It’s taken months since Cyclone Alfred (in March) to see spiders in my garden again. I’m so pleased they’re back! It’s funny but the older I get, the more I find myself by chance doing things my nonni did, like taking more notice of what’s going on in the garden.
As many will know, older Italian men and women are experts at observing their gardens each day. Noticing when the first fig tree leaves start being eaten by beetles, that the basil needs its tips pinched to stop it going to seed, š or that the lemon tree craves fertiliser to produce its new crop so it’s time to dig in some kitchen scraps near its base.
Older Italians may often be seen standing or ambling along in their garden, touching different leaves, seemingly doing little but all the time looking, noticing, helping keep it all in balance. Now, early most mornings before I sit down at my desk to write, I find myself too taking a short stroll in the garden, observing, noticing. I may still be yet to get to the level of gardening of many older Italians but I’m happy to keep learning, watching and it feels nice to carry on their ways in some small way. š
Zoƫ Boccabella 