Pet Days and Gardening: A Cheeky Perspective
Ah, October, the month where we cling to those precious pet days as if they were the last cookies at a bad buffet. You know the ones — the sun’s still got a bit of bite, and the sky is a hauntingly brilliant blue. It’s almost like the universe is saying, “Hang on tight, winter is coming, and boy, is it a drag!”
Ironically, though, this year seems to have given us a trump card in the game of weather: more gorgeous days in September and October than the entire rubbish summer! Don’t you just love it when the seasons decide to play favorites? “Oh, did you want to lounge outside during the two months of your ‘summer’? Sorry, here’s some rain and clouds!”
One could say my garden is flourishing after this cruel twist of fate. The Borage has gone wild, self-seeding like it’s in a plant competition…and it’s winning! Just last week, I spotted a fan club of buzzing bees enjoying the blue and white blooms, as if they’re all auditioning for a nature documentary: “Today on ‘Busy Bees’, we explore the insatiable appetite of the nectar-hungry critters.”
But here’s the kicker: amidst all this garden hustle and bustle, pet days feel so relaxed! There’s no “run, run, run” like in summer. Instead, we can sip our tea, sniff the flowers, and take delight in watching the magic of nature unfold. Who needs Netflix when you have snails being devoured by thrushes as the season winds down? Now that’s a plot twist!
But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that the garden doesn’t need a bit of TLC while we bask in this glory. If you haven’t already, it’s time to get your hands dirty and start planting those flower bulbs. “What do you mean I have to bend over and dig?!” Yes, my friend, gardening is a bit of a workout — but well worth the sweat and backache in spring!
Sure, planting bulbs can feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall: you do all this digging and nesting only to pray that the garden gods are watching over you. You just know you’re putting dried-out, swollen things which would make any chef raise an eyebrow into the ground, hoping they’ll miraculously transform into floral masterpieces come spring. A bit of faith and optimism will help you along — it’s part of the job description for gardeners!
Speaking of masterpieces, I recently dropped about three dozen Allium Ambassador bulbs into my garden with all the grace of a toddler bouncing on a trampoline. And yes, I fight the urge daily to do frequent checks. Patience is a virtue they say…or is that just a phrase coined by someone who never gardened before?
Pro tip: when planting, remember that mass plantings have major visual appeal. I’m talking about more blooms, less drama. Five or six sad little flowers can’t compete with a riot of color. Whether you fancy sticking to a single color scheme or going full-on colorful chaos, the choice is yours — just whatever you do, don’t plant flowers that look like they’ve seen better days!
In my garden, I’ve embraced a lovely green and white vibe. It’s all about those whimsical whites, like the Crocus Jeanne d’Arc, followed by the Narcissus and all those exquisite Alliums. You’d think I was curating a gallery rather than planting bulbs! And thanks to the gentler autumn rains, I’ve managed to plant them without looking like I’ve swum through a swamp.
So, as we revel in these pet days of October and prepare our gardens for that beautiful blush of spring, let’s celebrate the magical moments in nature — even if that means acknowledging it takes a *bit* of elbow grease to bring them to life. Because in the end, who doesn’t love a garden that’s both a feast for the eyes and an adventure for the senses?
