July 1990. North Gardner street, Glasgow's West End. I’m in my
grandmother’s house, Wimbledon is on the TV. I’ve been watching it since 1982.
My mum was a fan of Jimmy Connors, I wasn’t. I will, however, forever remember the final of
’82 against McEnroe. I digress. Back to July 1990. It’s 12 degrees and grey in
Glasgow. In London it’s 30 degrees and sunny. Hmmm…I remember thinking. I've always liked that decadent Englishness; Pimms on the lawn, Gin and Tonic in the sun etc. that is, not the public school shenanigans or imperialistic slaughter. Enough of the politics.
July 2013. In London, it’s 30 degrees again and Andy Murray is about to
win Wimbledon. Now, it isn’t always 30 degrees in London, heatwaves come and
go. The last one was in 2013, as it happens. Andy won’t win this year sadly, obviously and
maybe never again, but that memory is there and will never fade. So back to the
heatwave. Over 3 weeks it lasted. Three weeks of the Spanish Plume as they call
it. It’s basically hot, hot air from the Azores that crosses over the Spanish
mainland and makes it all to way us. Well to London, anyway, not always to
Scotland but I believe this year, so far, so good. The Blue Nile, one of my
favourite bands, who happen to be from Glasgow, once wrote a song called
Heatwave. Seems aptly ironic. Listen to it, if you haven’t heard it, pure magic
chorus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PypoQDHG6Kg
So why all this weather talk? Well
we’re in the middle of another heatwave, for those of you on other continents
who bother to read my blog. Mediterranean air always feels a little odd, when
you’re not in the Mediterranean but a northern European city. Extremely
pleasant, but a little incongruous, ultimately, when it lasts so long. Still, I’m
not complaining and neither are the pl
-ants, until a hosepipe ban comes into
force making my watering of them a bit more laborious.
Not surprisingly, the Mediterranean
heat has gone down well with the Mediterranean plants. The Scabious is the bees knees,
the Dhalia is literally, in the pink and the Lavender, the Rosemary and Thyme
are having a whale of a time and the bees also, as a result.
Chatting to the lady of the house
recently, she concluded that this holy trinity may well be her favourite plants
or certainly her favourite herbs, I might have had a Negroni which can affect
one’s listening capabilities. I realize Lavender isn't a herb. I cannot disagree with this, they are marvellous plants with unique perfumes and flavour, and dare I say it, personalities. It is,
however, dare I also say it, two slightly less glamorous plants
that are giving equal pleasure at the moment; Daisies and Clover. I planted the
Daisies last year, they not only survived the harsh winter but are positively brimming
with life. The clovers have only appeared on the lawn in the last week or so and
are very welcome, being particularly reminiscent of my childhood. Of playing
football on our back green when I was about 9 or 10. Thinking of that, I think
of clovers. Close contact with grass; a
lawn or a park, seems to be something that I did more of as a child, especially
a lawn with flowers growing naturally. That might just be my personal experience but
it seems modern gardening and tastes have encouraged prim, weed-free lawns and
that has its place but I rather prefer a lawn with some clovers, daisies and buttercups
and so on. Obviously if I was playing at Wimbledon, I might be a little less
romantic. Never has an if, been a bigger
if.
Another Mediterranean herb which I love and is
also thriving, is the basil. With an extraordinarily heady scent, it’s one of my
favourite culinary herbs. It’s lush, green leaves are more reliant on heat and sun than
say Thyme or Rosemary so it’s time may be be limited but I’ll enjoy it while it
lasts and ensure that the slugs don’t. No pellets in this garden, beer traps
only, incidentally, though the dry weather seems to have limited their presence
anyway. Fingers crossed.
The roses remain coy but I think it
may be a little English reserve with this undignified and excessive heat. I don’t
deal so much with our ornamental garden, that’s the lady’s domaine but I do appreciate
what they bring. The petunias have finally appeared, coaxed out, it would seem
by this lovely warm air. They have little value for pollinators such as bees and
hoverflies but they do provide some wonderful colour and theatricality. Lobelia
are equally resplendent but the bees like them which is an added bonus. Look at
the insects in your garden. Lots of buzzing things is a good sign. We’ve had
some good butterfly sightings this year too. Red Admirals, Cabbage Whites,
Speckled wood and a few others including the tiny blue ones. I think few things
give me more pleasure at this time of year than a butterfly. Makes you think.
What is it this power that can create such beauty and such fragility. Such wistful frivolity and such vulnerability. It's beyond me.
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