You may have noticed that I’ve been posting a lot about
gardening recently. Well, at this time of year it seems to be what occupies my
time, this mad seasonal enthusiasm before the end of summer brings it all
tumbling down with a final spurt of excessive growth.
Yes, I’m a fair-weather gardener, the type of gardener who,
once September at latest is done, hangs up his trowel and hibernates until the
spring arrives. I’ve never understood this cycle. I enjoy growing things but
obviously not enough to sustain me over the winter months. I really must try
harder - which brings me to my sweet peas.
My sweet peas were planted way back in February in pots that
overran the kitchen worksurface and got in the way when we were preparing our
winter soups and stews; ‘a nuisance’ my wife called them and indeed they were.
Now, over four months later, those same nuisances fill my
back yard with a pungent sweet fragrance each day, their colours as diverse and
subtle as autumn sunsets. I find myself rising early just so that I can sit
outside and breathe in their heady fumes. Their smell reminds me of something,
although I’m not sure what, and it probably doesn’t matter. That aroma is
enough in itself.
I should have grown more. I should have grown them in strips
just two inches apart and three deep in the tray so that I could plant them out
in blocks rather than individual seedlings. Ah, the wonder of hindsight.
No matter. There’s always next year.
Emma Cole on FB
ReplyDeleteYour really enjoying this gardening thing x
Andrew Height
DeleteAlways have, always will.
Jeanette Jefferson-Brown on FB
ReplyDeleteMy favourites!!
Remind me if my Mum & growing up!!
Bernadette Doyle on FB
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo
Andrew Height
DeleteThanks Bernadette Doyle, more luck than skill.