Six on Saturday – Immobile

Posted byofftheedgegardeningPosted inChez Nous, Six on SaturdayTags:, , , , , , , ,

There have been happenings this week.  Those who have missed out on recent events can find all the juicy details in my post A Different Boot.  Ok, it’s not terribly juicy, but I was trying to entice you in.   Will this accident keep me from my Six on Saturday obligations?  I think not.  I am made of much sterner stuff.  It would take something far more catastrophic to stop me contributing to The Propagator’s  worthy meme.  Oh, and Saint Propesa of Caversham told me to pull myself together, stop whingeing and get SoSing or feel the brunt of his wrath.  So I have. There may however be some bending/deviating from the rules which I generally adhere to like gorilla glue. In the circumstances I think I should be allowed a little leeway.  If you are in the slightest bit interested in how this all works, and quite frankly who wouldn’t be, check out this caring soul’s site for details of how to join in and who else is trapped in his evil grasp involved.

First we have a view from my front window, looking out, which I expect you had gathered.  The scaffolding is still in place and yesterday we had even more put up, an extension out over next door’s roof so the builders can render the chimney in safety.  I suggested holding the renderer by the heels whilst it worked but it was vetoed.  Something about health and safety.  Wimps.  We asked to keep the cracked chimneys when they were removed during Phase 876 of the work.  The plan is to use them in an imaginative and innovative way in the garden.  Yes, we will stick some pots in the top.

Next we have a view from the rear door, the scaffolding has gone, horrah!  It is all looking rather empty, but that won’t last.  A short stride up the steps into the main micro-garden and there are at least a million pots that need to come back down to the relative warmth of this little courtyard for the winter.  Looking for volunteers…..

jacaranda

Now we have my beautiful jacaranda tree.  The Borrowers would definitely recognise this as a tree, however most normal sized humanoids would view it as a nondescript plantlet.  It is all relative. This is my number one specimen, Big Daddy, which is why it has been brought into the house for the winter.  Anther one, which I affectionately call “squirt”,  will have to tough it out in the big bad world.  No room at the inn.

From a tree (yes it is) that lives in the house, to a house plant that lives outside.   Not this actual plant, but another, less lush looking one.  We have a lot of aspidistras in the house.  Too many.  They belong to my OH, dragged around with him from house to house for the last forty years.   At all too regular intervals he splits them to make more and they magicaly appear in new places around the house.  We also force other people to take them.  “Sorry no biscuits, but please take an aspidistra with your cup of tea?”  They are like tribbles.  In amongst the herd are a couple of variegated specimens.  Whether  this is a sport or there more than one variety, I have no idea.  I won’t bother asking.  Up until very recently I didn’t realise this variegation was a good thing.  I may be warming.

Enforced immobility has opened  the door to other more gentle activities.  I have mentioned before my surfeit of garden related books.  It is also true that I am an avid reader.  However I rarely read horticultural books.  Sometimes but not often.  As it happens I am reading two at the moment.  An upstairs book, Alys Fowler’s Hidden Nature, and this one, my downstairs book. This  has sat in my pile for a while.  Partly because I want to give it the careful attention it deserves.  Now I have the time.  I have read several of Richard Mabey’s books and enjoyed them immensely.  Having dipped my toe (one from the good foot) in yesterday, I have no doubt that I am going to love it just as much as the others.

yellow rose

And now a warning:  I am about to get serious.  Perhaps even a little sloppy, maybe sentimental.  Number six is a get well soon bouquet from my next door neighbour.   Not only neighbour but friend, the wonderful Michelle helped me and OH in our hour of need.  I am sure she won’t mind but I going to share this perfect yellow rose with everyone who has sent me good wishes and bad jokes.  For the friends near and far, real or virtual, who took the time to comment and sympathise.  All hail the positive power of the internet.  It is also for the NHS staff at North Devon District Hospital, who did their jobs with efficiency and kindness in equal measures and smiled while they performed them.  Superheroes, every one of them.

An eventful week, but certainly not all negative.  Stay safe everyone.

 

 

33 thoughts on “Six on Saturday – Immobile”

  1. This rose is beautiful Gill. I’m sure it also allows you to recover soon. I’m also growing a jacaranda that’s inside now because of the recent frosts we’ve had. Unfortunately, all the leaves fell in 15 days … How old is yours? Are you going to try to plant it out soon?

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  4. I have some Jacaranda seeds left over from last year’s HPS distribution. Someone (I wonder who) kindly sent me a cutting but I managed to kill it. I’ve been following your incontinent roof and waiting for someone to start thinking “chimney”. While they’re up there, make sure they check the flashing (and I don’t mean a display of builders’ bums for you to photograph). Now I know where your recent treatise on the fruits of Pyracantha originated. Sorry that you’ve had to suffer bad jokes as a result of trying to get a step ahead of the competition. Will you be cast in the next episode of Gardeners’ World? I don’t wish to get podiatric but “rules which I generally adhere to”? I mean, I have an avulsion to split infinitives. 😉 xx

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    1. The problem is that is not our chimney, it is next doors which is built into our house. They are 2 storeys, we are 3. Tricky dicky. As for grammar there are “rules which I generally adhere to” but not always. 🙂 x

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  5. the rose is perfect. I envy people who can grow them. I have one and it’s quite pathetic. I hope you’re not incapacitated for too long and will soon be up and about in the garden.

    I have a knee op in January and am already dreading entrusting all my babies (plants) to my husband.

    shame you are not local – I’ve always wanted an aspidistra 🙂

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  6. I’m quite amazed by your keeping a Jacaranda inside. Is it a bonsai? Or about to be? I also will look up the Richard Mabey book. I’m an avid reader too, but I mostly read novels, and only occasionally look longingly at the pictures in gardening books. I hope you’re keeping comfortable and OH is waiting on you hand and -er -foot.

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    1. Thanks 🙂 I have grown Jacaranda from seed before (from the lovely Gabby) and they have always succumbed to our winter. This year I thought I would bring one inside (it is weeny) and then it would be stronger for next year, not always struggling. Mind you bonsai is an interesting idea!

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      1. It’s possible to grow Jacaranda here if one is prepared to cover them over for years to protect them from frost. Down in Sydney a couple of weeks ago they were glorious, visible above other trees and casting their fallen flowers in the streets. Such a wonderful blue.

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  7. Ooh, I do sympathise! I snapped 3 ligaments in my right ankle and was housebound for a few days till the swelling settled. But when the moonboot was fitted and with short crutches, I found I could actually get out and about. It was 3 months of a nuisance though, because I like nice shoes!
    I really like the sound of the Richard Mabey book and shall seek it out and I think the rose is perfection. I notice you’ve had rain too. So have we in the southern hemisphere.

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    1. Thank you Prue, it seems that I am in good company. I think “nuisance” is a good word to explain how I’m feeling. It has rained almost continually since the accident, which makes it far easier for me, I wouldn’t be working anyway. Hope your rain is welcome. 🙂

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  9. I suspect you must be in purgatory, if purgatory still exists. I’m a bit lapsed, so don’t remember.
    Evidence of your situation – the scaffolding saga is never ending & now your foot is in a boot, forcing you to languish by the window & watch your potted delicates, immobile as yourself, unable to come down the steps. Since my well wishes cannot make you heal any more quickly than your booted ankle will heal, I wish you comfort & friends, lots of good food, great books & wonderful music while you are seated. I hope you have a bell to ring the minions to your side.

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  10. Just been reading A Different Boot. Heck! Hope you make a speedy recovery. Lovely rose and that’s the second SoS I’ve read this weekend featuring a Jacaranda. I wasn’t aware of them before.

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  12. I am jealous of your jacaranda tree – can we actually grow them here? I have only ever seen them in Australia and South Africa and Portugal and… yes Paris. Now I know Paris gets blooming cold because I have been there when it has, so surely we should be able to grow them here? And I think you are a real hero doing a Sixer when immobilised.

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