Time

Published on by Catherine

A long time ago, when we first started working on this garden, I went to our local nursery to buy a conifer. They were all the rage back then. I found one that caught my eye, and the elderly gentleman next to me glanced at the plant in my hands and said, “That plant grows very, very, slowly.” He pointed to a few others that he thought would be a better purchase. He was trying to tell me to put it back and choose a faster-growing plant. I knew he was being kind, and his knowledge of plants had to be much greater than mine. I knew nothing. But I was drawn to this tiny plant, so I thanked him, went to the till, paid and returned home to plant it.

The once tiny conifer

It’s been growing in that spot, unobtrusively, since then. One day recently, I really looked at it and remembered the tiny plant it had been, some 20/25 years ago. It was then I realised how tall and wide it had become. I can’t get up there to measure it, but I’m guessing it’s around 11 ft (3.4m) tall.

I suppose this tiny plant tells a story about the passing of time. One day you wake up with aches and pains, see the wrinkles in the mirror and ask, “When did I become so old?”

When I was thinking about this, I was reminded of a question littlest grandson put to me a couple of months ago.

“Gran,” he said earnestly, “when will I turn into an adult?”

For a little boy who can only measure time by the number of sleeps until his birthday, or a holiday, or Christmas, the only answer I could give was, “Don’t hurry, just enjoy being a sweet little four-year-old.” Now five years old, he’s taken one tiny step closer to his goal. He goes to school now, he’s a ‘big boy’ and he seems content with that.

I’ve been told that my conifer is a Pinus mugo (happy to be corrected if that’s wrong!) and even after looking at it almost daily over all those years, for me, it’s still a visual treat.

Catherine 😊

15 thoughts on “Time”

  2. I’m not a huge fan of conifers (especially in a plantation) but some specimens are rather beautiful as this one shows, Great for a Japanesque style garden. I planted several (including a very attractive blue one) as a slow-growing hedge in a previous garden.

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    1. Did you happen to see Gardeners’ World last week – where Frances was talking about the conifers that had their canopies lifted. They were beautiful, and as the garden owner said, ‘Conifers nearly always have beautiful trunks’. They were indeed lovely, I saw them in a whole new light and it has me wondering if it’s maybe time for me to look at lifting the canopies…a little! 😁

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      1. I did see the programme. I suppose it depends on the type of conifer you have. I think this one, Pinus mugo, is a more spherical shape so I’m not sure about raising the canopy. Cloud pruning?

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        1. I think cloud pruning would be fabulous, Jude. If I thought I had the talent to tackle it I would probably do it. They make it look so easy on garden shows!
          I’m having more WP woes. I’m logged in but I can’t reply, even on my own site, unless I log in…weird. It’s taking multiple attempts.

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  4. This is the most beautiful post I’ve read and seen in quite a while. What a lovely story, and so inspirational! Your grandson and the tree are fortunate to have you for their sponsor/caregiver. Happy New Year!

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  5. I love these conifers and have a few miniature Pinus mugo. (Well, so far they are!) I loved the tale about when you bought it. It reminded me of when I planted a tiny conifer in my first garden years ago labelled as ‘slow-growing’; my neighbour came to have a look and then showed me the exact same tree in her garden – at least 2 metres tall! I wonder how big mine is now, if the new owners haven’t removed it! 😃

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