We live between two places — shifting between homes, between landscapes, between different ways of being. And with that comes time away from our garden. And I miss it. I miss the quiet rituals of stepping outside in the morning to check on what’s new. A garden is never just plants; it’s time, care, and a reflection of the people who tend it.

Being away means letting go, just a little. We trust it to keep growing without us, wild in some places, untamed in others. It means returning to surprises — new growth, sometimes a little chaos to rein in. But it also means seeing it with fresh eyes, appreciating it all over again, and knowing that nothing stays still for long.

And while I miss the garden, living between two places brings its own kind of richness. There’s different opportunities in each place, and the reminder that home is more than just one place. I carry the garden with me in small ways — the knowledge that wherever I am, there’s always something growing, waiting for our return. I’ve even taken to carting seedlings back and forward to tend to them if necessary!

I’ve also been trying to notice the joy in the little (and slightly bigger) things wherever I am. I try to notice these fleeting moments, reminding me that beauty exists in the in-between spaces too. Being in a different place makes room for these moments in a way that staying still might not. It opens up space for new perspectives, for noticing things I might otherwise take for granted. There’s something expansive about that, a reminder that even though I miss our garden, there is always something to be gathered from where I am.

This week, though, has been a little different. The usual ebb and flow of movement between places has been marked by something extra, making it easy to see the good. Big games, concerts, moments that pull people together in ways that feel celebratory and alive. It’s a reminder that while I miss the quiet rhythms of the garden, there’s something special about being caught up in the energy of the here and now, too.

What small, in-between moments have you noticed and cherished this week?

Gathering the Good: this week

1. First flowers on the rose we planted on our wedding day

2. A delivery of new season seeds — I may have overreached already… this is not unusual (!)

3. Second year of fruit on our feijoa trees — last year I counted 12 in total for our 1st year. This year I’ve already lost count.

4. Football games with lots of goals for our team — with a backdrop of impressive sunsets.

5. Saturdays on the South Coast — familiar landscapes and hitting halfway with running goals.

6. A night of homegrown music and creative energy (Luke Thompson & Avalanche City).

From beneath the canopy,

🌻 Issy

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