I’m outside in the garden on a cold, dull, damp day. It’s better than sitting down to write Christmas cards though. Again this year I have left it far too late to even think of getting the cards sent in time and the post office dates have passed so I can stop feeling guilty about it. I was told of an idea this year where it will save a few trees if we only send Christmas cards out every other year. This way no-one will notice the gap and you can save the rainforests, the ink from a pen and quite a few euro on postage. I have a new deal on my phone so I can call them up instead but not today.
Instead I have managed to find some very pleasing jobs to do in the garden. I have decided to leave some light duties until the Christmas holidays, which will give me the excuse to go outside after eating too much and lop off the top of some wobbly rose bushes. I am having a bit of a tentative time with a very delicate lawnmower. I am used to quite a heavy duty petrol one but have resorted to a small electric one for an awkward corner. The drive belt snapped as soon as I started it up and as the mower is nearly as old as Rudolph, I have had to make do and mend. I found some rubber straps used to keep hammocks in the air and these seem to be doing the trick of driving the blades. They do tend to fly off into the trees quite often but it won’t take away my smug feeling of achievement at having done a successful bodge job. Contrary to popular belief, things don’t really stop growing over the winter period and there are still loads of things we can be getting on with over the festive period. A nicely cut lawn is a good start if it’s not too wet and there are always damp corners that will need a sweep. I am sure you will think of loads more as you plan your escape from the festivities and get out for a bit of ‘peace on earth’.
GONE POTTY
If the rain is on then get into the shed to sort out all of the old pots you have cluttering the place up. Gareth from the Lifestyle Garden Centre in Newtowncunningham has a drop off point at the centre where you can put the pots for either re-cycling or re-using. This is a genuine offer, as I know only too well that it actually works out cheaper to buy the pots new that it does to clean and re-use old ones. The time it takes to sort out the old pots and give them a good scrubbing all adds up, but Gareth is happy to go down the recycling route.
Take the opportunity over the holidays to empty out all of your old planters and baskets that have old summer displays and remember to put the pots from your Christmas presents to one side to take down to Gareth too.
OVER THE FENCE
“Hi Ian, any point in buying a poinsettia as a present this year?” My makeshift rubber drive belt has flown away for the tenth time and in the resulting silence one of our neighbours has stopped to ask the question. “I see they are cheaper than ever.” They continue. “If you do get one, make sure that they come from a warm display area as they are sensitive to cold draughts” I advise as I rummage in the undergrowth for the hammock band. Do you know the history of the poinsettia? My neighbour asks. “I don’t,” I say… “Well here’s one for the readers of your gardening column.” And before I can unhinge myself from the brambles I get the story.
The Legend of the poinsettia
“The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico.” The story began. “It tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing.
One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course other children teased them when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful red star-like bracts of leaves.” My neighbour goes quiet for a response….
“Sounds like there have been weeds around for ever.” I am not really listening. “It just confirms to me that they should be grown and looked after in hotter climates.” I say conclusively. I am at full stretch in the undergrowth but the rubber band is just out of my reach.
“I think you are missing the point.” Says my neighbour. There is a moralistic theme to the story about giving what you can afford.
I have an idea to get the rubber band. “Talking of giving, you wouldn’t throw me over that stick would you? Maybe I can get it on the end of that…….
Instead I have managed to find some very pleasing jobs to do in the garden. I have decided to leave some light duties until the Christmas holidays, which will give me the excuse to go outside after eating too much and lop off the top of some wobbly rose bushes. I am having a bit of a tentative time with a very delicate lawnmower. I am used to quite a heavy duty petrol one but have resorted to a small electric one for an awkward corner. The drive belt snapped as soon as I started it up and as the mower is nearly as old as Rudolph, I have had to make do and mend. I found some rubber straps used to keep hammocks in the air and these seem to be doing the trick of driving the blades. They do tend to fly off into the trees quite often but it won’t take away my smug feeling of achievement at having done a successful bodge job. Contrary to popular belief, things don’t really stop growing over the winter period and there are still loads of things we can be getting on with over the festive period. A nicely cut lawn is a good start if it’s not too wet and there are always damp corners that will need a sweep. I am sure you will think of loads more as you plan your escape from the festivities and get out for a bit of ‘peace on earth’.
GONE POTTY
If the rain is on then get into the shed to sort out all of the old pots you have cluttering the place up. Gareth from the Lifestyle Garden Centre in Newtowncunningham has a drop off point at the centre where you can put the pots for either re-cycling or re-using. This is a genuine offer, as I know only too well that it actually works out cheaper to buy the pots new that it does to clean and re-use old ones. The time it takes to sort out the old pots and give them a good scrubbing all adds up, but Gareth is happy to go down the recycling route.
Take the opportunity over the holidays to empty out all of your old planters and baskets that have old summer displays and remember to put the pots from your Christmas presents to one side to take down to Gareth too.
OVER THE FENCE
“Hi Ian, any point in buying a poinsettia as a present this year?” My makeshift rubber drive belt has flown away for the tenth time and in the resulting silence one of our neighbours has stopped to ask the question. “I see they are cheaper than ever.” They continue. “If you do get one, make sure that they come from a warm display area as they are sensitive to cold draughts” I advise as I rummage in the undergrowth for the hammock band. Do you know the history of the poinsettia? My neighbour asks. “I don’t,” I say… “Well here’s one for the readers of your gardening column.” And before I can unhinge myself from the brambles I get the story.
The Legend of the poinsettia
“The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico.” The story began. “It tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing.
One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course other children teased them when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful red star-like bracts of leaves.” My neighbour goes quiet for a response….
“Sounds like there have been weeds around for ever.” I am not really listening. “It just confirms to me that they should be grown and looked after in hotter climates.” I say conclusively. I am at full stretch in the undergrowth but the rubber band is just out of my reach.
“I think you are missing the point.” Says my neighbour. There is a moralistic theme to the story about giving what you can afford.
I have an idea to get the rubber band. “Talking of giving, you wouldn’t throw me over that stick would you? Maybe I can get it on the end of that…….
