Wind
When I first became custodian of this patch of earth, I proudly showed friends and family around the property. The tour usually finished at the top of the hill to take in the view of sunset over Mt Palerang. At this stop everyone proclaimed. “You should build up here”. But they had only visited this one day, or several days over years. Their day it was pleasant, you could see for miles and there was no wind. The top of the hill seemed ideal.
All Winds Here
On our hill it feels like the wind is almost a constant, coming from all directions throughout the year. The SE brings refreshing afternoon breezes in Summer, something I am mindful of and will take advantage in the future. The SW brings the hail and cold from the snowy mountains and very occasionally we get NE breezes.
The prevailing wind is from the NW most of the year and climaxes in August with the kinds of winds we have been experiencing this past week. Sometimes earlier and occasionally later, some years it lasts for months. The NW wind gets so strong at this time of year it can remove anything that’s not strapped down.
Big Winds Dash High Hope
Some years back, a neighbour was clearing the top of his hill. A real estate agent had sold him the dream to build his house up there. I scoffed and recommended against it, sighting the wind as the issue. He stated that he had endured the wind and it wasn’t that big of a deal. It was his first year and it was only May.
By the time August arrived, his caravan was removed from the top of his hill by the wind. He departed shortly afterwards, being replaced several times by owners attempting the same feat.
August provides a tree tipping kind of wind. A wind to snap limbs off big trees. If the limbs don’t snap, the trees may fall over. Rooted in rock being their only hope. I notice that properties that have been recently cleared with a forestry mulcher have had trees snapped or tipped over in the past week more than neighbouring properties.
Clearing scrub reduces friction across the land by removing surfaces that could have slowed the wind. Consequently, trees that have stood happily for decades as part of a Woodland Ecosystem are now laying down in a bare paddock. If you do live in a paddock, I’m sure you are attempting to make it more like a woodland, to reduce the wind.
Good Things
The wind is doing a wonderful job assisting the gums to provide themselves with valuable woody mulch. Dropping limbs assists the trees by creating habitat for microbes and fungi in the mulch to deliver nutrient. The snapped limbs provide habitat for birds, insects and possums as the decay forms hollows in trees of varying shapes and sizes.
I like to take a walk in the wind, to survey garden spaces and the spaces immediately outside the garden. It is surprising to note where the wind actually blows, as opposed to where I thought it might blow.
There is a spot on the NW side of the garden that is not very affected by the wind even though it is close to the most exposed part. The slope, the little ridge, the big gums, the tall Kunzea. 20m either side is bashed by the wind, but this little spot is not, so I plant Citrus there. It’s not the cold that troubles Citrus, it’s the wind they don’t like. Bonus, this spot has excellent first sun in winter.
While I’m walking around, I’m also turning fallen branches on contour. This has a profound effect on the sloping land. This little trick holds back water and nutrient and slows its travel downhill sharing the bounty as it flows. Sometimes the branches fall on contour by themselves so I’m increasing the odds, because keeping the roots of established trees wet and nourished is critical to the ongoing strength of your Ecosystem.
This week
I’ve been visiting with readers and noted that my garden isn’t early compared to others, it’s about the same pace. Spring is very early this year, about 4 weeks by my measure. If you are not experiencing spring at your place, I’m really feeling for you.
Blossoms, Leaves & Tucker
Apricots have produced flowers for the first time, so has the Nectarine. They are early to be sure. The wind isn’t causing them too much grief, neither did the light frost. I plan to plant mid and late season varieties as soon as I have space, to ensure I get a crop every year.
Pomegranate is putting on leaf as I’m seeing in other local gardens. Mulberries are forming on the trees. Trident Maples are in leaf ahead of the Japanese Maples. The Chanticleer Ornamental Pear is right on time flowering when the Manchurian has finished, adding to the Spring feels in my garden.
The Broccoli planted in May is still providing tucker. The Broccoli planted in June has produced some to eat, though the plant is a little smaller because of the cold snap at the start of Winter. Hardenbergia has been blooming outside the garden for weeks, giving the bush a spring feel. The Rhubarb is popping out of the ground, Strasberries are flowering. Raspberries and Blackberries are sprouting.
Bugs and Stuff
My Venus Fly Traps are flowering, so I need to keep cutting them off. They use a lot of energy to produce average flowers and thats not why I keep them. If left to flower, the next year can be pretty lacklustre for all but the most established plants. The traps will come in very handy as the flies and mossies start to appear.
Mossie wrigglers evident. Blow flies have arrived. Dragonflies are patrolling for mossies. Tadpoles of many sizes are visible. Butterflies are arriving to feast on blossoms. And the Wisteria is starting to flower. It’s all happening here. Happy Calendar Spring.
Stay Awesome
The Gordon Gnohm