Springtime Optimism

Reflections on gardening defeat and writing

I’ve decided to grow some flowers. I have planted some seeds and am letting them grow on the kitchen worktop. This has been their home for the last couple of weeks. They are in the way really in our small kitchen, but they are sat there still. When I glance at them I am filled with a sense of pride, even if they take up prime kitchen real estate and have to be moved every mealtime. I have to note, dear reader, that I am not a gardener, and I am known to grow better weeds than I do anything else. But this not swayed me in attempting to grow something from seed, like I try every spring.

I once bought a tomato plant from a church fair. Surely, buying a plant is an easy exchange. I’ve done it on many occasions at supermarkets or garden centres. However, this exchange was different, it took longer for one, and I left with a sense of duty that I was unsure I would be able to fulfil. The stall was full of healthy tomato plants, full of vitality with good strong stems, large leaf networks and …