GARDEN GROUP - FIRST MEETING MAY

THE FIRST MEETING OF THE GARDENING CLUB  HELD ON 13TH MAY 2024

It started innocently enough when the ladies on the Committee of the Northallerton W.I asked me if I would host the inaugural meeting of the Gardening Club, I said I would think about it, which was met with a rejoinder of “that’s settled then” put things in motion.

So, on an idyllic sunny afternoon, whilst enjoying the Darling Buds of May, I had got the garden in “perfeck” condition for our guests.  Then there came a distant sound of marching wellies, growing louder as they drew nearer!  I picked up the murmur of a battle song - something about England’s green and pleasant land ……

Suddenly the gate burst open and an Amazon hoard came pouring in, brandishing pitchforks, razor sharp hoes, lethal looking secateurs and dibbers, sharpened for hand-to-hand combat. They swept through the lush vegetable garden like a plague of locusts, leaving a Somme like landscape in their wake.

Finally, jolted into action my husband set up a defence fallback position in the potting shed, behind a redoubt of plant pots, an old deckchair and some Titchmarsh books. Their next target was to capture the patio where they decimated three packets of gingers, a gluten free fruit cake and a plate of garibaldi.  Drinking tea until they slipped under the table and then as if by instinct they stood in unison, raised their cups to their would be Boudicca, who moved forward and fixed me with her gimlet eye and said…… “it has been lovely, thanks for having us” and off they marched carrying their spoils behind them and planning their next foray. A resounding silence fell when a still small voice from the potting shed said “if that lot is coming again, I am t’pub”. Thank you, ladies it was a, “perfeck” afternoon.  Even if no gardening was actually done.  - Victoria McEvoy, President of Northallerton WI