I first started to write about “My Garden Age” in 2011 and I have periodically returned to the theme over the years since. In so many ways it’s an allegory of my life. So now I reflect on it again at 77.
The garden is a lot older than I am and will still be there long after I am gone. I can only hope to leave it in as good or preferably a better place than when I first came to it in 1979. Where did those 45 years go?????
The garden grows faster and I grow slower. The power of nature verses the power of man.
But good things demand endless effort, there is a reminder each day of things to do :—
- Weed the path
- Empty pots of flowered bulbs
- Plant the next pots of bulbs
- Compost the dead leaves
- Cut back the ivy before it gets into the gutters
- Dead head the roses
- Edge the lawns and cut the grass
- Pull up “mind your own business” before it gets everywhere
- Deadhead the daffodils
- Fit bamboo supports to the foxgloves and hollyhocks
- Prune the apple trees
- Dig out the dandelions
- Sow vegetable seeds
- Weed the pots
- Lift forget-me-nots before they go to seed
- Pot on pot bound plants
- Water the pots and the newly planted seeds
- Trim the hedge
- Kill the moss on the paths
- Mulch around the roses
- Tie back the raspberry canes
- Pull up the bindweed before it smothers everything
- Dig up the buttercups before they take over every spare space
- Carefully pull up the stinging nettles
AND ALL THAT IS BEFORE I PLANT ANY NEW PLANTS !!!!
There are so many things to do —- where do you start?
It only matters that you do start. Every long journey starts with a small step.
The Last Laugh Looney Party is in a political garden with a great many things to do. They just need to take the first step 🤡
GrumbleSmiles 
Absolutely wonderful. I noted all the attached ‘BLOGS’ and their comments, and pictures. You still today have a few plants from yesteryear? So you ‘OLD Cabbage’ you are still taking care and enjoying your garden,
You are approaching slowly your 80’s, are you going to engage a gardener, so that oe can still get pleasue out of the vision, scents and colour in the garden as each season comes and goes? Even in winter one has memories and may reflect on how good was the autumn harvest, of vegatables and fruit, and see if with the care in the garden, one has encouraged all of ‘GODS’ creatures good or bad to invade the harvest? Or those younger scallywags who go ‘scrumping’ knocking on the door, can they eat /pick up the windfalls, and then once hidden in the garden ‘shake the life out of the fruit trees and pick up their fresh spoills.
I t is all to live for, an your past life must have some interesting memories of when you where in that garden/orchard, alone or with friends ”’Behaving ones selF”
Wishing you many happy memories.
just a minute are the LLLP in the compose or Manure heap, trying to make senxe of the todays political drama, as we all close in on voting day the 4th, July 2024.
WE need. I need a pitching fork to turn over the straw in the Westminister gardens?
The grumble Smiles garden of DEAR JOHN is in order, the garden is regularly feed with compost to help the veg/fruit and flowers to grow, and the overall scent is smooth and pleasing not revolting and absolutely smelly, like that atmosphere out side/and inside Westminister??? Have a vote for the clean air act and ban oderos smells. Vote Long Lost Loonie Party.
Where are they???I did not notice all the upturned buckets covering this years crop of RHURBARB? However I noticed a host of RHurbarb comments concerning modern politics in the bucket collection of Smiles and Grumbles under the dialogue of the long Lost LOONIE Party, OH Where OH WHERE are we going in this july 2024 general election for the next UK Government?????
In amonst the weeds? amongst the roses, or the evergreens who have not change an iota of policies to encourage us all to think/chat/exchange viewpoints and then vote? So I remain loyal to the LLLP, and their chairman, and Prospective MP soon to become THE RT, Honoable COCO.
VOTE Now, and reveal the Strong white/green shoots of Rhubarb soon to turn red, when we reveal the ‘RHUBARB’ to the sunlight! WE are strong and ready to provide a deliciousl meal of Boiled Rhubarb and custard, when cooked correctly with the attitude and appreciation of the LLLP ‘CHEF’. Wonderful!!! YUM YUM!!!!