Somebody’s got to speak up for them

At this time of year I am aware that flower competitions are raging. Only a few weeks ago there was the Royal Norfolk Show with some wonderful flower displays.

Then on the tele (because we never go) there was the Chelsea Flower show. In a few days time crowds will flock to the Sandringham Flower show. Even small villages here in Norfolk have their own annual horticultural competitions. And good for them!

What I enjoy though are the flower shows that I see each day out on the bike. The hedgerows are full of the most exotic floral creations in June and July. True, from time to time one has to part the nettles to see them, but they are there, and beautiful they are too.

Of course not all the wild flowers that I see are truly wild. I have difficulty in distinguishing wild flowers from escapees out of people’s gardens. So apologies if you see something that you struggle to grow at home.

Then sometimes my attention wavers and I start to pay more attention to other viewers of the flowers – they too seem to me to be magical (especially when they sit still long enough for me to take a photograph of them).

So my heartfelt thanks to all those who so kindly open their gardens and allow members of the public to trample around them (usually for a small fee – or a donation to charity). We marvel at what you manage to persuade to grow.

My thanks also to mother-nature who allows me to roam free and to see her wonderful creations each day for free. Sure, I know lots of them are weeds but they are still very picturesque.

Let’s hear it for the weeds in life!!