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A GARDENER'S NEW CENTURY

© Gay Klok

Every day in our daily newspapers, we read an article about the Year 2000 We see that the computer bugs are going to rule the World and I think to myself "I thought it was going to be Bill Gates" In yesterday's paper there was an article telling me of all the fabulous parties that are going to be held on December 31st, 1999. "That's great for some but what about my own wishes?" I asked myself. I am old enough now to not appreciate indigestion and a hangover next morning. So, what are my wants for the next twelve months, the Year 2000? Let me share my desires with you

DECEMBER 1999

For Christmas I would like two white turtle doves and two white swans. I would like someone to give a message to the wedge tailed eagle that took the last turtle doves to fed his fledglings and broke my heart, that there is an abundance of peafowl chicks and they are far more delicious than turtle doves.

JANUARY - FEBRUARY

I want the children of my family to come and explore the gardens with me. This is the summery part of the year and I would like them to learn to smell the roses. Isobel, not yet three years old, can already name seven plants in Nanno's and her Mummy's garden - Rhododendrons, Camellias, Roses, Violets, Daffodils, Daisies and, her favourite name, Foxgloves. She hardly ever gets Rhododendrons and Camellias muddled. Fiona, not yet two years old, will hold a flower forever and not crush it, just stroke the petals softly. smell the perfume and tell me the colours with an artist's eye

The weather is warm, maybe even hot. Time for the grandchildren to learn how to fish in "The Big Pond, Cinderella" and catch the tadpoles. I will teach them to take only a few, enough fish to eat and sufficient tadpoles to look after carefully. I will explain to them that frogs are the barometers of what is happening environmentally in the World and, in the last decade, the population of frogs has decreased in an alarming manner. I will also tell them that we are lucky to have the good conditions thal allows us to enjoy such a large frog population living with us.

MARCH - APRIL

The months of gentle climate, the time for the plants to rest. I will glory in the garden of brilliant colours and visit the Garden Nurseries as this is my favourite planting time. In Autumn the earth still retains the warmth of Summer and the young roots will have time to get a good start in life. I will imagine as each new tree is planted with gentleness, my great-great grandchildren, climbing their limbs and hoping that they will see the turn of the Century, the Year 2100.

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