Hello my dear gardening friends,

It has been a long time since I wrote to you and so much has happened during that time.

First my grandsons sent me to England. It has been 35 years since I was in the UK. I had a wonderful time, visiting cousins that I had not seen for over 35 years and others for over 60 years. It was such a great reunion!

My beloved Michael and his wife took me to visit Wisley, the famous gardens near London. But most interesting and exciting was visiting the hills and dales of Derbyshire. A lot of you have seen Pride and Prejudice which was of course filmed all around Derbyshire – it is indeed the most beautiful county. I was lucky to be there when the daffodils were blooming but missed the bluebells!!!

I spent time with maybe my very first boy friend; I learned that we were only three years old when our parents moved into new homes next door to each other. We visited a number of childhood places including the museum in Derby. We ran up the stairs to see the mummies that had fascinated us as children, although the mummified cat was missing! I suppose that it had succumbed to the cold and damp. The room that my father had installed many years ago was now available to the public, for when we were children one could only peer through a glass door. It was the room in which Bonnie Prince Charlie held his last meeting in England; of course it was in Friar Gate, Derby. Dad had installed it for the museum. At one time it had a small plaque on the door saying “Installed by Wallace Musty” - I should replace it for them. As much as I enjoyed my visit I am very aware that I am truly a Canadian! Jack would have been so pleased to hear me say this. Although I have known since day one that I belong in Canada he would often tease me about my accent – that said, I guess that I will never lose it. Whilst the trip was such a generous gift, I am pleased to be home again.

I had an exciting journey back to Youngs Point; I have vowed never to swerve whilst driving if something ran across the road (especially at night). Something did, either a dog or fox, and of course I swerved to miss it and landed in the very soft shoulder on the opposite side of the road. An angel was following me, in the guise of a Fireman, living in Apsley, but working in Toronto, within minutes he had called C.A.A. He made sure that I was fine, then left but within less than 20 minutes I was on my way home. I still say do not swerve to miss anything, but Mother Nature seemed to decree otherwise this time. So my dear Angel if you are reading this: thank you once again.

I am back at Loblaws, and loving every minute as usual – hello to all my good friends and customers, I have missed everyone over the winter. Now spring is here and the flowers are blooming, but it is too soon to plant outside yet, as my grandfather said, “Do not plant until you can sit on the ground with a bare bottom”. I have had so many of you asking for Begonias but they are not out of the greenhouses yet. If you have found them blooming somewhere, please wait until the night temperatures warm up. Anything planted outside will just sit, you are no further ahead by planting whilst it is still so cold, so be patient it will get hot. My Martha Washington Geranium is blooming its little head off (a gift from Elyn and Peter Green). I was in their greenhouse this evening, the flowers and colours are amazing - do go and visit them. Where? Along the River Road, toward Lakefield, from Peterborough, past Lock 23.

Now all that I have just said is passé for the temperatures have warmed the earth and indeed it did get hot – the weather is so very unpredictable, blazing hot one day and the next quite cool, which is great for sleeping. Be sure to drink lots and lots of liquids, I suffered from the heat at work, because I did not drink sufficiently – now I carry Gatoraide to which I have added Pedialyte, something that is given to babies when they become dehydrated. Everyone was so very kind and I am sorry that I worried you all – thank you for your caring and love, I had no idea that was how you felt about me. Thank you!

It was Deborah’s turn to suffer from the heat this past week – so once again be sure to drink, drink, drink, my doctor says water is the very best preventative of dehydration. Soooo whilst you are outside planting and weeding, wear your hats and carry a bottle of water.

Hats, gloves, sunscreen, bug repellent with Deet.

Lovingly,
Beryl