great creeper-border for the cucumber and Pak Choi that will soon sprout up behind it. Along the sides, I have sown catnip and lemon balm to act as natural insect deterrents.

Below is a picture of the other edge of my new outside vegetable garden, where the creeping tomatoes (which originally sprouted up in my greenhouse box  - not from seed, but from compost of last year's yield) surround strawberries, basil, spring onion, peas and a tiny sprig of golden oregano:

 As I was sitting back at last, sipping a well-deserved cuppa tea on the sun chair next to Foxy and Femme, I nearly jumped out of my skin!!! Look what I saw a few Cm's to my left - WOW:

The doggz were unperturbed, as illustrated embarrassingly below, and just looked up at me as if to say: "...nature-lover, huh? Sure..."

I'm not one to watch paint dry. But I must admit, I took one or two more photos of my new little patch before I slapped on some AfterSun lotion and rushed off to face the alternate reality of Jo'burg traffic...