Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
25th November 2023
Gardening Gifts
As always at this time of year, I am asked for Christmas present ideas for the keen or aspiring gardener, so I thought I’d share a few in the column. As I always like giving gifts that are a bit quirky and personal, they usually take a bit of researching and organising but I think that adds to the sentiment.
This week in work we planted a tree in memory of Tim, one of our friends and colleagues – and someone who loved Christmas. As long as it’s the ‘right’ tree in the ‘right’ place, a tree can also make a nice and obviously lasting gift for someone special. We chose a wonderful 12ft red oak for Tim as the garden can cheerfully accommodate it. It was so nice to be able to plant something so mature and that already has ‘presence’ – thank you to Russell at Border Nurseries in Raglan for supplying it. www.bordernurseries.com
Be sure to do your research – of site and recipient – and if a tree is too big, then other plants also make nice presents that can be enjoyed all year round. You will often be able to match a name or some significance to a plant or even packet of seeds. Roses are particularly good for that – there will be a rose for everyone, from My Lovely Mum, Special Wishes, Thank You, Best Friends and even Little Rascal. And lots of seeds have people’s names as a variety, or choose things like Forget-me-Not, or get creative and send a packet of garden peas with the message Peas and Goodwill at Christmas.
A couple of my favourite practical presents include the beautiful little Japanese Okatsune secateurs. They are an absolute delight to use, the 101’s are perfect for smaller hands, and they all make the most rewarding ‘clunk’ when they cut. I love mine. All their other tools are just as effective and a joy to use too. www.okatsune.co.uk
And another favourite was also given ‘first place’ in the ‘must have’ list by my brother –‘although tricky to wrap’, as he added. The Henchman Tripod ladder is possibly the thing that has transformed our garden maintenance work in the last 30 odd years the most. The three legged ladder just makes doing anything ‘off the ground’ safe as all three legs adjust independently. This makes it perfect for banks and slopes, uneven ground and even for accommodating steps.
The design means it is also easy to use in borders and flowerbeds without squishing things and it is wonderfully light to cart about. The perfect gift for pruning, hedge-cutting and harvesting fruit it might not seem the most romantic present but what says ‘I care about you’ more than wanting to keep someone safe? It is available in heights from 5ft to 16ft and you can also speak to a person about any queries at www.henchman.co.uk
They are so confident about their product they offer full refunds and exchanges too.
Gardening clothes are always a good gift – we have come a long way from gardening clothes just being ‘old clothes’ and there are great trousers on the market with padded knees, pockets for twine and secateurs and proper-fitting waistbands. www.genus.gs offer all the gardener needs to be warm and comfortable outdoors, including 3-season socks and waterproof gloves and all their clothes double up fabulously as pawfect dog-walking clothes.
Other great gifts include anything that will help wildlife – from bird feeders (and food), bird baths, swift boxes, hedgehog houses, bat boxes and ‘anything that will help our hardworking honeybees’.
Bees for Development have the most bee-autiful shop in Monmouth and online –www.beesfordevelopment.org – with a present for everyone. My favourite is The Bees for Development Bee House, which provides the right sized cavity for a honey bee colony to build its nest and live naturally. And all of your purchases will help BfD continue their wonderful charity work.
And of course these are all gifts that give twice – once to the recipient and also to our wonderful wildlife.
Pl-Ant Music
I recently read that sailors trying to stop orca whales from attacking their boats have taken to blasting out heavy metal. One member of a sailing group said “playing full-volume east European thrash metal has been a complete game-changer”.
It reminded me of experiment carried out by interrogation specialist, Cleve Backster. Cleve Backster claimed that his experiments show evidence that plants not only respond to physical and chemical stimuli, but that they are capable of knowing the emotions and thoughts of entities around them. This plant perception became known as the Backster Effect. One of my regrets (or disappointments) is that I was due to fly to America to interview him but he unfortunately passed away beforehand. I was however fortunate enough to have a series of exchanges with him via email, which I will treasure.
For one of his experiments, Cleve played a variation of music to several greenhouses full of plants and found that they definitely responded more favourably to some artists and types of music than others.
More about Cleve’s work can be read about in The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird.
And for more and similar details, I found this blog fascinating.
Back to Full Health
A big thank you to ‘my’ chiropractor again this week. He used to be on ‘speed-dial’ but since retraining in fitness I have been able to manage to keep myself more mobile and injury-free than in the past. I have only seen him twice this year – not bad for the lifestyle I lead. But when I do see him, he is still my favourite person in the whole world, and is always able to diagnose the issue simply by the way I walk into the room.
Since I qualified in sports massage, he is also very generous and gracious and gives me a chance to diagnose myself first. This time, although the pain was presenting in my back, I knew there was an issue with my hip flexors. I also thought there was sacroiliac pain and knew my QL’s were miserable too. Sure enough ‘all of the above’ but Ieaun was able to explain what had caused the problem – I’ll spare you the details but it is fascinating just how our bodies compensate for injuries and actually try keep us going despite our best efforts to the contrary! He was also able to reduce the calcium build up in the affected muscles, which would have been contributing to the ‘tensed’ or contracted state – so I’m back to full speed!
valleyspainreliefclinic.co.uk for more details.
Run Santa Run
According to the British Dietetic Association, the average person could consume as much as an extra 500 kcals per day during December, equating to a weight gain of around 5lb by the time we reach the beginning of the New Year. That’s a lot to shift with New Year’s Resolutions!
So if you want to start keeping your ‘Christmas calorie intake’ and your ‘calories burned’ ratio balanced then why not sign up for Limitless Trails Secret Santa Series on the 2nd December. The fabulous friendly and festive event starts and finishes at Llanbedr, just outside of Crickhowell and takes in some of the most stunning scenery.
Event organiser Ellen Woods said, “We want to encourage new trail runners to join this fantastic, supportive community as well as offering a challenging course for the seasoned trail runners in the half marathon. Whether you sprint or dance round this course, we guarantee you’ll have a phenomenal day! Choose from the Tinsel 12K, the Turkey 10K or the Half Marathon Du Mulled Wine.”
Entries close at 4 pm today (Saturday 25th) and for more details – and of future events – visit www.limitlesstrails.co.uk
It’s always a privilege and a pleasure to read your articles Lynne. Not only that, but you always find joy at this rather flat time of year.
As the Scots didn’t say, long may your lumber (not) creak! Ha! Ha!
Stay well and warm. Love to Yogi xx