Surviving against all odds…

At the end of last winter, almost a year ago now, I had cottage garden visions, I imagined swathes of annuals carpeting my borders backed by vibrant paper daisies. So I bought packets of seeds, scattered them into carefully prepared seed trays, gently watered them, kept them in a warm spot, then every day I would check them, even talking to them. As they grew I transplanted them into punnets. Then finally, what seemed like waiting and watching and caring for so long, I put them into pots and along the border. Then waited for the burst of colour to fill my pots and borders.

But they struggled, they sulked, they finally produced a pitiful display. I was so disappointed. Maybe they didn’t like the hot, humid subtropical climate. So they were relegated to the compost bin.

But just look at this…What a survivor. From wind-blown seed this tiny, tough alyssum has just popped up in the most unlikely spot. Stony, compacted ground, very little soil, dry, sunny area with very little moisture, yet it has burst into life. Nature never ceases to amaze me. Maybe I lavished too much love on the original plants, sometimes tough love creates strength in plants as well as people.