The Hive Garden Challenge December Wrap Up - Plus Prizes!

As I write this in Australia, it's 37 degrees celsius and climbing. I've harvested beetroot and chard and watered the garden, and now there's nothing I can do outside without wilting myself. However, if there's one thing that's cooler than cool is looking at all the lovely garden posts from the last two weeks!

First of all, thanks to all of those who have consistently written great quality posts, engaged with others, and adhered to the community ground rules without a fuss. It's those kind of things that make this community run smoothly and presents a great front to those off chain as well that might stumble across this community and want to join Hive to share their own garden content. We have all learnt a lot from each other this year and even cheered each other up when things were tough. Wishing you all a wonderful end to the year!

If you missed the week 1 challenge wrap up, here it is. Thanks @isdarmady, @owasco, @sunscape, @akipponn, @anggreklestari and @multifacetas for getting their entries in early. @isdarmady won 5 Hive for his post in Week 1.

Week 2 Entries & Appreciation!

@alborhada shares garden updates regularly, particularly the challenges and rewards of gardening where unexpected rains alternate with intense heat. They've had success with a rice-based fertilizer, which helped their Cordyline fruticosa produce delicate pink flowers. Many might envy their thriving banana plant, a beautiful night-blooming "wishing lily," and vibrant vincas and lilies. It's nice to see the adenium budding again after a failed propagation attempt. There's other maintenance going on like pruning a fig tree. @alborhada always has a heartfelt post, sharing the joy and perseverance needed to tend a garden.

Although now covered in snow, @travoved6 shared the 2024 season hilghlights - it was a hot and dry summer but there was success with fruits such as berries. They'd also done a lot of work with vines which resulted in a good harvest, and lots of vegetables too including zucchini, cabbage, and chili peppers, and in the greenhouse, tomatoes and cucumbers.

@eolianpariah2 shared about returning to their Indian garden, salvaging fallen coconuts, and planting sprouted ones near their compost pit using careful watering techniques. They reflected on the loss of a local coir factory, leaving husks unused, and expressed gratitude for the sunsets from their terrace - check out this beautiful shot! This garden is of course very different from their garden in Norway! In another post, they reflected on a thriving bael tree, fungal damage and monkeys raiding papayas, as well as enjoying coconuts, and a flourishing cinnamon tree.

Over to Brazil now and we've got @CrazyPhantomBR showcasing a handmade "São Thomé" stone floor, a new orange tree, beautiful Tajete flowers, and a Tahitian lemon tree. There's also a transplanted climbing plant intertwined with orchids, and grape bunches ripeningi. Fantastic DIY efforts! And don't you love the marigolds planted around this citrus?

@earthworm shared an enthusiastic post detailing progress with potatoes, pumpkins, chili, and unexpected cherry tomatoes, plus plans for transplanting and sharing seedlings. @godslove123 has also been busy restoring their neglected garden. Despite the growth of wild grass, some plants like Siqua vegetables and Lemongrass are thriving, while others, such as Okra, are struggling due to the intense heat.

I hope we didn't miss any - it was a bit tricky as people forgot to post their entries under the challenge post, so we had to look at the #gardenjournal tag and kinda guess who was specifically writing a challenge entry!

Congratulations go to @akipponn , @alborhada, @anggreklestari and @CrazyPhantomBR who all win 5 HIVE this week. Along with @isdarmady - please check your wallets!

Looking forward to the Hive garden journals next year. January will be a quiet one for the holidays and we may not be curating much as we'll be on a break too, but there's still plenty of curators rewarding Hive Garden posts so keep them coming!

Much love to everyone and happy gardening!

^{We support gardening, homesteading, cannabis growers, permaculture and other garden related content. Delegations to the curation account, @gardenhive, are welcome! Keep an eye out for our weekly writing prompts and our monthly #gardenjournal challenge on the 1st of each month.}