Yesterday I spent a modest amount of time at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (RTBG) weeding before being defeated by the inclemency of the day; the drizzle and the penetrating cold dampness of the air.

Janet and Meg did the hard yards chopping down aged tamarillo trees, weeding and then covering many square metres with what looked like ‘good enough to eat’ rich brown compost.

Meanwhile Adam covered a lot of territory burning off tiny new spring weeds.

If I could have l stayed the distance, Adam had planned to show me how to prune the olive trees. Some were already nipped and the following photos show the simplicity of his process, and how minimal has been the attention given to those already pruned.

I made time to wander around the Food Garden and loved seeing the thickening buds on bushes and new blossom on some plum and pear trees, and was resignedly aghast at how many silver beets, mustard and brassica plants has been nibbled by marauding wallabies.

How many times have I photographed the Food Garden with stunning blue skies and the vegetation sparkling under a bright sun?  The following photos shows the Garden yesterday in a different and brooding gloomy light.

Despite the colour of the day, many plants showed exciting growth. The Kangaroo Apple bush (Solanum aviculare) looked spectacular with its glossy green leaves and brilliant yellow fruits.

Some mustards, kale topped turnips and silver beets were flourishing.

The silvery leaves  and the fleshy flowers of the artichokes continue to attract attention.

Two types of garlic presented their different leaf shoots. The first of the following photos shows the Dunganski variety and the second shows the Lokalen

The loveliest aspect of yesterday’s garden were the multitude of flowering hellebores beneath the large spreading deciduous trees.

Other plants in flower included the following.

Clearly, regardless of season or weather, there is much to enjoy in the RTBG Food Garden – and elsewhere across the acres of gardens that make up the expanse of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Yesterday many visitors, kitted in beanies and gloves and warming jackets, wandered and marvelled.