Doing What We Can.

In these uncertain times, with Covid-19 causing so much misery we need something to distract our thoughts and to soothe our anxieties. I have written before how the garden can do just that and if you can share this space with your family, pets and the wildlife so much the better. I am confident we are all looking out for our nearest and dearest, we will all have vulnerable others and neighbours who are grateful for our support or words of kindness. Our gratitude for the key workers and in the UK for the National Health Service staff knows no bounds. In these moments we all need to pull together and do what we can.

I had imagined I might use this little parable to highlight the need to reduce our plastic usage in the garden, to keep space aside for wildlife or to just manage with due care our little patch of the planet. But it seems so much more apt given the immediate challenges facing us.

The tiny, purposeful hummingbird can be seen all around the forests of the northern Pacific Rim. Its industry was noted by First Nation people who passed on this story.

"A fire had begun in the forest and was in danger of raging out of control. Terrified, many of the animals fled before it took over. But the hummingbird flew to the nearest water, collected a droplet and flew back to the fire dropping the water onto it. As she flew back and forth to protect her habitat, first the bear, and then the owl, the snake and cougar each called out: 'Bird, what are you doing?' The hummingbird answered them all in the same way: 'I am doing what I can'."

Please stay safe.

Sisyphus Revisited

Sometimes gardening can be a test of resolve. Over the past few weeks the local wildlife has been particularly active. The deer population have taken a delight in chomping the spring bulbs, most particularly decimating the tulips, while the badgers have taken to digging up the flower beds for me (and trashing the perennials therein!)

Badger Damage

Deer Chomped Tulips

Filling in the holes in the lawn, and giving it the first cut with raised blades felt a little futile. Repairing the beds is sad but has to be done but there is no salvation for the tulips!

However, by way of compensation for these sysyphean tasks we have had some rather nice spring weather this week, a blessing given that we are in national lock-down.

View Across to the Farm

Hecate iInsepecting the Spring Plants

In the meantime I hope you all stay safe and well in these most difficult of times, wherever in the world you might be.