I am not a perfectionist. That’s an advantage in a garden
this size. I’d go nuts if I thought I had to have it all “just so”. Being in
control is the antithesis of gardening ( and farming ) anyway isn’t it?
I am a firm believer in making the best of what you’ve got,
right where you’re at.
If I waited until everything was perfect, I’d get nothing
accomplished. The garden is a work in progress but I have secret hopes that one
day when I grow up, I might be able to have a little sideline creating
beautiful bouquets of old fashioned fragrant flowers.
So, I launched into my dream plan …. without a plan, really.
At least I prepared the soil, but there were still weeds and
untamed areas all around my little plot. Let’s call it an “agricultural trial”.
An experiment.
The last two years’ stocks were some silly hybrid throwback
variety that turned out to be dwarf single flowers – useless for what I had in
mind. Then I tried poppies, but found out the hard way, they only last 24 hours
once they’re picked.
So this was my fourth year of trowel – err – trial and
error.
I tracked down the seedlings which promised to be tall,
double, fragrant cerise coloured stock flowers, ideal for cutting. I had to
order a mimimum of 285 of the tiny little plants. All the same colour.
I tenderly tucked them in, watered, weeded and helped them
along diligently with a couple of doses of seasol.
And waited.
The dogs tore through them, knocking them sideways, birds
nibbled off some new shoots and escapee chooks scratched up a couple, but most
of them came through.
‘Do what you can with what you’ve got where you are.’
That’s my new motto.
Yes, I still have plenty of weeds.
But I’ve also got beautiful stocks in all their fragrant
cerise coloured glory.
Success.
Yes!
