"Start of spring: fish swim upstream and break the ice"

On a cheerfully sunny morning, Hollis and I visited the Botanical Gardens in Wollongong. Upon entry we were greeted by two roosters and a hen, free-ranging on the grass. As Hollis tried to make friends with the birds, I was drawn to inspect the impressive vegetable patch nearby. Bordered by bright marigolds and flanked by colourful rainbow chards and silverbeets, the extensive bed was offering full and round purple and white cabbages; in between fresh pale green broad beans were well on their way to offer up some pods.