Mr McGregor's Garden

large white
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.

At the end of June, Barwick has an open gardens day, where a dozen or so residents open their garden to the public for a small entrance fee (which goes to charity). Deb and I have been for the last few years because we love gardens and we love to nose in other peoples' gardens.

Obviously, all of the gardens are well kept and many offer ideas for our own ideal garden, but there was one garden that stood out. Situated in a part of the village that looks like it is of post-war construction, and generally looks less well cared for, the front garden looked ordinary enough with marigolds, petunias and a neat lawn, but the back garden was the surprise. It was like stepping into Mr McGregor's garden, of Peter Rabbit fame, row upon row of regimented vegetables, carrots, cabbages, beans, lettuces and so on. At the end of the garden was a ramshackle greenhouse, full of tomatoes and cucumbers. It brought back many happy memories of my grandad's vegetable patch.

As I drove into Barwick at the end of last week, a large white butterfly flitted along the hawthorn hedge, next to the cornfield. I thought of Mr McGregor's cabbages as his garden isn't more than 200 yards away, and because they aren't called 'cabbage whites' without reason. Fortunately, he was going the wrong way.