Gardening Blog
Allotment Diary
May 26, 2009: a gardener at sea
Green-fingered landlubber, Terry Walton, enjoys a break on the ocean wave
Here I am back among the green, rolling hills of the Rhondda valley. But there again, you may not know that I had been away. This was first for me as this year I took a holiday in May. Normally the seasons dictate my holiday plans and this time of year is usually ruled a no-no. But late plans changed all of that. So it was with a worried frown that I set out to sail the seas, well just part of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean really.
It was strange experience for a gardener who normally spends most of his time peering at the soil waiting for signs of new life from seeds sown in anticipation, to instead stare each morning at a vast expanse of water. Nothing much popping up in that, not even a dolphin. But there again, after the monsoons of last summer my plot often looked like a large body of water.
As the days passed, so the worry of leaving my allotment behind soon receded. I had given full instructions to my neighbours on the allotment but why I saw it fit to give experienced allotmenteers any instructions at all was rather futile. They were there and would do what was necessary and the weather would dictate most of their actions.
After three days at sea I awoke peered out of my cabin window and to my happy surprise there were huge mountains of greenery. We had reached the rock of Gibraltar. Off the ship I went ready to climb this large piece of rock going skyward from the sea. It was worth every step and the views were spectacular. I was greeted in an excited fashion by our hairy cousins, the Barbary apes. But it was nice to be back on land and at one with nature.
Then it was goodbye to 'the rock' and onto the 'toe of Europe', Italia! I left the ship and went on a tour through the countryside of Tuscany with its low hills and valleys filled with grape vines, famous for the Chianti wine. A glass or two later and I was in full holiday mode. Then it was onward to Florence and a bustling city full of people and with over two centuries of history. After a wander around the many historic buildings it was back through the lush, green countryside to my temporary home on the sea.
The next morning I awoke in the French Riviera in the seaside town of Cannes and it was film festival time. All the stars were in town including me - well no one recognised me or asked for an autograph! But forgetting all those stars of the big screen, I spotted a large fruit, vegetable and flower market. Happiness! A rifle through all those vegetables - many of them strange to my growing eye - and I was in my element. The best buy of the day was obviously the large peony flowers as everybody seemed to be carrying a large bunch.
Many more cities followed including Barcelona, Lisbon and Malaga so I had my fill of European culture before the journey ended and my brief life on the waves was over. I enjoyed my trek across Europe and I felt enriched by the opportunity to see other countries and cultures. I am lucky to be able to travel and experience the sights and sounds of other peoples' ways of life.
But most of all I have the pleasure of returning home to enjoy my life on the allotment. I relish every day out in the fresh, open air and working with the richness of nature.
Useful links
- Terry Walton's weekly allotment diary
- How to grow your own tomatoes
- How to grow strawberries
- Visit our gardening channel
- Chat to other gardeners at Saga Zone
