What’s that adage? There’s no such thing as a weed, it’s just a plant in the wrong place. Well, check out our garden at the Crouch where Lockdown restrictions have resulted in some wonderful juxtapositions. Indeed, so much so that our volunteers have adopted nature’s mood by planting bright dahlias kindly donated by Wynne’s Garden Centre in the middle of a burgeoning crop of courgettes and, er, some self-seeded squashes looking a lot like pumpkins. Of course, it so happens that the flowers will benefit from the veg’s watering system. And we related last month how tomatoes had self-seeded in the poly tunnel – a month later and its floor had been colonised by a single butternut squash plant. Allison explained: ‘During Lockdown when we were weeding, tomatoes and pumpkins had self-seeded around the garden so we decided not to waste them but to replant them in beds which benefit from the irrigation system. We don’t know if they are pumpkins but the butternut squash in the poly-tunnel has grown like an absolute triffid.’ On a brilliantly sunny day in early August the raised bed nearest the classroom was also host to the purplishblack flowers of nicandra which James said grows like a weed and the flower beds had an artless look of wildness which stopped the right side of untidiness, with Verbena bonariensis casting a bright mauve veil across the dry
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garden while the burnt orange of crocosmia shone against a hugely spired tree echium and white roses. In the Mediterranean garden myrtle, melianthus and mimosa were making a show along with Verbascum chaxii. Also doing well was the lavender. Allison suggested that it was best picked while still flowering if you want to use it for lavender bags. ‘I looked it up on Google and found that the best way to preserve it is pick it while it still has some flowers on, to bunch it up and then dry it in a dark, wellventilated place. Then spray it with hairspray.’ Lastly, it’s thanks again, this time to the kind person who gave us some extra large plant labels. Ana said: “They are big enough for us to inscribe the plant name and what’s it’s good for.’ Seaford Community Garden is currently open on Wednesdays and, during the produce season, Saturdays from 10am until midday. See you there! The apples and pears are looking amazing. The Garden Team Photos from top: Verbena bonariensis adds grace wherever it is placed; The living roof is flourishing thanks to attention from Abdul and other volunteers; Pears are doing very well; Veronica with a glorious dahlia amongst the courgettes; All this from one self-seeded butternut squash plant!; Allison bunches some lavender prior to drying it; This squash may ripen into a pumpkin; A courgette flower is a wondrous thing.
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