Talking heads

Afterwards, I am rewarded with a vote of thanks from Sue, a cup of coffee, a biscuit, a courteous request to draw the raffle and a welcome cheque. People who stayed quiet during question time approach diffidently and, often, an interesting discussion ensues. A cheery sociability fills the air, like the smell of warm bread. I drive home in the fog, happy to have spent an evening with gardeners whose friendliness, enthusiasm, communal fund of experience and common sense rarely disappoint. People who, however many times they must have heard it, still find funny the old joke about Vita Sackville-West, that she was Lady Chatterley above the waist and the gamekeeper below. They want to laugh, they want to learn and they want to have a pleasant evening; in return, I gain a lot from their experiences. They are committed to a spirit of inquiry and a benign competitiveness, and are a force for good. Any more takers for a raffle ticket? The prize is a lovely cyclamen in a pot...

Ursula Buchan’s latest anthology of garden writing, which includes many Spectator pieces, is published by Frances Lincoln, price £16.99.

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HThomasish

June 4th, 2010 6:04pm Report this comment

For people like me, who live in a developing country where this type of meeting is very unusual, it is very gratifying to have the opportunity to reach the proceedings after the meeting. Please keep posting your results.

Henry,
http://herbgardening-ultimatesecrets.com/herb-garden-plants/

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