Gillingham & Shaftesbury Guide October

Moving Gardens by Rik Lonsdale
It was difficult to leave, but Barbara had no choice. The removal van was laden with their furniture, the
car packed with the essentials of kettle, tea and emergency rations. Dennis was waiting, but she had to
take a last walk around the garden.
The garden was a history of their time together in the house. The Bramley at the bottom, planted when
they first moved in, towered above the fences, sheds and lesser trees of neighbouring gardens. The two
lilacs, commemorating the births of their children, were as strong, sturdy and mature as Barbara’s own
son and daughter. She paused at each commemorative plant, remembering why it had been planted.
She remembered trips to the garden centre with her children to choose markers for the pets they once
had. Bernie, the Dachshund, Frodo, the tortoiseshell, hamsters, guinea pigs, all had a special shrub.
The rose garden, started when grandchildren began to arrive, now had five rose bushes. Barbara smelled
each one in turn for what would be the last time.
Dennis came up behind her and gave a quiet cough. He knew how difficult it was to leave their home of
forty-two years, but they could no longer manage the large garden and rather than see it overgrown
they had sold the house.
‘Oh! Dennis, I’m going to miss this so much,’ said Barbara, brushing away a tear.
‘I will too, but we have to go, and if we don’t leave soon the removal men will be in Gillingham before
us,’ said Dennis.
Their new home was just that, a newly built bungalow, with a much smaller garden. Although the house
had everything you could wish for inside, the garden was bland concrete paths and straight edged lawns.
Soulless was Barbara’s instant judgement. But there was no
turning back.
They spent the next day unpacking and moving in. Barbara
was exhausted. On the following day Dennis asked Barbara
to sit by the front window.
‘I’m expecting a delivery and you know what these new
developments are like, the driver might miss us. I’ll be in the
back sorting my tools, just give me a call when he arrives,’
said Dennis.
It was an hour later when the lorry came slowly down the
road. Barbara was lost in her book when she saw it. She
rushed into the back garden to find Dennis digging a hole in
the lawn.
‘What are you doing, Dennis?’ she said, then quietly, ‘your
delivery’s here.’
‘Good, come and give me a hand.’
Of course, Barbara didn’t need to lend a hand. The friendly
people from Orchard Park unloaded what must have been
the biggest Cherry Tree they had, and trolleyed it around to
the back of the bungalow. They even helped Dennis site it in
the hole he’d dug.
‘After all,’ said Dennis after the lorry had left and they were
admiring the magnificent tree, ‘this is a special occasion!’
They enjoyed its blossom together for many years.
PLANT
NOW!
ORCHARD PARK GARDEN CENTRE
T: 01747 835544
E: info@orchardpark.uk.net
Shaftesbury Road, Gillingham, SP8 5JG
MON - SAT 9 - 5.30PM SUN 10 - 4.30PM
Discover more at www.orchardpark.biz
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