Sandy's Garden ... And the Ivy

Was that really Christmas Day on Friday past?
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Despite having enjoyed our glimpse of the freedom to entertain friends, despite the Christmas cards and the presents, despite the trees and the plentiful displays of coloured lights, it didn’t feel like a time of celebration and joy.

It felt, in truth, more akin to a condemned man enjoying a hearty meal on the eve of his execution, a man who is now standing on the scaffold which is tier 4, wating for the noose of yet more severe restrictions to be placed round his neck.

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I cannot see a sensible alternative to these drastic curtailments of our freedom, given the threat to health and wellbeing … and, indeed, to life itself … posed by Covid-19. Would that it were otherwise: but my perception of reality tells me that we are responsible for our own welfare and that of others and that the best way … the only way? … to reduce the threat is by everyone accepting this obligation.

Falkirk Herald gardening guru Sandy SimpsonFalkirk Herald gardening guru Sandy Simpson
Falkirk Herald gardening guru Sandy Simpson

Throughout the runup to Christmas, I have steadfastly ignored the temptation to write about holly, or mistletoe, or poinsettias or any other plant associated with this time of the year - until now. But I shall indulge myself today by reflecting on a plant which is more often found in commercial Christmas decorations than it is in domestic garlands; and this plant is ivy. I shall not discuss the words which probable preceded it in your mind’s eye … ‘the holly’… but shall only consider ‘and the ivy.’

I have both in my garden. Ivy has persistent roots dedicated to exploration … as I know only too well from years of trying to thwart its territorial ambitions! … and vestiges of this ivy still persist.

British Columbian science writer Linda Crampton describes English ivy in these words: ‘English ivy (Hedera helix) is an attractive plant in the ginseng family. It's a climbing, trailing, and creeping vine that forms dense coverings over trees and other supports.

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The plant is often admired for its beautiful appearance on the walls of buildings. In the past, English ivy was valued for more than its appearance. The plant had important symbolic meanings and was part of a rich mythology.’ I’ll grant that it’s not unattractive: but its climbing, trailing, and creeping characteristics make it a very invasive plant; and once in tenure of territory, it doesn’t cede possession easily.

The mythology of ancient Greece included a large number of gods and goddesses of differing degrees of importance and influence over events which shaped human lives. The most important group were the 12 so-called ‘Olympians’, one of which, Dionysus, was the god of wine, fruitfulness, parties, festivals, madness, chaos, drunkenness, ecstasy and the theatre.

He was regarded as the inventor of wine and is often depicted wearing a crown of ivy. Interestingly, ivy wreaths were also awarded to the winners of poetry contests, to winning athletes and, in Druidic times, to newly married couples as a symbol of fidelity.

An evergreen plant, ivy was long thought to have magical powers which brought peace to the household. In Ireland, it acted as rowan trees did in Scotland, keeping the household safe from the forces of evil.

Maybe I should have had ivy in my home after all!

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