What has happened to the old laissez-faire approach to gardening we expect from Garden65? Not only has an apple tree been purchased, from a local organic garden centre no less, but it's been carefully planted after intensive 'how to plant an apple tree' research.
The redeeming aspect of the whole episode, however, is that it was an impulse buy when the initial purpose of the nursery visit was to purchase one garlic bulb. We don't do any planning here. Let's call it an intuitive, spur of the moment, 'ooo that looks nice' approach to gardening.
TBH as autumn progresses I have been feeling the pressure to get a tree to make some sort of screen between me and the looming face of the house at the back, but I just couldn't decide what type to get. Until the visit to the nursery it was going to be a silver birch. There are already two in the garden, so if another one turned up it might look like some degree of planning had taken place. But then again we have to think of the bees, don't we? And sustainability, and peak oil and all that eco-panic stuff. A fruit tree would then be the 'right thing to do', and Garden65 could win it's save the planet badge.
I'm an avid stalker of the Twittersphere. Last week the tweets of a nearby nursery appeared on my timeline. Having fashioned a notion to grow garlic, with the assumption (as yet untested) that it would be both easy and practical to grow, it seemed a timely opportunity to support a local business. Amusingly located opposite a B&Q the garden centre is on a small triangular bit of land on a residential road (not sure what the neighbours think about the increase in traffic). It’s crammed with pots of healthy looking plants, stands of bulbs and bedding plants, and a tiny fateful area of apple trees. When I turned up the owner was tidying away fallen leaves, a good sign if you consider the lacklustre attention B&Q plants receive. She was immediately engaging and attentive and I found myself saying I wanted a tree-shaped tree. Which, to be fair, was the exact picture of my requirements but perhaps not a horticulturally useful description. It’s not a cool thing to blurt out to a plantswoman. We regrouped, then looked at a tree with bark like a red silver birch (can’t remember its name), but the apple trees were calling. To my eyes they were tree shaped; I could imagine them being able to blot out the neighbour’s house; and they did have the advantage of being good for the bees, sustainable, and not likely to invoke distain from eco-friendly friends.
Readers, I bought one.
Garden65 takes a new turn in its history.
Bud Garden Centre, Burnage, Manchester
