The joy of nostalgia- I found mine in a plant.

Simple potting-up happiness- gardening is therapy.

Hello my flower loving friends, how are you?

I could not get into the work I was supposed to be doing so yesterday I met a friend at a garden centre for lunch and a mooch. As always, I gravitated towards the house plant section, marvelling at how overpriced everything was (as someone who used to sell house plants from a shop). Anyway, this little plant stopped me in my tracks- the African Violet, so delicate and pretty and I was five again and straight back in my grandparents living room, sitting on my nans lap and her talking to me about her little African Violet plant that she kept on her coffee table next to her arm chair. She was telling me that this particular one was doing really well and how she enjoyed just looking at it every day. I could smell the familiar smell of that room, the warmth of linen, knitting, wood shavings (my grandad was a carpenter), furniture polish and the best cakes. This one little plant evoked all these memories/emotions and brought a smile to my face. A sense of nostalgia that brought me great joy- I would buy one and carry on my nans tradition. I lost my nan a couple of years ago, like most nans she was integral to my upbringing but, more so, she looked after me a lot! I miss her dreadfully, especially when there are things I want to tell her, a wash of grief flows over me, yet, I remember she had a very long full life and it was full of happy memories and I’m still here to remember her, so are my children, I’m thankful for that.

Nostalgia- a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.

I spent ages choosing one that would look pretty in my freshly painted living room and settled on this warm deep mauve. The lady at the till picked it up saying ‘aw an African Violet, my nan used to have these’. This made me smile and we had a conversation about our nans, she was going to buy one too, so that’s two traditions kept going.

Potted up in a little vintage pot gifted by a friend, the tiny trowel belonged to my nan- it was a gift from me as a small girl and she used to use it for her potting on in her garden shed, one day it will go to one of my daughters, they may have to share it.

I spent a lovely few moments in the greenhouse on this simple task, it was calming and immersive and I started to ponder if this could be the start of a new plant collection. It just goes to prove that you don’t need a huge garden or a garden at all to enjoy the act of getting your hands in the soil and planting something you love- tiny enough to fit on a little coffee table or shelf, something that will continue to bring you joy and a smile to your face.

I hope this has inspired you to treat yourself to something lovely that brings you a happy memory or even to create some new ones- maybe it’s something you can do with your children/grandchildren. My daughters are grown up now but both love plants and growing things- Chloe is all about the house plants and is at her most zen when standing in a garden centre or plant shop and Lilly adores being outside in the garden picking flowers, she’s slowly getting more comfortable with bugs 😂

The garden this week- The cosmos has started flowering, the nigella too and the nepeta. My peonies are still in tight bud but the Gertrude Jekyll rose is in full bloom, I’m just waiting for my new David Austin rose- Rosa Dannahue to pop, very excited about this new addition! The cow parsley is going over now, as is the wisteria (which flowered for the first time) and the lilacs. Lilly and I planted out the dahlias and snapdragons. There are a few things I need to do like tidying the greenhouse and French shed, clearing the woodland garden for styling shoots, plus start working on some new ceramics and paintings for my website, Jolly Browns in Hitchin and my exhibition this October.

I will be hosting flower and coffee mornings but not until I’m happy that there is a good crop of everything- keep your eyes here to find out when that will be. Lilly and I will soon be starting our garden gathered jam jars for pick-up on a Friday from the cottage, I’m updating the website this weekend and will let you know when this is available.

Until next week my dear friends, enjoy the bank holiday.

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Emma x