It’s Moor Moth Season And I’m All Aflutter!

I have confessions, folks!

I’ve been struggling to find that part of me that is able to chat with you so freely.  Usually, it’s during my daily walks or while suffering through an awful movie, or dreadfully long (and boring) commercials, that my inner monologue pops up with things to tell you.  Over the last few weeks, however, the professional and problem solving/ analytical me has had to take over to deal with a lot of things that have come up.

Everybody has that side to them, so I know you know what I’m talking about – that need to solve a situation which falls to you because of your professional expertise and skillset. While I’ve tried to maintain balance and reacquaint myself with the true inner me on my walks, I haven’t been able to do so until today.  It’s been a long stressful journey these past few weeks, but hopefully the snafus have been dealt with to the degree that they will sort themselves out.

It’s called adulting, isn’t it? Well all I have to say to adulting is a big ole ‘ugh’.  I remember being in high school and looking at all the young, 25 year old professionals in their smart business clothing, and thinking that I couldn’t wait to be 25.  Everything in the world would be okay when I was 25.   And oh boy, weren’t things a whirlwind at 25!  I remember thinking in my late 20’s, that I would love to be 18 or 19 again.  And right now, in my mid-40s I can’t help but think, oh to be 25 again! 

I really have to chuckle at myself sometimes.

Today, walking through the clouds of moor moths that arose in a flutter with every step I took, I realized that I have so much to say and share that it won’t all fit in one blog post.  So I’ll tell you about the big things I’ve done, the results of garden experiments and unexpected findings in the garden, throughout the next few posts.

But of course, now that I’ve laid that out for you, I feel I need to start with the biggie.  The big confession.

You see, I did a thing.  I bought 700 spring bulbs. Ahem, yes. Seven Hundred!!

You see, some of them were on sale, and I’ve been caught out before with spring bulbs being pre-ordered and selling out before I could get around to thinking about where to plant what in August/ September. And really, in the current theme of adulting what else could I be expected to do – I had to make this decision in a timely and responsible manner, right?  So, I absolutely had to be a responsible adult and place the order in response to the garden centre’s autumn catalogue being produced! It was inevitable common sense and I’m sticking by that!

Honestly, I did dither a bit.  I’m not one of those super-rich people making a splash at something to fulfil a contract or to maintain their celebrity relevance.  And don’t get me wrong, I’m not dissing those folks either – I have to admit to being a fan of Jeremy Clarkson’s The Farm and eagerly awaiting the second season!  Neither am I an online influencer of any sort.  I’m just a normal person, trying to make ends meet, saving a little if I can every month, who is trying to be true to all sides of her personality.  So yes, it was a big purchase for me (probably absolutely pennies to some other folks) but I really want to see this 5 year old vision I’ve had for my front garden come closer to fruition.  It’s a large, country, front garden so 700 bulbs will only put a bit of a dent into things, but I’ve chosen wisely so there will be continuous flowering from February/ March to June, I hope.  I’ve purchased various types of alliums (4 types), irises (3 types), Queen Fabiola triplet lily (because I have them already and I love them), Armeria, Eranthis, and Lewisia Cotyledon.  All are plants that I have wanted for years which I’ve finally decided to purchase in bulk so that next late winter/ spring I can be cheered up greatly by the botanical show.

Of course there’s a downside to doing this.  Have you figured it out yet?  I will have to dig 700 holes and plant 700 bulbs between late August and September, probably when it’s raining in the middle of a gale – because that’s all that happens in this part of Scotland at that point in time. Sod’s law and all that you know!  What about the Indian Summer you say? Phsaw! I’ve seen one Indian Summer here in the last 5 years – I don’t have that much faith in it appearing this year.

There’s a lady who lives on a croft not far from me in the village, who has a really great green thumb herself.  She does all of her planting at the back of her house, and by back I mean away from the road behind the house.  I remember asking her once if she was going to do up flower beds in the front, between the road and her house.  She said she hadn’t planned to because she was happy with her private enjoyment of her garden and she didn’t need to draw attention to things.  I can understand her way of thinking.  I’m just not like that.  There have been a great many times when I have walked around a town or village (feeling a little down or having something on my mind), or have gone out exercising, when the sight of a front garden with lovely flowers and shrubs has lifted my spirits and given me a little happiness.  On some occasions, when it’s been a garden on my exercise route, I’ve looked forward to seeing the changes the seasons bring to that garden and it’s helped motivate me to get up and go for a run.  So, a large part of me wants to have a lovely front garden so that I can hopefully give that mental lift to others.  I mean it’s why people go to visit botanical gardens and such, isn’t it?  To mentally relax, look at the beauty of nature shown in the combinations of flowers and colours brought on by the seasons, and to maybe discover that they like this so much that they want to try it themselves at their own place. 

In my neck of the woods, where it’s rural and remote, there has always been the problem of isolation.  Being so far removed from the hustle and bustle of anywhere, away from the diversity of culture and thought that naturally occurs when people of different backgrounds get together, mental health often takes a dive.  It’s not something that is commonly thought about when one thinks of living a rural life, but it is very much there.  I think anything of a positive nature that can be shared, should be shared.  I have an interest in plants and garden design, and this is something I can share with anyone passing by, so I will try my best to do so.  My 700 bulbs will bring happiness to people!

But you know, parents have a way of cutting to the quick.  I told my mom many of my motivations about the decision to make my mammoth purchase and while she wholeheartedly approves (she’s quite the plant and flower lover herself, having studied botany at university for enjoyment rather than career) she immediately said the following: “Some real rationalising going on there!!”   (Yes, she did the double exclamation point too!)

Anyway, what can I say?  I like beautiful views, so I want to create one too!  Life can be fleeting, but in this life of ours there can be beauty with every step we take.  Much like the moor moths that appear in a flutter of silvery clouds whenever I take a step, a walk or drive through the area you live should also surround you with beauty, so your mind can enjoy the flutters of relaxing, happy thoughts.

With my inner monologue done, I now intend to enjoy my days of anticipation until my massive workload arrives with the postie in a great big cardboard box!