April is traditionally gardening time, and no doubt many of you are reading the gardening catalogues closely – looking for that something “special” that will be a huge success in the summer, and bring joy to your gardening season. Whether it is flowers or vegetables that you are looking for, each spring brings happiness to the daily rounds when the seed catalogues begin arriving. Since the deer regularly eat all vegetables that I plant, plus many of the flowers, I am not as enamored of gardening as I was in earlier years. But we can all dream, I suppose!

Among the many, many things I have found in looking through boxes of old Women's Institute records, was this little gem, I feel is pertinent to the season, and the trying year of 2020.

Gardening For the New Year

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS

1. Peace of mind

2. Peace of heart

3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH

1. Squash gossip

2. Squash indifference

3. Squash grumbling

4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE

1. Lettuce be faithful

2. Lettuce be kind

3. Lettuce be patient

4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN GROWS WITHOUT TURNIPS

1. Turnip for meetings

2. Turnip for service

3. Turnip for friends

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME

1. Thyme for each other

2. Thyme for family

3. Thyme for friends

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what  you sow ........ Have fun gardening, and may 2021 bring us some of the wonderful things we missed last year!

Stay happy, stay safe, stay optimistic!

Yours For Home and Country, Ruth Fenner, BCWI Provincial Historian