Issue 148 WEB

2 THE ALAN TITCHMARSH COLUMN
GREENFINGERS…
the Alan Titchmarsh
column
He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener,
talented novelist, and all-round horticultural
inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses
the unpredictability of Mother Nature.
We’re approaching that somewhat uncertain time of the
year now where the elements start misbehaving again.
Throughout the summer there is something of a
confidence in the weather systems, namely that aside
from the odd aberration, everything will reset back to
the default of warmth and brightness. Yet as September
progresses, the vagaries become more prevalent, and the
unpredictability of the month is a notable sign of things to
come.
Of course, us gardeners are a tenacious bunch, aren’t we,
and we are largely philosophical about the challenges that
confront us. We dig, we plant, and we prune, with the
hope, the expectation, that our hard work will pay off. But
let’s be honest with ourselves – while we can put all the
love and care into our gardens, we’re really at the whim of
nature, aren’t we?
It’s rather like being at a tea dance, following intently your
partner’s steps. You may be doing pretty well, but at some
point they’ll surprise you with a quick two-step when you
were expecting a waltz! It’s the same with gardening - you
might have a notion of what your garden will look like, a
picture in your mind, but nature… well, she has a mind of
her own. She doesn’t always follow our well-intentioned
plans, does she?
Whether it’s a sudden frost in spring, a deluge when
we’d expected sunshine, or even a cheeky mole wreaking
havoc amongst our tulips… and those beautiful roses
you planted, just perfect for your garden’s colour scheme?