The Garden Centre

The Garden Centre

It’s always a pleasure to visit the Garden Centre; to see all of the beautiful flowers and plants of course, but also to witness how a love of nature can act as a common bond between the generations...

 

The stocks of plants at this time of year are rather depleted, with barely a few trays of cheerful winter pansies to brighten the gloom that lies ahead. I felt a little saddened at the changing of the seasons but realised that this is the natural course of things both in nature and life itself.

 

I cast my mind back to an earlier season at the Garden Centre, the raised tables overflowing with an abundance of exquisite blooms and a host of people of all generations filling their trolleys hoping to capture and nurture this beauty within their own garden havens.

 

My attention was drawn to a woman and her wheelchair-bound mother. The mother was complaining bitterly that she had been abandoned in the cactus area for too long.

 

The daughter apologised and explained that she needed plants for her garden and found it difficult to manage the trolley and the wheelchair at the same time. She then devoted her full attention to her mother and wheeled her carefully around the plant displays.

 

“Oooh! Look mother. Foxgloves, aren’t they beautiful? Would you like a foxglove for your garden?” asked the daughter.

 

“I don’t like foxgloves.” replied mother.

 

“Ah look at these mother, they’re lovely aren’t they? They would look lovely in your border. Would you like a tray of these?” asked the daughter.

 

“No, I don’t want any of those.” replied mother.

 

“Oh! Now! Look at these delphiniums! They are gorgeous aren’t they? Would you like a delphinium mother?” asked the daughter.

 

Her mother replied: “No. I don’t want a delphinium. I want you to take me home now. Can you stop off at Bargain Booze on the way and get me some gin?”

 

“Yes of course mother, if that’s what you want.” replied the daughter.

 

As summer gives way to autumn, rather than longing for the colourful blooms now fading; I look forward to the treasures to come: cosy jumpers, pomegranates, autumn leaves, bright red berries, romantic candles, toasted crumpets and... gin.