Once upon a time

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Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away, I attempted to grow my very first Romneya.
It died.
And then I grew my second one.
It died too.
Never one to accept defeat, I grew a third.
It succommed within one month of planting it.
I gave up.
Thirty years later I bought one again – last year in fact, but yes, you’ve guessed it.
No, it didn’t die – it just didn’t flower. Not at all. Not even a sign of one.
I was disgusted and forlorn, dejected and miserable, and in a fit of complete frustration, I threw the damn thing on the last remains of my compost heap.
Last spring I was busy busy digging out loads of compost and spreading it all over my garden, with a looping spadeful that sent heaps of compost in all directions.
It worked wonderfully until an inordinate thud broke the silence.
I investigated, and there, lying in a mess of splattered roots, was . . . . my . . . . .Romneya.
EeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The damn thing’s still alive!!!!!
And then I felt sorry for it.
I knew it would be a bad move, a complete waste of time, but when a plant grips you for so long, there is no turning back.
I stuffed it in a pot, and left it to die miserably, forlorn and dejected in the corner, unwatered and unfed, unwanted even.
And then, blow me down – look what happened!!!!!!!

• 18 Aug, 2011
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