Childhood Memories of Candytuft
By chung
12 comments
The year was 1948 and I was five years old when Manchester council gave our family of ten, who were living in a two-up-two -down house, a slice of the green belt.It was an opportunity, a home with a bathroom, inside toilet, parks, fresh air and a garden front and back.
In my short life I had only known cobbled streets and backyards in our back-to-back housing and I had never seen a garden before or flowers, butterflies, bees, catterpillars or birds.
With all these lovely treats and even though I had six brothers and a sister I felt lonely and I missed my little friend from my old street until one day Miss Foy, the old lady that lived next door, kindly gave me a small packet of seeds called Candtuft that she had received free with a magazine.
With a stick I scraped out my name ‘EUNICE’ in large letters in the soil; then I waited and waited until tiny shoots began to appear.
Soon small buds arrived on the green shoots in the ground and it felt like my name lived in the garden in my little patch of soil. It was a magical feeling and I felt giddy with excitement, jumping anxiously down the curly staircase each morning running to water my Candytuft seeds.
I cherished that memory of those little seeds in 1948 and how lucky I was to be rewarded with a love of gardening that has stayed with me all my life.
There isn’t a year that goes by that I don’t plant a packet of Candytuft and this year, 2010, I will be appearing on BBC North West tonight programme (Flowers and Childhood Memories) with my tiny basket of Candytuft.
Programme going out just before the Tatton Flower Show begins.
Chung
16 Jul, 2010
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Comments
Lovely story Chung! I too remember cobbled streets, 2 up, 2 down houses we had an outside toilet and sadly no garden, and they were called the good old days...lol. Unfortunately I won't be able to see your programme as I live in the North East,. What a shame, I would love to have seen it. Well done you for being a TV celebrity!...:o)
16 Jul, 2010
Kinda choked me up....Lovely memories....
16 Jul, 2010
A lovely blog Eunice.....I still get that magical feeling when my seedlings first appear.........
16 Jul, 2010
What a difference between then and now, nice story Eunice. Nice Lady Miss Foy.
16 Jul, 2010
How lovely to hear your flower memories....I wonder if we all have a `childhood` flower...I know mine is sweet William, it brings back memories of being 7-8 years old and taking part in the May procession at church, I was a `flower attendant` and had to walk down the church isle strewing flower petals, mum bought me a bunch of sweet williams,maybe because they were her favourite or maybe because they have lots of petals. I always plant them in my garden, they remind me of those times and they flower for ages!
16 Jul, 2010
I love candytuft to, a flower that I was allowed to grow as a child, and yes I have planted some too this year. Loved your story thou.
16 Jul, 2010
Wonderful story and I felt your pride in your lovely Candytuft. Enjoy your time on the tv and others will also smile I'm sure as it evokes memories for them :~)))
16 Jul, 2010
Isn't it amazing how a flower or scent can take you back. Hymalayan Balsam evokes wonderful memories of being on the river, Years ago I tried to grow it in the garden but failed.....fortunately.
17 Jul, 2010
what a fab story :o)
17 Jul, 2010
Lovely story,I like candytuft too and sometimes plant seeds.
17 Jul, 2010
Lovely memories Eunice ... thank you ... I haven't seen candytuft for years ... reminds me of my childhood too! :o)
17 Jul, 2010
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What a wonderful story..
Thank you for allowing us to share your memories :o)
16 Jul, 2010