4 minute read
Seaford Community Garden
Legend has it that when Prometheus stole fire from heaven, Zeus, the king of the gods, took vengeance by presenting Pandora to his brother Epimetheus. Pandora opened a jar left in his care and the evils contained in it were then released into the world. Though she hastened to close the container, only one thing was left behind, hope. To continue being fanciful, seeing the unseasonal wonders on display in our beautiful garden at the Crouch early in February did make us ponder
on the causes of our balmy – barmy? – weather and what we have done to bring to
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blossom so early the ruby-petalled chaenomeles, a brave abutilon, a
shy Anemone blanda and a purple osteospermum nestling against a clump of not quite open
crocuses. Have we, with global
irresponsibility, opened our own Pandora’s Box or is the flowering of plants five months early just a harmless quirk of nature? Whatever the reason for these phenomena, other spring plants were eager to make their bright appearance too, with an abundance of snowdrops, hellebores and daffodils heralding warmer weather. Meanwhile, in the small ornamental pond, there was a large accumulation of frogspawn, or possibly newt spawn. Incidentally, our rain gauge has recorded the average rainfall for this winter as 18mm (3/4in) a week. To admire our floral wonders at their best requires tidy beds, so our volunteers have been busy weeding, hoeing and generally tidying after the winter, and all over the garden could be heard earnest debates about what to thin, what to keep and what to get rid of. Up for a bit of renovation are the wheelchair-friendly raised bed timbers where age and moisture have taken their toll.
Meanwhile Bill and James could be found at the vegetable beds in front of the classroom, temporarily taking up the irrigation system to allow for manure to be spread. We’re trialling some different vegetables this year in addition to new cultivars, so we’re eager to see how they perform and how popular they
prove to be. We’ll also be planting some vegetables and salad crops amongst the flowers.
Bob was busy potting chamomile, so anyone who wants to try cultivating a lawn should see what’s on offer. ‘Plant them diagonally about six inches apart to allow them to spread out,’ he advised.
We are very sad to be closing this month’s piece by reporting the death in January of one of our long-serving volunteers, Ron Meadwell. Ron was always so supportive of the garden and was always so cheerful. He was always happy to assist however he could and notably helped construct and
paint the classroom. He also assisted in conserving the mosaic of hands which was on the side of the classroom –
he laughed ruefully on being told that it was now having to be jigsawed together again after a gale blew it
down. Our deepest sympathy goes to his widow, Stephanie, and to his family. We’ll miss you, Ron. The Garden Team
Photos from top: Rhubarb crumble’s on the way; doesn’t this abutilon know it’s tender?; Chaenomeles makes a very early appearance; a clump of crocuses looks like a firework from above; why are crocuses and osteospermum flowering together?; snowdrops in February – that’s all right then.
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