Tuesday 30 July 2019

All Is Only Transitory


I was looking for a quote to express what I want to say today; there are many, of many words, whole passages, to say just this one thing: nothing lasts for ever. So I gave Goethe pride of place, for he expressed my thoughts in just these four words.

For days on end I have been out in the garden, morning and late afternoon, whenever the temperature allowed. In the middle afternoon I had siesta, sitting reading or snoozing indoors. So gardening is much on my mind. Particularly one aspect of it made me turn philosophical. I don’t know what made me think that gardening is a pursuit which follows the same lines forever, you’d think I should know by now, after close on thirty years of it. Having more or less ignored my garden for the past three years I was greatly surprised when I noticed that many of my special shrubs and whole hosts of perennials look much the worse for wear this year. A bit worn, a bit elderly, a bit tired. Indeed, some look like they need urgent resuscitation.

Of course they do. Highly bred creatures never last as long as your ordinary mongrel, in plant language: your weeds and common versions. Species remain true to themselves, anything bred from them, sub-species and fancy varieties, give up after a few years. So my surprise is rather surprising.

What I need to do now is ruthlessly expel all shrubs past their best, perennials ditto, particularly the kind that flop all over the place and need careful (and boring) staking or those that have turned into congested clumps which barely flower now. A bit of redesigning is in order.

That might be fun. Costly fun even. It would need purchasing new plants and shrubs and involve quite a bit of digging and rearranging.

Which brings me to Paul. We seem to have settled into a relaxed working relationship. When he came yesterday I asked after his well-being, as I always do. He asks after mine too, by the way.

“Not so good today”, he said, “I’m a bit unwell”. He rubbed his chest although I don’t think that was where the source of his discomfort lay.

I made suitable noises and suggested he might want to leave after two hours’ work, before it got hot. “We’ll see”, he said. “I didn’t want to let you down, so I thought I’d better come”.

Two hours in and I asked him if he wanted to continue. “Oh yes”, he said, “work takes your mind off things”.

Later we sat on the bench in Beloved’s memorial patch and had tea, it’s the only really shady spot in the garden any time of day. (How cross Beloved would be, he loved the sun above everything and sat in it for hours, whereas I avoid it when I can. So I win.)

Paul and I got to talking about work. “I don’t really have a choice,” he said, "I need to keep my income up which is stretched perilously thin anyway”. He told me he has only four regulars and a few now and then-ners but he couldn’t really do much more because of his health problems. At the moment he gives me a regular slot on Mondays and an additional slot on another day if he has a gap.

"Thank you”, I said, “but then I’m not such a bad employer?” He turned his head as if I had surprised him and looked me full in the face, not something he does often. “Oh I think we rub along tolerably well.” he said.

For now it’s all good but I’d better not count my chickens just yet.

I added the picture of the phormium in bloom because I still can’t quite believe that is has flowered. Positively pre-historic!





31 comments:

  1. I pray that you and Paul will continue to have a nice garden working relationship.

    It's too hot and humid for me to do much outdoors except in the mornings, even then, it's miserable out. I've got a lot to do, just don't have the energy or inclination. Don't work too hard dear friend.

    FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  2. Had to chuckle about the "suitable noises", friend Friko … make those every day, especially at work … mine are "hmmm!/ hmmm?" and "ya!/ ya?" … and find that it opens hearts as most people like to talk themselves. Anyway, always a treat coming here, and that will never change. Much love, cat and her cat Theo Thunderbutt :) https://youtu.be/Fo5RUhuoLO4

    ReplyDelete
  3. And so you show me the road ahead. That it is not bad. Thank You

    ReplyDelete
  4. Seems you have found a good gardening helper. I have one that comes and goes over the last 20 years and the new young woman who helps me inside a short time likes being outside, puttering in the garden and filling humming bird feeders and a little seed in others ( it keeps them near and I like seeing them ) But I miss so doing what she is doing, time and aging changes everything, just seems it arrived so soon and mind and body in different places:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love Paul's comment. And your post reminds me to get outside and from behind this desk to do some weeding. Hope your day and week is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am so glad that you 'rub along tolerably well together' - long may it continue.
    And I hear you about the need to redesign/revamp. And about the work (and expense) involved.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well, Heraclitus said you never step i the same river twice, if you want another quote and when I bought a book on perennial gardening the author quoted someone about it taking 40 years for a perennial garden to be complete...if then! I wish I had a gardener that I could sit and talk with. Hubby keeps our folks busy on the yard and my flower gardens are left with weeds.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your blooming plant must like the new bibs in your garden.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rubbing along tolerably well is an accomplishment in this day and age. May you both continue and remain well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I had to smile when I read the 'I win' line.

    May all continue to go well having Paul around.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Glad that it is working with Paul...but bringing back a garden! What a job!
    During our serial house renovations in France we would try to preserve whatever had been in the gardens...splitting clumps, dividing, pruning back...it made such a welcome relief rom pointing walls...but now we are both stuck with supervising, our efforts limited to sowing seeds and rooting cuttings.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am glad you are undaunted when it comes to the garden. They do indeed deteriorate rather quickly, when I'm not looking it seems nasty weeds try to take over my own garden. Thanks for the picture of the prehistoric phormium. Loved this post, but then again, I always do love it when you write here. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I agree that "highly bred creatures never last as long as your ordinary mongrel," in people as well as plants, which is why my family is a long-lived bunch. And I also agree that "work takes your mind off things." Doesn't have to be for pay; it can be volunteer, or helping out family or friends ... you know what I mean. Anyway, glad you're keep up a good attitude.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Friko, a lovely post you wrote! Our garden would love to have you and Paul for a while. I mean with a quick glimpse it looks nice, hm but underneath? A good gardener like you would find many faults! :-)
    With each post I open from you I am yearning to see photos of your flowers and shrubs and and all the precious things growing, like you put years ago, you remember? With the castle in the background... It seems to me you are on "your way" Friko, that is so great. I wish you good and many nice days and happy moments, in the garden and everywhere. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. As of course you know, in its original German, Goethe's quote is even shorter - just three words.
    Redesigning your garden sounds rather exciting! Will Paul be involved in the designing, too, or is his job mainly going to be the digging and other physical work? I hope he can keep coming to work for you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Friko - that's great news ... and he'll add his thoughts into the mix ... as I know you'll ask him - he'll be and feel more involved. So pleased things are working out gardening wise - it'll be fun to replant - hardwork, but fun - new life being breathed into the plantings. Wonderful to see the Phormium blooming ... enjoy these more pleasant days - now the heat has eased off. Take care and please keep us updated ... cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  17. "it's only temporary". this was my mantra while the kids were growing up. it also came in handy during times when the husband was less than pleasant to be around. but to the garden...yes that also. I wish I had a Paul.

    ReplyDelete
  18. When I first planted my many perennials seventeen years ago, they were lovely and five years later I thought they were perfect. During the following years, I needed to cut back. At ten years, many had to be removed, repurposed, and replaced. Now, like you, I am out most days when the weather is right, in what seems like a battle, trying to get control of their growth. More were removed this year, but none have been replaced. I enjoy gardening so much, but between the weather changes, the bugs, and the constant work needed I wonder how long that I will be able to continue. I need a Paul.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rubbing along. Tolerable. That sounds like something you don't have to fuss over. Love these slices of life in your garden.

    XO
    WWW

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have been using your quote
    "All Is Transitory" in some I share
    hoping it is true with my life at this time
    as so much going on

    ReplyDelete
  21. You have accurately described me, my spouse and our friends and relatives in our age range: looking much the worse for wear. A bit worn, a bit elderly, a bit tired. Indeed, looking like we need urgent resuscitation. Oh and the expense! As ever, I come away from your posts charged up with the awesomeness of life, sometimes at the sweetness, other times at the pain, and sometimes all the in betweens.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Paul and I have something in common; I don't have a choice about working, either. I'm infinitely grateful for my good health,though, and I'm beginning to nurture it a bit more intentionally than I have in the past. It's good that I like my work, too -- although I certainly will be glad when August comes to an end and the afternoons are a bit more bearable.

    It's interesting to read and compare gardening blogs and blogs devoted to native plants. I haven't yet found the words to describe the difference I feel -- it's not a bad difference, but it definitely exists. Perhaps it's the difference between a gardener's planning and the native plant fancier's willingness to just go out and wander and see what nature has been up to. On the other hand, people engaged in prairie restoration and such are "gardening" too, in a way. It's all very interesting.

    I'm just glad you have Paul, and are pondering all these decisions: weed? pull? discard? replant? It's exactly what we all do with life in general, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  23. hi, friko.

    i still read you.

    i just, you know, often feel i don't have much to say.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello Friko!
    Your thoughts about gardening are a bit sad, aren't they? But you're completely right, I noticed my garden looks worst this summer because I was ill and till now can't do hard work as weeding, digging, replant etc. The garden reacts on facts.
    Sure Paul is your good helper and your garden looks better now.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I enjoy hearing about your garden. Here in Texas not much survives the August heat... even my hanging herbs are showing wear. But I love English gardens. It's one of the reasons we watch Acorn TV... so much beautiful scenery! And I can picture you and Paul having tea in the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love hearing about how your relationship with Paul is evolving. And I don't think you probably are "a bad employer." You're out there with him and most of all, you really care. I love this piece. It's a good reminder about ridding one's self of the unuseful or fading -- garden or otherwise!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Is that British understatement at its best? "we rub along tolerably well" - nicely put.
    I guess a gardener's work is never done and it doesn't last forever either. Perhaps that's the way when you're working with living things.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dear Friko, gardening, before I aged to where my knees didn't bend well nor my back was such a joy. Now, I basically have a shrub garden that adds some dimension to my home and some delight to my eyes. It is as you and Goethe said, "Nothing last for ever." And yet, I do think that love freely given and accepted does last within us. That love changes us and we in turn change all those who meet that love through us. It's a Oneness that, for me, makes life divine. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  29. It sounds like Paul and you have a good working relationship; I would like to find a gardener to work for me two hours a week. Mostly pulling weeds and watering. It is work to find a compatible person, I would imagine. I did have my entire front yard transformed in May and the landscaper planted 42 flowering plants and shrubs, low maintenance.

    ReplyDelete
  30. "We rub along tolerably well." That's such a great way of putting it!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hurrah! This is proof, that if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. *smiles''♥ x

    ReplyDelete

Comments are good, I like to know what you think of my posts. I know you'll keep it civil.