Page 19 - aug20

Mimi’s secret garden patch

My way of gardening is actually by trial and error – I learn lots in that
way – I remember when I was little, I often watched my Dad going
on his way to the top of our garden (it was long and rather narrow),
swinging his spade and he produced the best rhubarb growing up in
the shelter of old dustbins with the bottom removed.

Spring is a special time of year, just prior to the hot weather from November
onwards. Pottering around in the garden, once it is established, is a remarkable
panacea for ills, grief and just to catch ones breath in the midst of nature. There
is an encouraging feeling of growth all around you.
I like an abundance of plants – so that they all put their faces up to the sun
together in a tumble of colours. When I do manage to plant uniformly is when
it is bulb time – as of now. If you try a basket or two hanging from a tree that
offers some low branches – to put all freesias in one colour, or any of the spring
bulbs, (and in your imagination you see this basket full of whatever you have
planted it with) - and when the shoots start coming through, it is magic to then
see the flowers appear. Although it is also pretty to have a collection of different
colours, a solid splash of one colour looks magnificent. I also tried this with all
blue pansies and I stood and looked at it with pride when they hung over the
edge of the basket – all those little pansy faces smiling at me. Lobelia and
Begonias are also out at the moment in full force and they make handy ‘fillers’ in
window boxes and baskets. Plastic baskets are also good to use and fairly sturdy
as well as coming in different colours.

It does us so much good to see the brown vanishing after winter, replaced by
green trees, green fields and crops looking wonderful..everything looking so
beautiful, and in spite of Covid19, Spring gardening comes with a leap of
happiness.

Basel Botanical Gardens, by S.C
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