I was so fortunate to have my Nan living with us when growing up. She was a powerhouse in the garden and my mum knew how to grow everything edible.
Basically, between the two of them I couldn’t help but become a horticulturalist and fanatical gardener. All my happiest times were spent out in the garden with the two most influential women in my life.
Now I have my own grandchildren I realise how important the role older people play is in little kids’ lives in getting them to enjoy being outside and experience the wonder of nature. Many grandparents have larger and older gardens with mature trees and enough biodiversity to fill a kid’s day with exploration and discovery.
As a gardener for me the best Mother’s Day gifts were the practical ones: a trailer load of sheep poo, kids spreading mulch, grandkids helping to plant out winter vegetable seeds and seedlings, a potted cyclamen or a new pair of secateurs.
A walk around a lovely park or a picnic at Kings Park are all activities that don’t cost money and bring the family together — these are the things that mums and grandmothers cherish the most, rather than expensive gifts that require no effort.
A hand-made card with pressed flowers or a hand-decorated card with a picture of the kids with their mum or grandmother in their garden conveys gratitude and respect for the role women play in the next generation’s life.
Fostering a love of nature and encouraging kids and grandkids to learn about the environment they live in is vitally important.
Gardeners and their gardens provide the ideal setting for children to safely explore and discover their limitations, allow for play just for play’s sake, and create their own magical realm they have conjured up. Mothers can sit back and leave them to it, eat the pretend cakes, accept with kisses the flower posy and just observe play.
As mothers and grandmothers, we often forget to play ourselves, and kids have the capacity to drag us into the world of playing for no reason whatsoever but just to be part of the game. It’s a lesson we should all learn from kids, as play restores us, relaxes us and most of all brings a smile to our faces.
Tip of the week
Give your mum a day in her garden helping with the chores she needs a hand with and those that make her happy.
Three jobs to do now
1. Water and fertilise hellebores for their winter flowering display.
2. Divide belladonna lilies and replant with necks above ground level.
3. Spread everlasting seeds for a wonderful spring display.