southgate green association

It was a cool, fresh autumnal morning, and we were running late for our arranged meeting for the planting of the bulbs, which we hoped eventually would produce a brilliant crop of daffodils the following March. Arriving at our rendezvous, the stocks, slightly out of breath from our quick march up Waterfall Road, we realized that the others had all gone off without us. Or so it appeared, but then, others appeared from all directions, with various digging implements and golf umbrellas - it looked like rain!

Shortly after that, the man from the council appeared. "Enfield in Bloom" is managed by the indefatigable Ann Tott, who raises funds in order to provide bulbs et cetera which do so much to brighten up the neighbourhood. These are largely then planted by volunteers, with some help and guidance from a man from the council. Ann appeared with a camera and took a great many pictures of people with spades, digging out turfs, and on their hands and knees, making quite sure the bulbs were not pointing towards Australia. "I've caused more bad backs than anybody I know", she murmured. I reflected on this sombrely. It was all taking rather longer than we had anticipated. The back did feel a bit odd.

A husband appeared and drew his wife away to vital other activities. It looked increasingly like rain. I considered appealing against the light. Every so often another thousand bulbs was hauled out of the van. Ann Tott kept up a steady stream of reminiscences and encouragements. Eventually it was done, and we went off gratefully (and muddily) to the Cherry Tree, where excellent coffee and biscuits had been laid on. There, we were offered the use of the car park at the Cherry Tree for the bottle banks, such an eyesore in the middle of the conservation area. However, the people at the Environment in the council later told us this would not do. One step forward, one step back!

The bulbs did well though, quite a mass of yellow. A host, almost.