Off The Edge Gardening

I follow several blogs.  In varying degrees they have some association to horticulture or nature, artists who garden, professionals, amateurs, vegetables growers, propagators, photographers. Without exception they give me great pleasure.  The exception to the rule (the hortie rule not the pleasure one) is written by poet and author Anthony Wilson http://www.anthonywilsonpoetry.com. Discovered by happy accident through a friend, he not only writes beautifully but champions other writers and poets, educating me in my ignorance. Hopefully he will forgive me paraphrasing a piece that I found especially interesting and helpful.

It was about rejection.  It was a simple tale of an actor friend who soothed Anthony when he was feeling downhearted after one of his poems had been turned down.  The actor said “but they wanted a blonde”.  When pressed, the thespian explained that this is how he copes with the big thumbs down.  Those wielding the power to say yea or nay wanted something different, someone that you couldn’t be.  It was not about being better, it was about being more suited.  This has stayed with me.  Stored in my emergency emotional first aid box.

Today I was rejected.  They wanted a rose and I am a marigold.  I can’t help being a marigold, I quite enjoy it.  I couldn’t be a rose even if I wanted to be.  Which I don’t.  Often, anyway.  That helps.

But I do think those in question could do with a few more marigolds in their lives.  Or maybe the odd delphinium, or salvia, or even an allium ….

We had celebrity visit today at Max’s.  It was a gentleman who knows a lot and is not shy to share this information.  His encyclopaedic knowledge and unfettered opinions filled in some gaping holes in our plant identification.  He also confirmed that many were unusual specimens in the garden. Which of course is good, but it is also bad.  Very nice to know it is special.  Not so good is the increased pressure to protect these plants.  Some are positioned very awkwardly, not in the best place for them to thrive but too large to move easily.  Several are very tatty looking and situated in prime positions.  The Moral Maze ……….

My life is one fluke after another, and we are not talking about the parasitic worm here.  This photo was meant to illustrate the perfect partnership of powder pink aquilegia and dusky blue nepeta. Little did I know that this horticultural masterpiece would be photo bombed by a scene stealing ladybird.  Don’t you love it when a plan goes completely wrong and is all the more better for it?!

Something most peculiar happened today.  After a full day’s work at The Farm I came home (a little jaded, very muddy) and downloaded my photos. Except there weren’t any.  For some reason not one single picture was taken today.  True I was busy, but usually there is something that catches my eye, that is worthy of a snap.  And there was opportunity aplenty. Mr G being followed by one chicken and six ducklings.  Newly earthed up potatoes.  Apple blossom.  A JCB.  Something for everyone.  In the past this photographic hiatus was because I had left my camera at home, or it was being stored at the bottom of a pond.  But no, it was attached to my belt in the normal manner, close at hand.  But for some inexplicable reason I hadn’t reached for my trusty friend once all day.  Most peculiar.  So you will have to admire this cherry blossom from Max’s house.  I promise I will try harder tomorrow.

I like working with people in the garden, I would say that I am naturally a team player.  Some days I yearn for solitude, but not often.  Today, usually for Max’s garden, I was on my own.  It was not a Greta Garbo day.  I felt a little bereft.  There was no one to plan with, bounce off, no one with whom to discuss complex ethical problems or argue about your favourite member of One Direction, or to enthuse with, or just be silly with.  The pigeons, who were making the most of Max’s absence, weren’t much fun at all, in fact they were pretty dull company.  So I weeded and daydreamed and weeded some more, waiting for the showers which never materialised.  Not a bad way to spend a few hours, but I did miss my boys.

As I haven’t quite completed a full year in this garden, this is my first experience of the many azaleas that grow here.  Pink, yellow, cerise, deep red, flushed whites and tango orange.  This dark leaved variety caught my eye, with its burnt amber buds.  I may have said it before, but I so love spring!