Gardening as Procrastination - Annie West

If you're like me you probably know that procrastination can be hard to resist. For some reason I find it particularly difficult when I have lots of things I really, really need to do. When I'm feeling swamped I do get in and work hard, but I also find myself procrastinating over the tasks that are just a little bit more complex or take extra thought.

Take this week. I'm trying to finish the draft of a book. Trying, very slowly with lots of interruptions. In addition to that my to do list included:
writing a newsletter to send out tomorrow for the launch of my new book,
updating my website with review quotes for said book (still not done - baaad Annie),
writing this blog,
reading (and paying close attention to) a copy edited version of a book to be published next year and marking necessary changes,
completing detailed art fact sheets on the book I'm currently writing (including plot detail on how the book finishes when I don't know yet),
doing an online interview,
updating my bio,
investigating how to organise print copies of my self-published ebooks (and DOING it),
learning the behind-the-scenes of a new website which hopefully won't look different to you but is to me,
plotting my next book,
etc.

That's on the writing side. Let's not mention other things. I know you understand what it's like. We're all busy, right? There always seems to be so much to think about and plan and actually do.

I can report that I'm slowly getting through my list of jobs but along the way I've diverted for some serious procrastination. I give you exhibit A:

Spring is here and everything, especially the weeds, are growing well Chez West.
And exhibit B:

More proof of spring, this time in the form of orchids which came through my family from my Great Aunt Ethel. As an aside, I love being able to say that Auntie Ethel's orchids are flowering.

So, of course, when I started to feel snowed under by what I had to do over the weekend and into this week, I found myself away from the computer, contemplating exhibit C: a newly denuded and fertilised vege garden, just waiting for some plants.

Which meant I really did need to go to the market to get some seedlings. Did you know you can get black cherry tomatoes? I love cherry tomatoes, partly for the flavour and partly because they ripen quickly so I've a chance of getting to them before the birds and possums. So here is exhibit D, all ready for the vege garden.

But not wanting to stop there, I went for E - roses,

and E, pelargoniums to put in hanging pots.

The only difficulty is that, despite my hard work in between gardening procrastination my other deadlines became really urgent. So now I'm finishing my writing work and my exciting gardening projects will have to wait. Now I fear I might be accused of procrastinating over the gardening too! :)

What's your favourite form of procrastination? Or don't you delay? Do you get in straight away and finish all your tasks before you play?

Welcome to my rose garden

Welcome to my rose garden

November is my favourite time in my farm garden because it’s when the roses are at their blooming brilliant best. Right now we have hundreds of glorious roses wherever we look. The scent wafts all around the garden and into the house. I thought I’d share a few photos with you.

This gorgeous David Austin rose is a favourite.

 The climate in our part of the Blue Mountains is very favourable to roses—lots of sun, not too humid, cold winter (cold by Australian standards, that is!)

Most of the roses were already in place when we bought the place, planted by the lovely previous owner, but we’ve added some favourites as well.

This is Zepherine Drouan and it has the most glorious scent

 When we moved in more than eleven years ago, my darling husband wasn’t all that interested in gardening. But he really fell for the roses. He does most of the work these days, pruning, weeding, feeding.  Roses are known as “gross feeders”, needing lots of fertilizer. That’s where our horses and little bulls contribute! I just pick the flowers and put them in the vase—lucky me! 

Pink roses are probably my favourite

My August release from Harlequin Romance, Hired by the Brooding Billionaire was set in a beautiful, neglected garden. It was one of my favourite books to write! 

My other favourite story (because it has a cat in it!) is my contribution, Millionaire Under the Mistletoe, to the LoveCats fabulous boxed set Hot Christmas Nights to be released on December 1. These stories are fabulous—each so different I couldn't pick a favourite. There's a lot of romantic Christmas reading there for just $0.99. It's up on Amazon for pre-order now!

All ready to take inside!

Are you a rose lover? Do you have a favourite flower? A green thumb or one that’s a tad brown around the edges?