Ste Catherine

Today is the saint day of Ste Catherine, the patron saint of plants and gardeners
All my elderly neighbours have solemnly assured me, for the last 15 years, that 'A la Ste Catherine, tout bois prend racine' which loosely translates as 'If you plant something on the 25th of November, you're guaranteed success'. Ha! According to the French garden forum I participate in, what the proverb actually says is 'If you plant something on the 25th November, it'll either die or grow'. That explains a lot!

 

Similar to my gardening philosophy. When I plant something, I say to the straggly item, " you have two choices - live or die. Do not place any trust in me."

 

Shhhhh! Rightly! How do you explain to Catholics that soil, climate and current conditions are a much more reliable guide? This is the first year I've been able to get a spade in the ground on 25th November! Not complaining, mind you .....and it's certainly true that spring plantings rarely succeed here.

 

Oooo that's a bit harsh! I prepare the soil, make sure the roots are damp and well-surrounded by lovely, fluffy, nutritious soil. I stroke them, talk to them, stake, water and mulch them......then they die of drought or flooding 2 years later ETA: No plants sent to me by lovely, generous GC members were harmed in the making of this...errr...post. They get special attention