DORIC COLUMN ROBBIE SHEPHERD

It looks jist like a battlefield surroundit bi a dyke

IN MY GAIRDEN

– HARRY GORDON

Jist fin we were reddin-up efter the coorse cantrips o snell wins an roch shooers – tyin doon plastic frames, broken gless an orra trock blaain ower fae ither gairdens – aa o a suddenty it’s Spring again... Michty me 23o at Abyne es week!

Noo if at bit screid rings a bell in yer noddle it’s foo I yokit es column es time last eer an folla’t a twa wikks later in sattlin doon sae comfy in the Music Hall efter the howders o win ootside. I wis tae hear mair nor eence bi fowkies within earshot – “Ach it’s jist the Gab o Mey”.

At’s a maitter o fact for it’s jist nature takkin’s coorse bit ill tae thole again es fylie back efter baskin ootside an potterin in the gairden winnerin fan es coronavirus wid blaa ower. Gin onything gweed hae come oot o es dreedit lockdoon it’s tae think on mony mair gairdens aa sprusht up keepin the fittest oot o langer bit fit’s the eese anent the plicht o oor weel loo’t local independent Gairden Centres at hae tae steek their doors wi thoosans an thoosans o plants mangin tae be pitten oot. Fit sticks in the craa tho is foo some supermarkets get awa wi sellin gairdenin items fin ithers canna.

Thrawn as ivver, I keep in towe wi my ain faevrit freenly Centre wytin for news o deliveries fin nott, an I think tee on the likes o Easter Anguston Fairm oot bi Drumoak run bi VSA an Foxlane bi Westhill, baith set up tae gie lads an lasses wi learnin difficulties a place o wark an a sense o purpose.

Ay, spring his fairly sprung as in semi-isolation I look oot on the weepin crab aipple tree in the front gairden wi its umbrella shape festoon’t in sic rich bonnie blossom biddin welcome tae aa at’s passin by an, fae a fine vantage pynt at the kitchen windae roon the back, ere’s a neebor twa doors doon, back straacht, elbicks tuckit in an legs gyan like weel-ile’t pistons daein his ain Captain Tom roon an roon’s gairden. Fin Esma remarkit at she hid lost coont o the laps afore she got as far’s twinty I cwid only grummle an girn, protestin at oor wyndin crazy-pavin pathie wisna meant for sic antics.

Neist tae us we hae a lad at gings oot twice a day tae replenish his bird feeders. Doos line up on’s reef wi their timin as precise as ony Rolex watch. Hedge sparras, finches, tits an fit hae ye – even a robin – gaurs ye dauchle, watchin the peckin order an ye can be sure the ugsome craas tak ower wi the wee birdies pickin up the leavins on the girss.

Anent that, neist till’s on the ither side is a teem hoose enoo wi a couple at seem tae hae forhooiet their nest leavin ahin lang girss near coverin the bairn’s fitba an ither orra trock lyin aboot. It’ll need the sythe or lang. Myn ye fa am I tae spikk for, lookin masel in the mirror fin shavin, I’m a deid ringer for Fagan an wid be neen the waur o a straik o the sythe masel.

Noo a three doors doon, ma gweed freens fa keep sic a tidy gairden tells us they are aaready fechtin the coorse caterpillars invadin their gooser bushes at rypit aathing clean-in last eer. Aa these signs fae mither nature gaurs us tak tent, community speerit restor’t as we ging ootside on Thursday nichts wavin an shoutin at een anither, richtly praisin the Clap for Carers. We aa need een anither.

Fit aboot oor ain gairden? Weel the sweet peas an xanths are safely pluntit oot bit ach at can aa wyte or anither wikk. Meantime thanks tae aa that took pairt in ma wee quiz last wikk. I’ll announce the winner wi a menchin o some o yer upcomes neist wikkeyn.

Tak care till then.