Wednesday, May 21, 2008

PROBABALY THE MOST BORING PLANT IN THE WORLD - THE RAMBLING RECTOR - THE BOOKSHOP LADY - AND THE BROOM

I’ve had to bring her home - the bookshop lady; poor thing.

Ming doesn’t seem surprised. I think he knew it would happen.

But if I hadn’t gone to Manchester, I wouldn’t have understood.

And I wouldn’t have bought her a train ticket before I knew she'd be coming.

And I wouldn’t have wanted her to come - unless I had gone.

Which I did.

So it’s worked out fine after all.

(Well, not exactly ‘fine’ - but it will in the end.)

(I hope.)

(For the future of our world is at stake.)

* * * * *

Ming’s stuck an awful plant in the garden.

It’s about two foot high and two foot wide - with sparsely clad thin twigs arranged stiffly at inelegant angles. Its leaves are small and dark and dull. There should be thorns - but it seems to have lost them.

Ming says he ‘got it off’ some council workers who were ‘landscaping’ (ha!) a roundabout. They’d filled the available space - so they didn’t need it - and couldn’t be bothered to take it back to the depot - but they said it’s good ground cover and needs little care.

(Which is all it will get!)

Ming says it reminds him of a guinea pig he had as a child.

(They must have some very odd guinea pigs on Mars.)

The bookshop woman's called Marjorie.

She's very nice.

* * * * *

In the two days I’ve been away, the garden has lurched from Spring into early summer.

Snails are mating.

Convolvulus is at the top of the currant bushes (again).

(If Hitchcock had been a gardener, he wouldn’t have bothered with 'Birds'.
‘Bindweed - The Movie’
Would have been made instead.)


Flowers on the Spanish Broom are coming out; starting at the top and working down.

The first Rambling Rector Roses have opened; one here, one there; mostly in strange places - like underneath leaves.

Didcott and Worthing have grown during my absence. They are now sixteen and have jobs in the Riveting Department at the M.O.D..

Marigolds have come up - which is encouraging. (Calendulas.) (Not Tagetes.)

Californian Poppies too.

* * * * *

I'm going to start some new tomato plants.








For Tomorrow

14 comments:

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Bindweed is a fitting subject for a horror movie. It will be featured prominently in my post on the evil weeds. Maybe the plant Ming brought home is like a cygnet. Or maybe not.

Nancy said...

Perhaps there will be some redeeming quality to the plant...one never knows.

Please, do mention the meme.

Helen by the Sea said...

Ester I have a couple of spare Tomarvellous plants, very sweet cherry toms is the claim - any good to you?

Esther Montgomery said...

MMD - I look forward to your remarks about Bindweed. When?

I like the idea of the plant being a cygnet - trouble is, its character looks pretty well established.

Nancy - I think one of its qualities may be indestructibility (unfortunately).

Helen - yes please!

Esther

HappyMouffetard said...

I like Calendulas -Tagetes make my teeth go on edge.

Congratulations on winning a Fork'n Monkey Blog award!

VP said...

I think Ming must have been visiting Chippenham - you'll understand why when you see one of my posts tomorrow.

Congratulations on your Fork 'n Monkey award!

themanicgardener said...

Bindweed--OH! Don't even get me started. I'm not going to have remarks on the stuff, I'm going to have an X-rated rant of such proportions that the Internet itself will not be large enough to hold my rage.

And while we're on the subject--does anyone have any useful tactics or suggestions? How do you deal with it in grass, much less a garden?

My next-door neighbors have it in their lawn, and I'm terrified it will be in mine in a year or two.

--kate

Zoë said...

Bindweed? :: faints::

Amy said...

I'm not sure which is worse - plants that look like guinea pigs or guinea pigs that look like plants!

Esther Montgomery said...

Happymouffetard and VP - thanks for congratulations re. Fork'nMonkey!

VP I've taken a look at your roundabout.

I've even clicked on it to get a closer look.

Where on earth did they get some of those plants? I mean - did they grow them specially? Surely not!

And the red mulch . . . The whole setup begs so many questions!

Esther

Esther Montgomery said...

Manicgardener - I've never had to deal with it in grass. I'm surprised it doesn't get demolished by mowing.

It pulls easily too. I'll give it that. And the easy pulling offers one a very satisfied feeling. And armfuls can be collected in very few seconds - which gives the impression of having been very busy. That's nice too.

And the flowers are elegant and beautiful.

Bindweed does have virtues!

Esther

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Sorry to hijack a bit - I've got my post up about the nasty weeds, which includes Bindweed. I've decided to make it a meme.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Sorry, again, but this is for The Manic Gardener: if the Bindweed is not in the lawn, get some brush killer strength Roundup & dab on leaves with a Qtip/cottonswab thingy. If in lawn, cut back grass as much as possible right around weed. Cut back weed, dab stem of Bindweed with stuff. Repeat as often as necessary.

Esther Montgomery said...

Everyone - May I recommend Mr McGregor's Daughter's Post on Weeds?

Entertaining text - photos of seedlings - 'catch 'em while they're young' !

Esther