Nothing like nature

Monday 3rd August, 2020

According to the weekly weather predictions it seemed as if today, Monday, would be semi sunny until 2pm and then cloudy. Small chance of rain. Noting this and wanting to look at the allotment I am supposedly helping to tend and share I contacted the real worker of the land and invited myself and my landlady, the Mother of the said worker, to visit. I had over the last few months had many emailed pictures of digging, clearing, planting, hoeing and growth. The last few weeks had pictures of gooseberries, blueberries, strawberries, broad beans, courgettes, broccoli and much more.

At 10am this morning the sun was out but a cloud bank seemed to be approaching from the north. However it was agreed to go. I arrived with Mother of worker, had coffee in the garden and then walked to the allotment. On the way the sun was out and warm and I rolled up my sleeves to benefit. We passed wild blackberry bushes and I picked a punnet full. Then on to the allotment and out came the key to the garden!

It was like entering the Garden of Eden.

It was simply full of growth and fruition. The first colours to hit one were the bright oranges and yellows of nasturtiums. Then the red of the runner beans. The scents and smells were of earth and a mass of plants. I simply stood and marvelled and breathed deeply. Then I walked to my friend's lot. All sorts were there. Artichokes, fattening fruits, partially dug potatoes, broad beans by the dozen, fennel with its distinctive smell, rhubarb, green and yellow courgettes. We picked many of them but left a superabundance to be harvested later. Each product picked let off the most poignant and distinctive scent. Nature.

While my friends walked the lot and picked the fruits of the daughter's labour so I trimmed the edges. It was simply lovely to be outside in the sun smelling the earth and the scents of the whole allotment. Another allotment owner came and showed off his enormous beetroots, onions and shallots and admired our produce. Mutual admiration and encouragement. " 9 months of toil for 3 months of delight...worth every ache" he noted.

I wandered the other lots and was simply filled with delight.

After 2 hours we headed back to the garden and more coffee. The sun was just beginning to retire behind clouds as predicted. Passing a skip on the way I took some of the discarded potatoes and thought of chips! My tummy rumbled with anticipation.

After coffee and home made butter and lavender biscuits we returned to base. A siesta and a feeling of satisfaction and well being. Another few hours forgetting the virus and the thousands of discordant commentators.