Blossom season at home

As lockdown rolls into another month, I thank my lucky stars that I have a garden to enjoy and to tend. I recognise that ordering what is around me is my way of trying to comprehend and cope with the latest, surrounding baffling events. A delivery of organic compost (who knew stuff could be that expensive?) even contributed to my exercise routine this week when I had to haul several big bags which had been neatly barricaded against my front door, across the front and down to my back garden – thank you, Mr DX Delivery!

Now I see that RHS National Gardening Week starts tomorrow – perfect timing for these ‘Grow at home’ days. The latest RHS survey shows that more than half of adults enjoy being surrounded by greenery and 53% say it boosts their mood. I don’t expect that there will be a great take-up of the RHS suggestion to ‘invite your neighbours to a party in your garden’ but no doubt sign-ups for local gardening groups will increase, in anticipation of greater freedom later in the year. And of course, the all-consuming and all-powerful social media #NationalGardeningWeek will take off big time as everyone rushes to post photos and videos.

A fan of printed paper myself, I settled down in the sunshine in my garden today to read the latest issue of Kew Garden magazine. With a heavy heart, I gazed at the beautiful spreads of cherry blossom.  Like hundreds of others, I wasn’t able to ‘celebrate the season’ at Kew, walking amongst their no less than 161 trees of 63 varieties. Nor will I be ‘sipping a spring cocktail’ any time soon in the Pavilion Bar. Hey, ho, my little patch of London land with its own modest blossoms will just have to see me through until next spring.