Garden Centre

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

We are what we sow

It’s a sobering thought to discover that a recent survey shows that the contents of the average garden total up to around £1,230, although one in ten is packed with goodies worth over £3,000 and 5% of all gardens actually contain more than one item worth more than £1,000. 25% of British gardeners have invested their hard-earned cash in statues and ornaments and 22% are the proud owners of a water feature. More than a third claim to have ‘ornamental’ plants, which is a mind-boggling definition in the first place – apart from vegetables, what else could you have – ugly plants?

And it’s not just the money that’s stacking up – the very same garden owners claim that 26% of them spend more than six hours a week in their garden in spring and summer, which is more garden time than at any point since World War II. Possibly the increase in garden time arises because almost one household in ten has a patio heater, while 6% of gardeners have invested in a conservatory, or some other form of weatherproof structure.

It’s a long haul from the days when a garden contained a place to store coal or chop logs, a cinder path made from the ashes or rakings from the fire that had its fuel stored in the garden (see, gardeners were always recyclers at heart!), an outdoor privy (more recycling) and some fruit trees and vegetables – but the British themselves have not changed at all. Most people still say they got into gardening because an older relative: usually a grandparent, gave them their first packet of seeds and a plot in the garden to sow them in … some things never change.

Child in garden courtesy of Drawings with Light - Paul

Labels: garden insurance, garden plants, starting to garden

The All Seasons Gardener at 9:07 AM

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