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A Rescue Mission!

47 comments


I walk along our lane every day with Henry – we walk past a house with a wall next to the lane – and the verge gets strimmed when their gardener cuts the grass in the garden.

I think you can just see where the strimming ends. Now just imagine seeing clumps of pale pink violets in that verge – I knew they’d be destroyed the next time the gardener came! What would you do?

I just couldn’t leave them there – so my rescue-mission began. Off I went with my trowel and a little box; not forgetting my camera, naturally! Back up the lane, but without Henry this time.

The blackthorn’s just coming into bloom.

And there are vincas amongst the brambles. I suppose they escaped from a garden.

This lamium is a wild flower, though.

It’s nice to see new growth in the hedges.

Mauve violets? No – they’re safe, they’re outside my friend’s house – along with primroses which won’t get strimmed.

How lovely to see bluebell buds! It won’t be long before they’re in flower. I have some in the garden at this stage, too.

Take a look at this celandine – I’ve never seen such a huge one before! Just as a contrast, the picture after it is of a normal-sized flower.

Ah – there they are – so pretty and unusual. I simply couldn’t leave them to die. I dug them up and put them into the box – straight home with them…

…and planted them safely in my garden.

Mission accomplished! Pink violets rescued!

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Comments

 

That was certainly a good deed, you have saved them from be-heading ! That huge Celandine is a monster, but pretty. : o )

5 Apr, 2010

 

nice one barbara it reminded me of when i recued the budleja in the lamppost lol, sadley it died though but im sure these little beauty`s will just be fine in your garden, well done :o))

5 Apr, 2010

 

Good for you!!! They'll look lovely in your garden

5 Apr, 2010

 

I do hope they survive - but they wouldn't have stood a chance when the dreaded strimmer arrives, would they?

Poor buddleja, Sandra. :-((

5 Apr, 2010

 

I am glad you saved them. I think strimming the verges should be banned.

5 Apr, 2010

 

yes i was so upset, but if i didnt try the road cleaners would have snapped it out :o(

5 Apr, 2010

 

I agree, Hywel - the people who live in this house are away and they've hired a gardener, who doesn't know a dandelion from a dahlia. There were Oemleria shrubs out on this verge - beautiful! Are they there now? Nope. Just hacked down. Don't forget that this is not suburbia - it's a country lane! I could scream......:-((((((

5 Apr, 2010

 

Sorry, Sandra - we crossed. You did the right thing - I'm sorry it didn't work.

5 Apr, 2010

 

thats ok barbara ;o))

5 Apr, 2010

 

Spritz, driving through the country lanes yesterday we were appalled at the way the hedgerow had been 'cut' by a machine of some sort. Tree branches were torn to shreds, surely this isn't the correct state to leave it in. : o ( (

5 Apr, 2010

 

Sorry I got in the way lol
I don't understand why some people call themselves 'gardeners'. When I lived in the old cottage and couldn't manage to look after the garden I asked one such person to come and help me.
Unfortunately his idea of helping was to strimm everything to the ground - which he did - and then said it all looked 'nice and tidy now' !! I could have murdered him lol. I had nothoing left. Needless to say he never came back. I think the look on my face frightened him :o)

5 Apr, 2010

 

That's EXACTLY what this so-called 'gardener' does, Hywel! A machine arrives to cut the grass, and then he strims everything. I don't call that a garden. I don't blame you for feeling murderous! The amount he charges is colossal, too!

Yes, Megan - the farmers round here have contracts to 'hack' the hedges at certain times of the year. I think they look dreadful, but it's to keep them back for traffic to be able to see.

5 Apr, 2010

 

These so-called Gardeners....Cowboys more like it!!
`Good for you Spritz...You have done your good deed for today
`Well done....: >)))

5 Apr, 2010

 

I actually saw a man weaving the hedges a few days ago like they should be done. I was surprised to see it. I didn't have my camera but I will take it next time I go that way. It was a pleasure to see the hedges done properly.

5 Apr, 2010

 

Yes, they 'lay' them here sometimes, too. A real craftsman did it across the lane from us last year. It has grown back as it should, too! :-))

Thanks, Freesia. I have to avert my eyes when I pass that 'garden' - maybe that's how I spotted the violets! lol.

5 Apr, 2010

 

they seem to be laying them more these days ,may be its a new trend .one to keep and i am all 4 recueing as well dun loads of that

5 Apr, 2010

 

Well saved from the dreaded strimmer! gosh that Celandine looks more like a Marsh marigold it is so large!! my bluebells in the spinney are not in bud yet waiting for nicer weather no doubt.
I so agree about the ravaged hedgerows it is a wonder they survive, there is a super layered hedge in the village the work of a craftsman I'd say a pleasure to see

5 Apr, 2010

 

That is so pretty Spritz, did you 'rescue' the celandine too? she asks innocently;-) At last you've shown me a plant I don't lust after. In fact if you would like any..........;-)

5 Apr, 2010

 

You're a plant 'good samaritan' Spritz :-))

6 Apr, 2010

 

Well done Spritz, I like the idea of you sneaking along the lane in the dead of night, dressed all in black with one of those head torch's strapped to your forehead to rescue them! Lol
Can I ask a silly question?
What is the plant in photo five as these have sprung up all over our garden?

6 Apr, 2010

 

ian its dead nettle, lovely but it does take over if your not carefull, i have some and keep nipping it :o)

6 Apr, 2010

 

Thanks San, I thought it was something like that but it's so nice I don't want to dig it out!

6 Apr, 2010

 

I certainly wouldn't leave the dead nettle in, Ian - Sandra's right, it spreads all over the place. There's a white one as well, which I quite like, but I keep it strictly under control!

I was quite blatant by the way - I strolled up the lane at mid-day, quite prepared to chat to any neighbours who saw me!

6 Apr, 2010

 

well rescued Spritz..what a lovely little flower...;-)

6 Apr, 2010

 

Thanks, Sandra. :-)))

6 Apr, 2010

 

Good for you Barbara, i would have done the same as you aswell :o))

6 Apr, 2010

 

well rescued....... i love voilets..........i would have done the same.... a couple of years ago i rescued a plant from a garden where the house was being knocked down... and put it in my garden....before the diggers got it.....cant remember its name..lol

6 Apr, 2010

 

Well the little violets have found a good home with you and nice to see the other flowers and shrubs growing in the hedgerows;0)

6 Apr, 2010

 

Thanks, Holly and Pp...they're safe, that's the main thing. I wonder which plant you saved, Holly?

6 Apr, 2010

 

Well done Barbara, you deserve a Blue Peter badge, well the equivalent in gardening terms !!

6 Apr, 2010

 

Gee, thanks! What would that look like, do you think? A tiny trowel?

6 Apr, 2010

 

what great flowers and well rescued!!!

6 Apr, 2010

 

Well done on saving the plants from distruction Spritz, I really hope they survive and do well. I know what you mean about grass verges, its pretty much the same here. The country lanes are unrecognisable to the way they were just a few years ago with pretty wild flower verges torn up and replaced by boring grass. :o(

6 Apr, 2010

 

It's sad to see, isn't it. It's not usual down here, but as the people who own the house are away, they've obviously asked this gardener to 'keep the place tidy'...and that's what he's done, sadly.

Thanks, Chrisx, and welcome to GOY!

6 Apr, 2010

 

Glad you didn`t cross over on the other side Spritz, you did what any caring gardener would do, and came to the rescue.

6 Apr, 2010

 

I would have done exactly the same.... now, where did you say this lane was LOL

7 Apr, 2010

 

LOL. I left a few - so come on up, Grindle!

Thanks, Stroller. xx

7 Apr, 2010

 

Great Barbara, we will have to rename you Wonderwoman. That is a very nice wall, pity you couldn't dig that up and put it between you and those neighbours.
As for hedges these days, my Father-in-law was a farmer and all his hedges were layed perfectly, he would be turning in his grave now to see hedges that look as though a herd of hungry elephants have just been through them.

7 Apr, 2010

 

The 'craftsman' ...and he really IS.. who mended that wall last year from a falling down heap of stones, is coming to lay our path!!!

No, not Wonderwoman, just soft-hearted, Docbob. I do agree about the hedges. The neighbour in question decided to lay his - hmmm....you can imagine the result! There are still farmers around here who can and do lay their hedges and they look wonderful. :-))

7 Apr, 2010

uma
Uma
 

Spritzhenry, you saved such a beauty from being destroyed! That's great!
Here where I live large woodland areas are being destroyed because of building something...And it's awful to see all that...

7 Apr, 2010

 

Oh, it must be heartbreaking. :-(((

7 Apr, 2010

 

Well done Spritz. The plant's lucky day I say, they couldnt go to a better home.

7 Apr, 2010

 

Thanks, Dawn. :-)))

7 Apr, 2010

 

So now I know who the local hero is - Supergardener! I'd have done the sma emyself. They're sweet little plants and hey, you got 'em for free!

11 Apr, 2010

 

That's true, Tatia - I hadn't thought of that! :-)))

11 Apr, 2010

 

Thanks, Homebird - all's well at the moment! :-)

21 Apr, 2010

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