I arrived one Wednesday morning at Victoria Park, Stretford, a park two streets away from my house, to do my normal Wednesday morning's volunteer gardening and was told by Sarah, one of the gardening managers, that we had a flag hoisting ceremony and were having our picture taken. Now, I am not a celebrity, so no paparazzi habitually follow me, so I asked why. Sarah, who like all the park staff is a lovely person, informed me that the park had been awarded a coveted green flag, which is awarded only to parks and community green spaces of the highest standard. Don't congratulate me, I had only been a volunteer for a few weeks, the hard work had been done by others, but I lined up with the rest and had a photo in which I was partially obscured on the second row. But though I had no grounds for pride I was delighted for my colleagues and was happy to have linked up with an organisation that was friendly, socially useful and thoroughly competent. I had joined a group who enabled me to perform an enjoyable activity in which I can use my gardening skills and knowledge in the company of good people. Moreover, they recognize and cater for my disability, Parkinson's Disease, and make me feel welcome.
A few months ago I was snatching some exercise in the park, doing half a mile, all that I could manage as I waited for an appointment with a neurologist, who would be able to prescribe suitable medication. I was at a loose end, having been forced by my health to give up my allotment. But blessings come unexpectedly, this time in the shape of Christine, Chris for short, a close friend of my wife. She is a trustee of Friends of Victoria Park, and knew my situation. Why not join the Gardening for Health group that meets on Wednesday mornings, she suggested. I tentatively agreed, but as it was already Thursday I had six days to wait.
The following Wednesday I turned up at the park. "Meet at the bowling green near the small cafe. You will be able to see the greenhouses." I followed the instruction and soon met Nancy, Sarah and Caroline, who take responsibility for the gardening projects. I explained the situation and they were friendly and supportive. We got to work immediately trimming rose bushes and getting rid of one pest plant, self-seeded sycamore. I was having a good day, I was back gardening and had found new friends.
The managers adjust my jobs to my limitations. They bring me a chair so that I can sit while pruning bushes and take a break when tired. I have not been expected to perform heavy tasks such as digging, but I perform tasks that involve skill, such as "potting on" lilac plants, which I did this week; and my knowledge of plants is greatly valued. That I am physically limited saddens me, as I have always done my share of heavy work, but we all have to adjust to circumstances.
Comments
You and your oldest son are both green-fingered, qualified and talented. I pay someone to do my garden for me!
Quite right they choose you for the photo. You will contrast so well with the beauty of the park! :)
It is very pleasant and is near my house. This means that I do not have to drive, and this is important as my illness has meant that my doctor has banned me from driving. I have committed no crime, but my reactions are too slow for me to drive safely.
It appears you have found a pleasant activity. Sorry I am late in commenting, I have a writing assignment that has consumed my time. It is for a publisher and not for here. Physics is not often a wizzley topic.
The brush has stiff bristles. We have a range of rakes available, and people choose the one that they prefer.
Thank you! Last two questions, I promise ;-D: what kind of brush do you use? What kind of rake do you use? Oops, third question, or second part to my second question: Is the rake what the article 15 Different Types of Rakes and Their Uses by Trees.com staff (https://www.trees.com/gardening-and-l...) Sep. 10, 2021, calls landscape, lawn or leaf? I use what the article calls garden, shrub or stone rake.
Runner bean, Candy. Candy is a variety of runner bean.
We brush up leaves from the paths and use shovels to get them into bags. Rakes are also used.
Frank, What are the two words between "runner" and the date "29/4"?
And how can you use a shovel for collecting leaves? I sometimes use my hands to collect lawn leaves, if there's a lot of wildlife around, like until the first weekend of November it's fireflies (Photinus pyralis) or since November it's the woolly bear caterpillar stage of the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella).
Otherwise, I use a rake that's known on this side of the pond as garden, shrub or stone rake.
Derdriu
1: Leaf collecting is done with shovels and bags
2: The building is a metal shipping container about ten feet tall. There are no internal stairs.
3: The writing reads 29/4, meaning 29th day of April. European usage differs here from American. I cannot make out the word before the date, but I think that it might denote the variety of bean.
4:Lawn care is done by the council gardeners, not us. We weed under the big trees at times, but don't clear the lawn.
5: We in England are very short of old, large elms since Dutch Elm disease ravaged elms. It kills elms above a certain age, so few elms live to grow large.
frankbeswick, Thank you for product lines, pretty pictures and practical information.
You are amazing the way you keep up your commitment to plants, as is the park for raising atmospheric oxygen, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and supplying aesthetic, edible, fragrant gardening.
What do you use to collect leaves since -- hooray -- you don't use leaf blowers?
Roof gardening is a favorite of mine. How tall is the building? Is there no access -- such as interior elevator or stairway -- other than by ladder?
European script usually poses no problems for me. But the last image possesses a plant ID with the words "runner" followed by two words, of which perhaps the second ends in a "y" and then two numbers of which I think the second is a "4".
In another, somewhat related direction because it's about gardening and lawn care, what do you do about trees, such as elms and maples, that heave their roots? Do you keep grass and ornamentals right up to the trunk or do you keep the area clear from trunk to drip line? I like to keep the ground clear so I hand-weed around them.
Thanks.