Volunteers–how would the Olympics manage without them?!
This is not about people though, it’s about Mother Nature.
Each year we are surprised and delighted by unexpected guests–volunteers.
Hollyhocks called Henry and Californian poppies…
…wild strawberries and Love-in-the-Mist (aka Nigella).
Some, after an initial scattering of seeds, make their seasonal re-visitations–like the swallows on Corfu–adding to the color and general well-being around here.
Mysterious and miraculous are these return visits to the ignorant–like me.
Bring them on–I say–you’re welcome anytime–see you next year!
They were followed, closely, by two strong tomato plants–the real thing rather than the tiny cherry variety that pop up everywhere–with big green bunches ripening soon (we hope!).
There are the volunteers who like it so much here they decide to dig in and stay en permanence–sometimes raising a family too.
The self-planted Judas (Redbud) tree close to the house in the courtyard is growing apace and will soon provide us with an emergency exit from the first floor in case of fire!
Three years ago, a “thing” grew out of the mint patch and started heading for the compost heap.
Charting it’s progress we laid bets on how far it would reach. Then–wonder–it started having offspring.
Beautiful yellow marrow-like fruit appeared at regular intervals.
I tried to make a dish with one, but it collapsed.
They made a pretty picture against the wall though.
Yellow mellowed into burnished orange as these courge aged.
The following year, it reappeared, travelling in the opposite direction from compost heap to the mint patch–throwing off fruit like the year before.
Welcome–volunteers!
* Our friend and neighbor Alice thinks it was a hungry cow who was the mystery muncher of the sunflowers. I was hoping for something more exotic!
Robin Ellis 