Six-on-Saturday – Jerusalema And Pressed Bamboo

13th February 2021.

Tomorrow is V-Day, but because Marion is in the habit of reading my Six-on-Saturday updates mid-morning, I’ve plans to ensure that she doesn’t. We don’t want the cat out of the bag just yet. I shall be so lovingly attentive all day today that she will want no further distraction elsewhere. Facebook, blogs and other unnecessary screen-time will be willingly ignored. I shall cook and clean, dust and declutter. Loving attentiveness is not just for V-Day. I’m sure I heard that somewhere before, and it sounds reasonable. Redimancy will win the day.

It’s an annual event, you know that. But what I’m revealing here now is that I’m inclined to buy gardening accessories for the special day. I’ve been saving up my Euros since Christmas to get a humble selection of six items that I know will be very much appreciated. Just so happens that I’m doubling it up with Six-on-Saturday. Six things, wrapped with love until tomorrow, in just the faintest hope that Marion might say:

“Ah shur, you’d probably make more use outta them than me.”

Join with me now in the Great Brownie Point Hunt and what better way to start than…

Un

Spear & Jackson are the bees knees of secateurs. Here we have a his and her’s combination. Which is which? ‘Tis very straightforward… whichever one she prefers is hers, and I’ll get the other one ceann eile.

Deux

It’s been many years since I enjoyed pressing flowers bláthanna, and although there’s nothing I’d like better right now, I’ll be adding this to my tokens of love for my Head Gardener. It’s Number 2 in the charts. I’ve started by including pressed bamboo leaves within. I’d have included roses if V-Day were in summer. I know that pressed bamboo doesn’t quite cut the mustard, yet she understands me.  It’s as good as an offer to help with hoovering.

Trois

I just know she’s going to love this. I do not need to explain what it is. And because the box is also V-Day Red Dearg, we both win. I get double points, Marion gets a quality red box. I’ll be looking forward to baskets of fragrant trailing sweet peas in May. A scented posy for my love.

Quatre

She only has to give a once-off subtle hint about what she’d like. My ears cluasa are pricked and I never forget. This year, I was very surprised to hear from her very beautiful lips that black potato grow bags are all the rage. Here they are, a stór. You just tell me when you’d like the first harvest, and I’ll do the rest. I’ll also be happy to cook up colcannon, the traditional Irish recipe you love.

Cinq

Marion likes to know the overnight temperature in the glasshouse. It’s the first thing she asks every morning, particularly after hard frost. We did have a thermometer, but there’s nothing quite like getting a second one. This is an upgrade, as it shows multiple sets of information. The old one will likely be expelled outside, replaced by a younger model after years of faithful service.

Sis

I’ve saved the best until last, but I may need to explain it. In fact, I may need to explain it to my Head Gardener also. You see, this is a surprise item that she did not suggest, subtly or otherwise. I thought it up all by myself. It’s a seed-sucker! Some seeds are so tiny that it’s impossible to handle them. This picks up one such seed and puts it where I want she wants it.

Sis + un autre:

I’m going the extra step… The thought crossed my mind to dance a surprise Jerusalema, but I’d have ended up on my backside.

Powerwashing a year of grime from the concrete last week allowed me to add some graffiti at ground level. Knowing that Valentine’s Day was approaching, I doodled awhile before washing the evidence away. Gone but not forgotten.

Six-on-Saturday: Who are we?

We are a group of gardeners who write. We write about six items in our gardens, and we do it on Saturdays. I’ve been doing this since last June and I enjoy nothing more than reading about and seeing other gardens from as far away as Canada, New Zealand, Tasmania, USA and Britain and Waterford City. Lest we forget, hundreds more choose to publish on Twitter and Instagram. You can find out more about it here. You may read and follow, or like myself, you may choose to write and follow. Either way, it’s great fun!

Sin a bhfuil uaimse don seachtain seo. I’ll be back again next week with another Six-on-Saturday. Thank you for reading. Have a good week. Stay safe. Slán go fóill.

Pádraig.

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