Welcome to the first Tidbits for March. As February has come to an end, the change of seasons is once again upon us. For those of us here in the Southern Hemisphere, another wet and wild summer is coming to an end. This week, our friends and family in northern Australia have been inundated with more rain that has ever been recorded on history! They are calling the weather system "rain bombs" and they are really terrifying with lives lost and whole towns underwater. We've had some rain this week, more than usual but nothing compared to our northern friends. Where we live, though, they are predicting a warmer than usual autumn, hopefully full of all the beauty and colours this season brings. Above you can see one of the few sunflowers that survived the destructive powers of the cockatoo, who has a bad habit of chomping the top off them before they have bloomed!
For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope that a pleasant spring is on your doorstep. I can't wait to see all of those lovely photos of cherry blossoms in bloom, tulips and daffodils breaking through cold ground, and hearing about the plans of fellow gardeners. This week's Tidbits have a distinctly seasonal theme running through them. I have tried to find a variety of tidbits to suit the different climates where we live. I hope you enjoy it!
- When Does Spring Start In The UK? ~ Some really interesting information in this article, but also some gorgeous spring photos!
- How Birds and Their Songs Aided Duade After a Heart Attack - A look at how the wonderful world of nature can be beneficial to both physical and mental health.
- Need some garden inspiration for the coming spring or autumn? Then indulge your artistic senses with Claude Monet's glorious garden in Giverny. Everything you could possibly want in a garden, include a Japanese bridge, a water garden, beautiful flower beds and delightful climbing roses. From the website: Claude Monet did not like organized nor constrained gardens. He married flowers according to their colours and left them to grow rather freely. Sounds like my kind of garden!
- Climate change is causing more wildfires and governments are unprepared ~ It's not worth waiting for someone else to be prepared. With climate change a real and rapid issue in our world, we should look to see what we can do ourselves to be prepared, especially for wildfires and other extreme disasters.
- Spring-cleaning checklist: 9 experts share their top spring-cleaning hacks to get your home in tip-top shape ~ Some really simple but useful tips listed here to help get through a deep clean any time of the year!
- Best Plants That Thrive in Open or Closed Terrariums ~ we love terrariums in our house and as they are so simple to make, thought you might like to make one too! Check out the one my daughter made below and keeps in her room: an old glass vase, some soil, a few little succulents and some pretty white rocks, done!
- Grow Up Garden ~ Gardening Australia, ABC - short of space but still want a garden? Look at some innovative ways of growing your garden up!
- Garden Knowledge for Newbies ~ I love the tips listed here for new gardeners. They are also helpful reminders for those of us who have been doing it for a while. Number 4 is on my mind today.
- 9 to 5 the Musical ~ As a long time Dolly fan, this looks amazing! It has finished showing in Sydney, but if you are in Melbourne (or could plan a little get away) then it will be on in July and in Brisbane in May.
I'm a sucker for a good gardening book, and given that we are on only a quarter of an acre, this book looks like interesting reading. If you too have a small patch to cultivate, consider giving this book a go. It's definitely on my wish list!
![The Gospel in the Willows: Forty Meditations inspired by the Wind in the Willows by [Leslie Francis]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51yz0sX79eL.jpg)
This is an older book (published 2009) but if you read my weekend article about the charming world of the Wind in the Willows, then you may enjoy this read also. If you are a Christian it also coincides nicely with Lent which began on Wednesday. There are sample pages and a sample audio on Amazon if you would like a preview.
Taking Roots eliminates the stress and guesswork of sustainable living. Simple and fun, these tips and techniques will allow you to feel confident in taking strides toward a more mindful, back-to-basics way of life. If you have been curious about creating more natural alternatives for your home, saying goodbye to plastic, or repurposing items you own, Taking Roots is your guide. By making small changes, you will make the most of your budget, time, and resources while reducing your environmental impact and increasing your home impact!
Autumn is a time of transformation. Crisp, clear days mark summer’s close and usher in a new season with its rich scents and vivid palette, leaves flaming red and gold by day, bonfires and fireworks lighting up the lengthening nights. There is abundance, as humans and animals make stores for the winter; and there is decay, which gives rise to the next cycle of life.
If Science is your passion, then you may enjoy this podcast from the BBC In Our Times Podcast. Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the link between the eruption of Mt Tambora in 1815, the largest and most lethal in recorded history, with famines in Europe and America in 1816.
Sailor ~ Petula Clark
This song isn't particularly seasonal, but I love it and have been listening to it quite a bit lately.
If you've managed to make through the whole post, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope something here takes your interest and that you have some time this weekend to rest, read and reflect.
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