Nothing can stop spring blooming
AMID the doom and gloom, let us thank heavens for the garden — a true bringer of joy and uplifter of spirits. Now that we’re all in self-isolation, it means our floral and veggie patches will receive more attention than they’ve had for years. The view from my conservatory is an abundance of springtime favourites, including daffodils, hyacinths, blue grape hyacinths, forget-me-nots, wallflowers, the starry ipheion and emerging tulips. Even in these dark days, as a gardening writer, I am so thankful for Mother Nature’s dependable bright lights.
GRAHAM ANDREWS, Bideford, Devon. IF THERE is any silver lining at all to coronavirus, it is the timing. If we were all in lockdown in October or November to coincide with the dark nights and the cold, wet winter, it would surely have been much more difficult to cope. This week, after spending the morning tending our garden, it was warm enough for my wife and I to sit outside and enjoy a cup of tea for the first time this year. While we were sitting quietly, we saw on our bird feeders a flock of goldfinches, blue tits, a pair of long-tailed tits and a spectacular male bullfinch. A pair of glossy magpies landed in the plum tree. However, the most welcome sight of all was the appearance of the first butterfly of the year, a comma, which we have never seen in our garden before. Coronavirus can’t stop nature. Spring is in the air with summer not far
behind and this weekend the clocks go forward. Let’s all try to enjoy these few positives.
ROB LEWIS, Lincoln. THEY can’t lock down spring!
BARBARA OCCLESHAW, Llanbedr-Y-Cennin, Conwy. DRAWING back the curtains, I was struck by the beautiful view of my neighbours’ gardens. They are so colourful: a magnificent magnolia in full blossom, a beautiful, deep red camellia and yellow jasmine. The lovely pale green leaves on the pear and apples trees were beginning to break, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. I watched the birds around the feeder while two pigeons waited for the fallout. The dog was wandering around the garden and next door’s cat was sitting on the fence watching the birds. Nature is carrying on as usual and nothing can stop it. It’s a shame it took Covid-19 to make me appreciate what a beautiful world we live in.
MARY CRACK, Fareham, Hants. THE squirrel that visits my garden refuses to observe the social distancing restrictions.
J. N. HICKSON, Altrincham, Cheshire. HERE’S an easy way to forget coronavirus. Do a day’s gardening and then all you will be able to think about is your backache!
JEAN COOPER, Bletchley, Bucks.