Tuesday 10 June 2008

A Panda Food Moment

We're getting settled here in the south now, and I don't expect we'll migrate back. But every now and again some little thing triggers a memory and whisks me back to my old long-gone life up north. Today it was bamboo.

A couple of summers ago we upgraded our square of Cheshire soil. It went from being a nasty patch of water-logged mud with a pile of bricks in the corner, to a pretty peachy little garden with flowers, drainage and a path: "well stocked", as estate agents say. We had help from 7-foot tall Matthew - who had won rosettes at the Tatton Flower Show - and his troop of wheel-barrow pushing, earth-shovelling Manchester lads who trampled mud and testosterone all around the place.

We took Matthew's planting plan and phoned the trade-price garden centre. Upon hearing the man's quote, we spluttered a few heavy-duty swear words, picked ourselves up off the floor, cut the volume required in half, and ordered the plants. I don't remember what most of them were called - they were selected on the basis of being oriental-looking, clay-loving and reasonably hard to kill.

When the plants arrived on a truck, late one hot and humid Saturday afternoon, we off-loaded them and stood them on the deck. I put the kids to bed and poured a glass of icy cold wine. I went outside and sat amongst our new army of friends with roots and leaves: bushes, ferns, young trees, handsome, mysterious plants with Latin name tags in all shades of greens, yellows and reds. Some had stripes, some had prickles, some were just lush. It was quiet out, and almost dark. The bamboo swished in the breeze; I was elated.

17 comments:

  1. I can 'see' it and I am glad you can recall such a nice memory

    :-Daryl

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  2. If you still have the plant plan it might be useful for our water-logged clay soil.

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  3. Hurrah for the unpacking GBS! I must do something about our garden, it's a disgrace - much easier to pour a glass of crisp white and relax with a good book though x

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  4. I love bamboo!! Glad you've had a little reprieve Lx

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  5. bamboos are nearly impossible to kill unless you give them to someone like me! lol a friend snipped some from her plant, put them in a few pretty planters, and gave them to me and a couple of other coworkers. all they need is water, right? nope. couldn't even do that. i'm a bamboo killer.

    at least bamboo can give you a pleasant thought

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  6. I'm glad you don't have to pack up. That's a nightmare. I love bamboo, we have it along the fence, screening the pool from the house. I would like a panda to go with it though. Debs x

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  7. I could smell the bamboo in the clay - great memory

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  8. Sounds heavenly! I love the sound of the wind blowing through bamboo. I have most of it in containers as it tends to be a bit rampant if put in the ground.

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  9. Our bamboo is great - but out of control. Anyone got any long-handled loppers we can borrow?

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  10. You can put down roots again someday!

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  11. Panda food - it's all there, in black and white!

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  12. Wonderful post GBS!!
    Now I feel like bulding a little rock garden!! :)

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  13. What a special memory. I can just see it.

    Glad you're staying put for a bit:-)

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  14. Oooooo sounds like my plan for my little bit of Cheshire!! I'll have to post a picture when the bamboo, maples and jasmine are all in place! Looking forward to it all the more after reading this post. Taking note of the comments about rampant bamboo though!

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  15. Oh the clay ... there is just so little that you can do about it, I can't get lavender to do anything but die as it hates having its feet in water so much, and it is one of my fav flowers! I do have some in a pot, but needless to say that isn't where I want it!!!!

    Not surprised that you couldn't afford in Alderley Edge, the only people that can are the footballers!

    Great news about the lease, and I hope that the unpacking is going well.

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  16. I bet it looked fabulous. But you can do it again where you are now. :D

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  17. Oops - commented on this two back - that's the problem with catching up after so long - but it does sound a lovely moment. M xx

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