Gardening
Mr Fox’s Garden In this issue Mr Fox launches his unique idea for a ‘Torbay Trebuchet’ designed to hurl friendly flower bombs across Torbay and further afield.
‘M
arch winds and April showers bring forth May way there’s been a recent spate of people flattening their flowers’, as the saying goes. Well, it didn’t gardens for a second parking space. I just can’t stop happen this year - frost in April, no rain for six weeks and wondering about the poor bees, they’re far too classy to go then the April showers came in May. Don’t you just love looking round the bins for discarded lollipop sticks like the British weather? It’ll probably be 30 degrees Celsius the wasps do… by the time you read this. Seriously though, I love it. I Don’t worry though, I’ve got a great idea; it’s a new found myself smiling out the window watching the rain project, called The Torbay Trebuchet! A trebuchet is after the drought; it really was a happy feeling, you can’t a medieval catapult. I’m just going to drift off topic buy feelings like that; one could say it’s priceless. here; bear with me for a moment. In the 13th century, It does sadden me to think of all them ‘indoor people’ Scotland made an attempt to establish its independence thinking they’re on a winner because they don’t have to from England (sounds familiar; you can watch the film get their hands dirty - not sharing this feeling of delight ‘Braveheart’ if you want to get the full facts on this event). with us gardeners in the rain that follows a dry spell. King Edward I (aka Longshanks), invaded Scotland; the The weather’s crazy but Scottish weren’t happy, don’t throw the calendar morale was low, some I just can’t stop wondering about the out of the window just of its strongest castles poor bees, they’re far too classy to go yet. Toby Buckland’s surrendered easily to the looking round the bins for discarded Powderham Castle English but Stirling Castle lollipop sticks like the wasps do… Garden Festival is back wasn’t budging. King (hopefully) on June 11th. I’m not sure what it’s going Edward ordered five master carpenters with an additional to be like with all the social distancing measures in place, 50 labourers to construct the largest trebuchet ever built; it but the last time the event was held it was fantastic. If took three months to complete and needed 30 wagons to you are reading this early enough (before the 5 & 6th transport it. of June), my friend Jenny at Higher Orchard Cottage in So The Torbay Trebuchet will work on a similar Marldon is taking part in The National Garden Scheme. principle except instead of hurling rocks at our If you’ve never heard of the NGS then do look it up - it’s opposition’s castles we’re going to be hurling seed-bombs a fantastic idea. Gardeners across the country invite into fields and wasteland - wildfower meadows will be the public to their gardens for one weekend a year and growing everywhere in our wake. Firstly we’ll tow it together raise a good amount of money for charity - it around the Devonian towns and villages; all the village really is a great scheme. folk can turn out with their seed balls and we’ll send Our gardens are going wild again - flowers everywhere. them flying… We’ll have some really fun days! Then we’ll Strangely, even the nettles are looking good this year - it slowly make our way up to Scotland and plant them some has been a long and grim winter though. Round our wildflower meadows as a way of reconciliation and to
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We are James and Catherine (Mr Fox’s Garden). We provide a garden maintenance and landscaping service around the Bay but the main part of our business is making plant supports, garden art and sculptures - and it’s all made right here on the English Riviera. We’re proud to say that this year we have pieces on permanent display at RHS Rosemoor and Buckfast Abbey.
mrfoxsgarden.com englishrivieramagazine.co.uk
Mr Fox June/July 2021 | 45
