Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
22nd August 2026
In the Firing Line
Despite having a very welcomed ‘cooler’ week and a few drops of rain, I have finally succumbed to mentioning ‘wildfires’ – and sighing heavily as I do so. There’s obviously no need to remind you about the total devastation to wildlife, the mindlessness of TikTok fire-starting challenges, the awful thick, acrid smoke and smog (which also turns the sun a sort of fiery Apocalyptic orange), and the ‘embarrassing inconvenience’ of roads being closed.
But I do feel the need to bang the drum for the fire-fighters, farmers, and contractors who have, and still are, working tirelessly to try and ‘win back the lead’, and are, not doubt, dreading the next call out. And for the families who are supporting them and worrying for every minute they are ‘on duty’. There are also some wonderfully pro-active people who have been organising collections for funds and food for our fabulous fire-fighters.
So please donate if you can – be it locally or to the Fire Fighters Charity, who constantly need support.
Attitude of Gratitude
One of the things that helps me to keep erring on the positive, or bright side of life (cue the Monty Python classic), is writing down things that I am grateful for – the lovely little simple things in my life.
Life has transitioned hugely for me over the years, and now is a far cry from the superyachts, island hopping in the Caribbean and rubbing shoulders with the hoi polloi that happened in my early 20’s; and then there was the charity fund raising chapter – raising over £40K running various marathons including a solo drive to Iceland to run the Reykjavik Marathon, a wing walk, parachute jumps and of course (still) being the only person to run across Wales barefoot – and then writing my book ‘Barefoot and Before’. And which is still available on Amazon.
Each chapter has had high points and low points, and, rather than ‘learning curves’, I have definitely had my fair share of ‘learning hairpin bends’, but now it is the little things that I am so very grateful for. Most are wrapped around Yogi and the fact that every day we have together is a gratitude-filled bonus, but there are many other things that bring much more happiness than you would imagine, ratio-wise. A brand new notebook (the paper variety), a good cup of coffee, sunrises and sunsets, a perfectly ripe home grown tomato, being made to laugh until I cry (yup, it still happens), and this week, seeing a bumble bee fast asleep in a rose.
Gratitude was one of the most powerful variables that personality psychologists could find when it came to predicting wellbeing, over and above most expected factors like wealth. Some wellbeing coaches suggest keeping a Gratitude Journal and writing down three things daily, which you are grateful for, to reflect on when necessary. For me, that becomes a bit ‘dry’ and so I just jot things down as and when I remember. Coming home after working in 38 degrees, with the cottage shrouded in ‘wildfire smoke’, the sun burning orange and it just being too hot to take Yogi outside, floored me recently. And times like that are when having a ‘lovely list’ to look back over is helpful. It’s all too easy to get ‘underwhelmed’ with what’s happening in the world today – and even in your own postcode – but there are still lots of beautiful things to be grateful for.
Sage Sun Lovers
I have been talking, writing and ruminating over the best plants to include in our gardens going forward with the ‘unprecedented weather’ in mind. I have already mentioned Agapanthus, Rock Roses, and Stachys (Lamb’s Ears) but it was as though this beautiful Perovskia (Blue Spire) in a client’s garden last week, was shouting ‘include me, include me ..’ It is absolutely stunning and in full sun for most of the day. The Russian Sage does have the silvery-grey leaves that technically allow it to tolerate the sun, and it will also put up with wet conditions if planted in well drained soil – so I think should be a ’must have’ for any garden.
Numerous plants have common names containing the word sage, including Russian Sage (Salvia yangii – the new name for Perovski atriplicifolia, and which us ‘older’ gardeners still use), Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) and Turkish Sage (Phlomis russeliana), but Salvia officinalis is the standard sage we are all familiar with for cooking with, especially sage and onion stuffing. It’s often referred to as ‘common sage’ and there are many cultivated varieties of it to choose from. Some have attractive leaf colour, including dusky-purple ‘Purpurascens’, yellow-edged ‘Icterina’, and ‘Tricolor’ with variegated , pink-tinged leaves. Leaf size can differ too – ‘Maxima’ has particularly large leaves. If you have limited planting space, there are some compact varieties, such as ‘Kew Gold’, and white-flowered varieties are also available, such as ‘Albiflora’.
All sages love the sun but like the Perovskia, don’t like waterlogged conditions, so will also need free draining soil.
White sage (Salvia apiana) is an evergreen shrub native to south western North America, famous for its silvery-white leaves and strong, earthy scent. It is widely used in traditional smudging rituals to clear negative energy, (I highly recommend it as such, and use a lot of it!) and it is also grown as an ornamental garden plant. Also known as ‘bee sage’ – as the bees love it – it’s a beautiful plant. It’s not hardy in the UK, so will need protection in the colder months, but can be grown here – although I have failed dismally. If you fancy a go you can get the seeds from www.nickys-nursery.co.uk
For the Love of Dogs
Next Wednesday is International Dog Day, which was first established in 2004 in America by animal advocate Colleen Paige. She created the day – August 26th every year – to mark the date that she adopted her first dog, Sheltie, at 10 years old. It is now celebrated world-wide to recognise the importance of every dog every where, but in particular for rescuing dogs from shelters.
Of course, for us besotted dog owners, every day is a ‘Dog Day’ and is celebrated as such. They didn’t earn the accolade of being ‘a man’s (and woman’s) best friend’ for nothing. It is thought to have been stated in 1789 by Frederick the Great of Prussia about his Italian Greyhound, who I’m sure would be quite bemused to know that 237 years later it seems necessary to point out that by ‘man’ he was referring to mankind, rather than the specific gender.
Thanks to Steve at www.mixmedia.net for the fab’lus photo of me and Yogi, one of many moments captured in time, ensuring forever-memories.
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