The Green Shoots of Recovery
You can always rely on nature….
My friend’s work van sits idle in his driveway, a year ago he faced months of guaranteed work, his work gave others work, their work fuelled other businesses and around we all went blissfully ignorant of what we now face. Today he told me that I looked knackered, I admitted that I was but that I couldn’t complain. His response was telling and symptomatic of the situation we now find ourselves in. At least I had a wage to look forward to, that people would always need to eat so there would always be work for ’someone like you’. He asked me if the recession had hit the restaurant trade yet and I said that it would only be a matter of time before that too would feel the impact.
I’ve spent part of my day off negotiating with employment agencies on staff wages, they are pushing the salaries to boost their flagging commission’s, I am trying to keep them down to avoid the unpleasantness of redundancies and all the while there’s a person stuck in the middle wanting to work….
Back in 1991 when Britain was in the grip of its last recession Norman Lamont, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer famously spoke of ‘the green shoots of recovery’, a remarkably optomistic statement which bore no foundation and would return to haunt him for years after. I was reminded about this as I left my friend and came home to view my garden still in the throngs of an over zealous winter. I had wanted to spend some time working in the garden but my body was telling me otherwise so I settled for a stroll around the beds and borders looking for signs of life….
Nature rarely lets you down does it? When all else fails you can count on your garden, big or small to offer you a glimmer of hope and nothing seems to represent the emergence from winter better than these….
Tiny buds of life are begining to show all around my garden, a beautiful acer will soon emerge from its hibernation and all ready my trusted chives are working their Spring like magic…
Sheltered behind a greenhouse stands a pot which supplied me with many a cup of Moroccan mint tea last year, this pungent herb found its way into tagines and summer sauce vierges on many an occasion and I am delighted to say that it has returned once more, albeit rather shyly!
So there you have it, a glimpse of a garden full of promise and however hard the going gets I know I can always rely on a seat in a sheltered corner of my garden to offer some small respite from the world we live in.
Wonderful post, Miles. I was going through my digital photos yesterday thinking maybe I’d do a random plant, flower, vista post and I ran across several photos of a high alpine plant called “spring beauty.” It’s one of the first flowers in the high country to emerge from the harsh winter, pushing its way through the snow and ice. I’m always looking for them on my late winter/early spring hikes as I know they are a sign of things to come. I marvel at their tenacity and beauty — very nice mix of qualities.
Melissa
February 24, 2009 @ 11:35 am
Miles,
. You see even more if you go down on your knees.
I love going round my garden this time of the year and it never ceases to amaze and surprise me. The snowdrops were very slow to open up to the frost. As soon as it warmed up a little, there was an explosion of colour in the garden and the first green buds opening on trees and shrubs. It lifts the spirits and puts a smile on the face
Elsie
February 24, 2009 @ 8:53 pm
Wonderful post, Miles. It’s not often that our winters are as severe as those experienced in the UK and some parts of the USA, but the dry spell here has brought home the message quite succintly. We had really good rains last night, and as a result my lawns are showing signs of recovery
(even the potato shoots seem to have grown inches overnight!)
February 25, 2009 @ 4:03 am
Melissa,
You should do posts on the plants unique to your neck of the woods, I think it’s very interesting and gives others a better insight into America rather than the stereotypical scenes we are always shown-sick of those!
Miles
February 25, 2009 @ 9:29 am
Elsie,
Glad to hear you are enjoying your garden, there’s always something new to see isn’t there?
Happy gardening!
Miles
February 25, 2009 @ 9:30 am
Xenny,
I know I make fun of your seemingly year round sunshine in South Africa but even that brings its own problems doesn’t it?
Still, I bet you wouldn’t swap it for what I’ve got right now
MIles
February 25, 2009 @ 9:33 am
Miles,
Not to drag things out, as once again, you’re way past me, but what stereotypical American scenes do you mean? I’ve never thought of that and was curious when I read your comments.
I have an interest in cactus plants (and a beautiful indoor collection of them) and spent yesterday working on my plants, repotting, taking cuttings, etc. The weather here was spectacular so I spent several hours outside playing with plants, getting dirt under my fingernails and a touch of sunwash on my face. It’s such a calming way to deal with stress. Wish I could give you all cuttings, although I doubt they’d grow well in your neck of the woods. They need direct sun for a good part of the day.
Melissa
February 25, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Melissa,
Nothing is ever made of the wildlife and beautiful landscapes of the US.
It’s 99% about cities and violence.
Nobody wants to report on nice things anymore.
Miles
February 25, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
The dry spell is the reason I haven’t washed my car recently
February 25, 2009 @ 9:03 pm
Kevin,
Pull the other one
Miles
February 25, 2009 @ 9:23 pm