Autumn is here and for our gardens that means bulb planting. Each year I order just a few more than I did last year, but this year I seemed to outdo myself and when I unpacked the box containing my order I discovered a whopping 750 bulbs! And they were all Alliums! (I am experimenting with lots of different varieties this year, so I will report back in the Spring on my favourites.)

As you can imagine, 750 bulbs took several hours of backbreaking work to plant them all – but as I worked it gave me time to dwell on the miracle of planting life, sowing a seed, starting a plant on its journey towards green shoots.

2020 has been an extraordinarily challenging year for everyone. Covid has changed all our lives – obviously those hit hardest are those who have been directly affected by losing someone, but the virus has forced changes for us all. Businesses and livelihoods have been hit hard, we have had to withdraw from our family and friends, and many children went months without being in school. So, amongst all the hardship and sorrow and ongoing challenges I felt massively uplifted to be performing the simple act of digging a hole in some soil, popping a bulb in and covering it up. So so simple. And yet from that simple act, life will emerge – green shoots and joyous baubles of purple. Can you imagine 750 of them en masse?! I simply can’t wait for Spring. So it gave me hope and it made me look forward to new life. Get out there and plant some bulbs – it’s good for the soul and the rewards will be worth it in the Spring!