Saturday 14th July. Now that date rings a bell. Something or other is going on. Don’t tell me, it is on the tip of my tongue. Oh yes, Six on Saturday. That wonderful meme hosted by the indomitable Mr Prop. But there is a niggle that I might have forgotten another important event. Silly me, it is the 229th anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille. Always good for a knees up. However I’m not sure, there is a nagging at the back of my mind, an inkling that there may be something else I should be celebrating.
How could have I forgotten?! It is Peggy’s, AKA My Best Mum, 90th birthday. Don’t worry, it won’t get mushy. Or only a little. I can’t help myself. And don’t think this going to be a “my mother used to grow these in the garden of my childhood, whilst I frolicked amongst the sweet peas”, she barely knows the difference between a daff and a dandelion. Truly, sometimes I wonder if she is my real mother. Then I look at my fat calves, remember my propensity to blush at the drop of a hat and my compulsion to talk to absolute strangers on public transport, and I know that there is no avoiding it, we are truly related.
As the reason that I do this blog is the fault of the self said woman, it would be remiss not to celebrate, however tenuously, through SoS. A meld made in heaven. Or should that be Heavens. Once Peggy told me “I have been very lucky, I have never wanted diamonds, pearls or fur coats”. That is true. And this is another thing that I have inherited. Just as well really, because they were never coming our way. For this special birthday she has been very strict, she doesn’t want anymore “stuff”. What could be better then, than a Six on Saturday dedicated to you?! My first gift is a sunflower, could you get any richer and more radiant than this Ruby Queen? A jewel of the finest kind.
My second gift is an agapanthus, just considering blooming, strung with gossamer. Or spider’s webs for the unromantic amongst you. A classic seaside plant, my Mum loves the coast with a passion. When she stays at our house, my first job of the day is to take her a cup of tea in bed. I draw back the curtains and we sit and watch the boats and chat and all is well in the world.
The third plant is a Salvia viscosa, an adorable little sage, grown from HPS seed. Not the most extravagant of flowers, but it has a delicate charm that is as worthy as any other. My Mum will chat with a Hells Angel or a Duchess, a tramp or a Queen, and she treats them all equally and with respect. All are enchanted.
The next present is Fuchsia ‘Thalia’, which has toughed it out through freeze and swelter. My Mum is from Yorkshire. Let me translate for you – she tells it how it is, although years away from home she has alway remained a straight talking northerner. This sometimes smarts, but is invariably for my good.
My next offering is a hydrangea, strangely blue this year, which I am guessing has something to do with nutrients being available in the drought. But I might be wrong. My Mum loves singing and is always quick to break into song. At any time. Which can be a little embarrassing. But remember, she is from Yorkshire, and quite frankly doesn’t care! This flower has nothing to do with singing, or any song I can think of, but it is still a pretty gift.
Lastly we have Daisy the cat, warming her belly on the baking bricks. My Mum loves animals and they love her, as do I. Nearly got slushy then. She is my mentor, my best friend. She keeps my feet on the ground and my head in the clouds. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Happy birthday Peggy from Your Bestest Daughter!!!
Off The Edge Gardening 
It just struck me – Peggy must be a dab hand with some sort of technology to read your blog! Not bad for someone entering middle age! Happy birthday to her. My Mum used to like singing. She’d sing happily for hours whilst I was helping her in the garden. Trouble was she could only remember the first line of Amazing Grace! I have perfected the art of silent singing when gardening. The neighbours are grateful! 😉
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She is! She has a tablet (well quite a few but you know what I mean) and uses i-player and listens to You Tube and reads my blog!
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Beautiful sentiments Gill. Happy Birthday Peggy.
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Thanks MM x
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We have something in common. I talk to strangers in car parks. Admittedly it was Dawlish Warren and we had completed nearly
two hours with our 18mth old grand-daughter sniffing flowers and trying to grab hold of bumble bees. He, the stranger, was trying to persuade one of his reluctant teenage daughters to join him & her sister for a walk on the warren. I enthused about the flora & fauna. Suddenly she got out of the car. Was it my lyrical descriptions or her wanting to get away from the old woman ? ps. Happy Birthday Gill’s mother.
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It was definitely the former! Good work 🙂
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Lovely agapanthus, a little ahead of mine. Happy birthday to your mum and it’s easier to give her a big hug ….than at the Bastille …
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And Happy Bastille Day to you Fred! xxx
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Happy birthday, Peggy!
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🙂
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A very thoughtful six, Gill. Your Mum sounds like a rather special person, and happy birthday to her from Aus.
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Thank you, she is 🙂
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….. goodness knows what my very best and only daughter will find to say if i live to be a hundred. Any way i appreciate the rather biased in my favour sentiments needless to say i love her dearly mum to you or peggy to others. Xxxxx
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As you know, I am rarely lost for words, I am sure to think of something! x
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Happy Birthday Peggy!
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Happy birthday, Peggy.
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🙂
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Lovely birthday tribute to your mum.
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Thanks Mrs D, haven’t seen a six from you yet …..
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Starting on it right now! It’s still Saturday morning here. 🙂
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Of course!
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What a lovely idea, great post! Happy birthday Offtheedgegardening’s Mum 😄
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Thank you, on her behalf 🙂
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Happy Birthday Peggy!
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🙂
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Happy birthday Peggy! It was your mum’s birthday years ago when I joined your blog family and I sent her good wishes. Funny how things work out; I turned 90 also in the interim. You have good genes I can tell. It must be the ability to sing and to gather complete strangers into your world.
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I think you may have discovered the secret! Fabulous. x
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Oh, happiest of birthdays to your dear mum! I hope her day was delightful and that your blog brought her joy. My mom turns 90 this year as well, and we will celebrate her in October. 1928 was apparently a VERY GOOD YEAR.
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She had a great day thank you. It seems that it was a very good year, a rather early happy birthday to your mum!
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90?! Wow, she experienced some interesting history. My grandparents would be about that age, but were from here where history was not as compelling.
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Ah, what a great tribute to your mother Peggy. She sounds the sort who loves life in all directions. A very happy albeit belated birthday to her. Also a thanks to you for describing in detail a Northern woman. I’ve ancestors from Yorkshire (300 years ago) whom I now shall blame for my fat calves, as well as my propensity to talk to total strangers. At length. I liked your photos, too, btw. That sunflower is a bit of POW! In a good way.
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You never know, we might be very very very very distant relations! Thanks and thanks 🙂
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How wonderful that your mum reached her 90th birthday. Being form Yorkshire she will be a right great lass. Hope you all had a lovely day, and your Saturday Six are a brilliant choice. My own mum is 90 next week. Strict instructions – no presents, no get-together, but I can provide the taxi service to take her to see her best friend for the day. So be it.
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Happy birthday TT’s mum! Hope she has a great day. x
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