This is another shot from my allotment. I know, I know. Weeds – the gardener’s nightmare. But I love it. If you get your head down low and take a few moments just to observe, you begin to see so much.
The architectural plantain pillars reach upward like a skyhook, leading ladybirds and shield-bugs from the dark underbelly of the green city, right up into the heavens, where they can escape the sprawl and take to the skies.
The criss-crossing blades of grass act like bridges and walkways for all manner of tiny insect, navigating their obscure path through this miniature jungle. Are they lead by the attractive scent of some unseen flower? Or is this their regular commute?
Down in the very undergrowth, there are even more creatures, scurrying to and fro. Down-town Weedville. You can almost hear the honking of horns and hollering of insults. Millipedes, woodlice, spiders, snails. All doing their 9 to 5 job on the food chain.
Crouch down here and you’re existing on a different level entirely. It’s not a world of emails and texts, but of pheromones and perfume. It’s not about keeping a roof over your head, more like just keeping your head – literally. It’s life and death, it’s eat or be eaten.
Down beneath the surface, in the very bowels of this metropolis, unseen transactions between worms and larvae and tunnelling beetles provide the backbone of the underworld. Invasive species, like the Australian flatworm seek out victims in the dark. Like mobsters, they threaten to slowly take over unless I can do something about it.
Soon this block, or others like it will be due for redevelopment. As much as it genuinely upsets me to disturb these thriving communities, I must uproot some of these districts so I can plant potatoes and beans. Planning permission has been granted. Money (at the garden centre) has changed hands.
Luckily, I always keep a few wild patches at the allotment, where the insects can be left undisturbed. There’s also a tiny pond, where I hope to one day see frogs or newts. Oh, and since I’m not the world’s most organised gardener, you can rest assured, that there will always be outbreaks of weed and wildflower to provide safe haven.
Newsletter: About nature, mindfulness and happiness
Want to come for a walk? Join me as I explore the natural world and describe to you the fascinating things I find.
Slow down, escape your troubles, and let me whisk you away to somewhere calm…
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