When himself said he had signed us up for a 1-day gardening course I was intrigued. We had just moved  house and I was still a little homesick for my old garden, ‘the garden of possibilities’. I call it that because if I had had the money, the time and the inspiration (not to mind the landlord’s permission) I would have loved to show that garden what it could become. But alas, all I could give it was a regular cut of the grass, a spray to the weeds, a few herbs in one corner, and a few spring bulbs in another.

So now instead I (or should that be ‘we’) have a ‘patio of possibilities’. If I was being posh I would call it a terrace. Its the roof of the floor below us, and our bit is a paved area out onto a bigger stoned communal area. Up this week, it had a succulent that my sister gave me (see photo on Gotta keep movin post) and a pot of compost that contains the potential of some summer colour from a packet of bulbs from the Euro2 shop. Oh, and how could I forget the Lidl chives that Jason bought but didn’t water very much. As I said, possibilities.

But then came Peter Donegan, now a gardening god in my eyes. My guru on all things growing. Between cups of strong coffee and warm oaty biscuits straight from the oven, Peter laid out the plan for the day and doled out his philosophy for life and gardening. A smidgen of compost here, a pinch of seed there, and a drop or two of water, and we were all giggling and gardening.

First up was sowing seed. What kind of container? Seed tray, old beer mug, Chinese takeaway containers, anything. What compost? Any multipurpose compost will do just fine, nothing fancy. Seeds? Whatever you fancy: parsley, mixed lettuce, radishes, sorrel, coriander, chives, more lettuce. Watering? A gentle touch and a soak in a bath of water. What could be easier?

Next up were seed potatoes. Ample drainage. Big pot of compost, compacted only by shoving in your fingers until under your fingernails were jammed with compost. One or two seed potatoes planted twice their thickness below the surface of the compost. And Bob’s you uncle.

Then onions. In a window box. Easy. Thyme and lavender, and some freshly dug and divided chives from Peter’s own garden went into the next window box. Again, some drainage and some fun mixed in. Finally it was the turn of the bay laurel. And out come the secateurs! A quick prune above a leaf node to encourage outward growth, and a re-pot to allow room to develop. And the best bit of all, we got to take all our work home with us.

Thanks a million to Peter for a great day. There is nothing like a day in the fresh air, a few laughs with friends, dirt under your fingernails and the felling that you have achieved something. My enthusiasm has been rekindled and I am inspired.

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