Dad’s Walnut Tree part 2
As I looked out of the back door, clutching my morning cup of tea, I did a double take. Was that really a grey squirrel sat on top of the lump of dad’s walnut tree which I recently placed in the middle of our small lawn? It made me smile, for years dad and the squirrel fought over those walnuts, it seems this tree is a magnet to squirrels.
Signs of life
This week I was back in mum and dad’s garden and I decided to look at the tree stump, up by the back fence. I was amazed to find a single twig growing out of the ground, about 3 feet tall. I confess I felt quite emotional, here was a new walnut tree, with tiny leaf buds, a sign of nature’s resilience. I wonder if in years to come another child will play beneath a walnut tree and who knows maybe Horatio (see below) will return.
I have written about the tree on the newish garden platform Scribehound. If you haven’t come across it, every day there are posts from well known gardeners, garden writers, designers, growers. You can listen to an audio version of each piece, read by the writer. However there is also a community section and that is where I submitted my piece which went live yesterday. You can read it here. I am hoping that sharing the podcast with an audience who we know must love plants and audio might be a good shout. And it has been so special to write about the tree and think about my own plant memories.
In other gardening news, last Friday I accompanied Jess the founder of the Museum of Homelessness to buy a shed! We auditioned quite a few before finally settling on the one that will hopefully be installed soon and in which we will store our growing collection of gardening tools. Amongst those tools are some heavy duty sledgehammers which prove very handy when you come across an enormous lump of concrete as you prepare the pumpkin patch. The latter had helped secure the base of a gazebo in the garden’s previous life and we are just hoping that the other 3 concrete bases are not also located in the pumpkin patch. The weeds have been hoed, the cardboard is down and now we just await the compost - more on that soon.
In podcast news I have just applied for a press pass to RHS Chelsea - not for the all star famous press day but just for any day really. I have come across a story of a show garden that has its roots up in Scotland and I would love to find a way to tell the story. There are rules on who can record at RHS shows, so keep your fingers crossed. I’ll keep you posted. Next Tuesdays episode, an interview with Kathy Slack is ready to go. Her book Rough Patch - how a year in the garden brought me back to life is a lovely read with of course wonderful recipes too.
I have a signed copy to give away so I think I shall pick a name out of everyone who has joined Plant Plugs and/or bought me a coffee, because your support and encouragement is everything to this podcast. Yes one is always looking for ways to find new audiences and promote the work but a loyal base of listeners who read the blog and feedback on episodes is fabulous. I love hearing if one of you has been inspired to buy snowdrops or plant a peony. And if you haven’t yet bought a coffee but would like to join the coffee crew and get a shout out on the podcast in return for a one off online donation of £5 and my eternal thanks - then here’s the link.
As you read this Jess and I will be back together this time on the trail of plant pots and a few more essentials for the garden as we prepare to sow seeds. The greenhouse is up and we’re all chomping at the bit but if you are feeling the same do check out Kathy Slack’s final piece of advice on next Tuesday’s episode….it will save us all some pain later in the season!