Saturday 18 May 2019

Gentle Everyday Life


Amelanchier in blossom


The high thin whistle of returning swallows and martins swooping joyously in the sky is everywhere, it is definitely spring. Finally. It’s still none too warm and I haven’t taken tender plants, the lemon and olive trees and ferns out of the conservatory yet but no night frosts have been forecast for the next week and I might risk having Paul carry them outside when he comes on Monday. I usually do this in the middle of May although there is always a warning not to do anything rash before the end of this month. In these ‘Franklin’s Days’ beware late and destructive frosts, thunder and unreliable weather.
According to a Devon legend, the sharp frosts which sometimes occur at about this time are the revenge of one Franklin, a beer-brewer put out of business by competition from cider. He therefore vowed his soul to the devil in return for frosts on each of the three Franklin’s Days around May 21st hoping that these would kill the apple-blossom and ruin the cider crop.

It will also be time to strim swathes of spent daffodils before the beginning of June. So many plants die untidily, leaving a horrible mess for several weeks but as they need the dying foliage to replenish their stores of energy to produce next year’s flowers we must put up with the yellowing flattened carpets. Having lost old gardener I am in a bit of a pickle. There is no way I can do all of it myself, certainly not the really hard jobs like dealing with compost, with digging, pruning trees and shrubs. I have an area of nasty plum tree suckers. Old gardener cut down the tree last autumn but the suckers have spread and infested a large patch. I have no idea how to get rid of them. It’s a problem. If I can find someone to dig them up and maybe poison the remains I could level the area off, put in what is known hereabouts as a “water feature” (very fashionable, a kind of fountain with a built in pump which allows for the water to rise and fall and produces a pleasant sound) and use bark chip or gravel to cover the earth. There is a very beautiful acer in the same bed which I want to keep. A water feature would be just the thing to set it off.

I am gently forcing myself to meet people, for lunches at a cafe, supper at the pub, a movie being shown at the village hall, a coffee here and there, a friend popping in for an hour, a poetry reading evening, and so on. Very mild, non-threatening and non-tiring entertainment. I think it must be doing me good. Once Millie is gone I won’t have the automatic daily conversations with other dog walkers.

Talking of dog walkers: I was in the High Street the other day on my way to the surgery when I passed a man and a woman standing by a gate, gossiping. I said “good morning” as I was passing them. The man turned, said good morning back and then: “Ursula? It is Ursula, isn’t it? I didn’t recognise you without your dog.” I expect I shall have to get used to people do a double take. Having said that, a long time village acquaintance came down towards me as I was going up a steep lane the other day. Again I said good morning; she stopped, looked at me closely and said “I didn’t recognise you with your head down.” Hm, have I become a changeling? It is said that mortal children are often substituted for a changeling during May, perhaps that goes for some adults too?





24 comments:

  1. I like the changeling idea. And at the moment would like to BE changed.
    I am glad to hear that you are gently, carefully expanding your social horizons. Something I also need to do.

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  2. When we were in France we had to wait until the Ice Saints' days were past before lugging all the tender plants out of the house for the summer.Given the dize of some of themi t's a wonder we didn't develop hernias.
    I'm glad you are stepping gently back into the world.

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  3. Brand name here Zero or Round Up, I forget its generic name. A cheap kids paint brush and paint a few of the sucker leaves. It will take time to work, but it is effective and doesn't leach into the soil. Once Millie departs, you may not walk as much, which won't be good. Maybe then it will be time to move.

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  4. So many changes in your world with the gardener now gone and Millie not doing well. I am glad you are getting out and about. Will the suckers still come up where you put a water feature? I love the idea of creating such a thing. The sound of it would no doubt be very soothing.

    I was intrigued by the myth you told us about the beer brewer's curse. We have no apple trees here where I live at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, but I have not planted a thing because we are having more snow, frost, and cold temperatures. We used to say not to set things out before Mother's Day which is the first of May. Now, I think one doesn't dare set out much until the end of May.

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  5. I am happy for you that you are rolling gently into change, always a bit of a challenge leaving the comfort zone, I often force myself, making plans and not backing off and nearly always I feel better for it.

    XO
    WWW

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  6. I like this post - I hope the plants make the transition without a problem.

    The changeling possibility made me giggle.

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  7. I hope you can find someone to do the heavy lifting in the garden, because as we age it isn't much fun to do tasks out of our comfort zone. We always pay for it in ways we didn't intend. :-)

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  8. Dear Frko, you have chosen the best time of year for increasing your activities. Longer daylight, gentler temperatures, other people being out and about as well; all that should make your efforts a little easier.

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  9. Hi Friko - I've never heard of Franklin's Days ... but can quite believe it - also the weather is still chilly ... the cold east wind has been particularly nasty ... I'm hoping it'll go away! I do hope you can find someone to help in the garden ... I would hope there's someone in the village, who'll be able to point you in the right direction.

    So pleased to see you easing your way into gentle activities in the area ... and people are enjoying seeing you around. Dealing with an area of suckers is not easy ... but if you can get someone to help apply the poison on a calm evening ... that should help ... you just don't want someone coming in and willy-nilly 'swashing' wildly about or using a digger irresponsibly to get the roots up ...

    Take care and enjoy the better weather ... all the best with finding someone - cheers Hilary

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  10. Change at your own pace, it sounds like you are doing well dear Friko. One day at a time, treating yourself gently. May you have no more frosty weather, and find help to take care of your gardens.

    Love, hugs & prayers for you ~ FlowerLady

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  11. Have been a changeling all my life and will continue to change, as change is the only thing that is for certain and I rather enjoy it … 2 more years, then planning of retiring … maybe moving to BC or Mexico or taking a world cruise never to return, I dunno yet … Always much glad to hear from you, friend Friko. Thank you. Immer weiter auf der Huehnerleiter, hmmm? Much love, cat.

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  12. I think a lot of us don't recognize people -- or get recognized by people -- when we're out of our usual and old familiar context. Perhaps as we get older we should all wear name tags!

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  13. it's funny, the clues we attach so to recognise people and when those clues are absent we have to think a little harder. most of my conversations with the neighbors happen while walking the dog. and good for you for getting out and getting some gentle socializing. I'm facing the same problem re the garden but mine is mostly dealing with the acre and a half that the shop sits on. not a garden, just trying to stave off the wild grape, poison ivy, wild blackberry, trash trees. it's more than I can do and it's already summer here. hot and humid. I'll be calling around for a yard service soon for the shop.

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  14. Around here the advice is to trim roses on Valentine's day, but wait until the pecan trees leaf out to declare 'real' spring. Everything is more or less on track this year, with some things a bit early, and a few just a little late. But of course 'late' and 'early' are relative terms. (And now that I've used that phrase, I've remembered this poem. It was a pleasure to read it again.)

    Here's an interesting tidbit about recognizing people. After I moved to Liberia, the day came when I finally heard a Liberian co-worker say, "Well, you white people all look alike." We laughed about it, since it was sometimes quite difficult for expats to sort out the Liberians. In time, I learned that while we use eye and hair color as primary cues for identification, Africans generally are more likely to use nose shape and skin tint to sort people out. All of this is done unconsciously, of course -- we probably learn the cues relevant to our situation as soon as we begin sorting out the world.

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  15. I always enjoy reading your posts but I have a difficult time posting. Oh well, it’s probably my fault.

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  16. Fascinating about Franklin. Here in my part of the states, no ground planting till Memorial Day weekend, which is by the last Monday in May. And we've had those late frosts. If we know the season has been early (not this year!) we might sneak in a week or two early but with great caution! It's a wonderful story, Franklin's Days!

    I'm glad you are getting out and about. It sounds pleasant, fun, good timing with the weather and all that. I can relate to the garden issues. With my back, I can't do a lot of the lifting/digging and even bending is a bit of a challenge this week (probably because I did a bit too much and also moved furniture; now I can barely move ME!). I like your idea of the water feature. Maybe Paul knows someone who can hire in to do the suckers and then you can go ahead with your plan.

    Sending hugs to you and Millie. I hope she still has many a walk to go.

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  17. A water feature sounds lovely. And you sound pretty good yourself. I am often surprised to learn that the old man or woman I glimpse across the grocery store is an acquaintance I haven't seen in a while. And often they are younger than I. Of course, I'm still startled by the old woman in the mirror.

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  18. Interesting how you're less recognised sans Millie. May you continue to get out and about meeting folk and participating in low-key activities!

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  19. I love the water feature notion. Glad you are being gentle with yourself....so many losses. I am sorry to say I relate to that all to well just now. Hugs to you.

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  20. I love your post. Growing and going at your own pace is life's own reward when change comes. A water fountain is such a pleasant inspiration fro my writing. Franklin...that was interesting. Here in the middle of the US it will be heating up to unbearable humidity and high temperatures. But I still prefer warm to cold.

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  21. Hi Friko - haven't visited for a while and had forgotten how lovely your writing is. Reading through some of your posts, I see you have lost your partner and I'm so sorry about that. x

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  22. Pleased for you
    you are doing good.
    I am adjusting to a slower life after heart surgery and such thing I never thought would
    happen. Enjoyed doing much I need help for now - if you can find it :)

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  23. I am glad that you are succeeding in your efforts to socialise in a gentle and constructive way. It is nice that you are rethinking your garden, too, it means something new to look at while it develops... and I was thinking the other day as I sat in the park by the fountain how wonderful it is to have the sound of running water.

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