This past week we’ve been asking readers to vote to the question “Would you have a Gnome in your garden?”. The results are finally in and to say I’m a little dismayed is an exaggerated understatement. It appears that 47% of respondents would happily share their garden with a gnome or two, while 35% said they wouldn’t. Another 6% were undecided and 12% said they would if they recieved them as a present.
Please bear in mind though that the poll only attracted 14 voters so the results are not conclusive by any stretch of the imagination. I’m sure there were many who wanted to vote “No” but were fearful of reprisals. Alas, I will concede (for the time being) that they’re not OUT as I had first presumed.
This week we have a new poll for you to share your views on and this one should get your patriotism running high. During the past few weeks I’ve made mention that Australia won Gold at Chelsea and that West Australian botanist Stephen Hopper has just been appointed the new Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London. So the question is “Are Australian gardeners the best in the world?”
It appears that the news stories are certainly pointing in this direction but its the views of the readers of this blog that we really want to hear.
What a courageous young man you are, putting your neck on the block like that. I’m sure there are plenty of gardeners sharpening their scythes right now, ready to come after you.
Seriously, I don’t think any country could possibly claim to have the best gardeners. There are good, bad and indifferent gardeners throughout the world, working in a wide range of climatic conditions, and widely varying soils.
Certainly, there are many horticultural challenges in Australia, especially in more recent drought years, bringing decreased water supplies and increased salinity. However, these problems occur in other areas, too. Other gardeners, many of them bloggers, have their gardens frozen for several months each year.
Gardening, too, is very subjective. What appeals to one gardener, appals another. How do we determine who is a gardener? Are they only those who garden for pleasure on a small scale, or are they working on broad acerage to produce food and seed crops as a business?
One of the greatest joys of gardening is getting to know other gardeners, sharing information and even plants, and gaining great pleasure from the whole process, no matter how large or small.
Having seen some of the glorious gardens in other countries, I wouldn’t dream of suggesting that we have the best gardeners in the world. However, I’m sure our gardeners are on a par with the best.