SAVING GRACE - SURPRISE PLANT

Surely there isn't a gardener who doesn't, from time to time witness a mysterious surprise plant on their premises. Whether it's the wind, the chopper seeds, the birdies, or any of the many garden monkeys, it stuns you when you bump into something that is not a product of your prolific green thumb, even if it's the most insignificant, misplaced weed. However there's one plant I surely wasn't expecting to find growing alongside my arborvitae hedge or anywhere else whatsoever.


I was shocked at first, for there's nothing much growing in the far backyard apart from the side hedge and the rest is in a deep shade of old walnut trees. And I pass by every day with the Happy Paws crowd and blimey!, I can't believe I haven't noticed such a big specimen. It's gotta be about 80 cm tall and it's growing on the inner side of the arborvitae hedge. I stood there puzzled wondering how it got there. My dad spotted it first. And went on to show me something he discovered with a cheeky grin on his face. I said: ' Good grief Dad, have you been puffin' the magic dragon or what?' And he said in mischief: ' How would you know what this plant is anyway?'
I didn't plant it and there's obviously no hemp farms anywhere in the neighbourhood. There's a street though, alongside our property, and one of the houses, which I picturesquely call 'the Green house' by its facade, is full of students who are renting rooms. And quite often there's hysterical bouts of laughter and uncontrollable coughing fits coming from that direction accompanied with that general sense of euphoria. So that's what I see as a potential 'point of departure'.

Unlike my ma and many people that I know, my dad didn't find it all that disturbing, after all, he always proudly points out that his hippie generation years have broaden his horizons LOL. I'll say!
Now before you get me all wrong, we are not a family of potheads! What would you do if such an 'interesting weed' just showed up in your garden? Would you pull it out like any other weed? Would you transplant it to a safer location, away from the prying street passersby? Would you call in your neighbours for a tea party ;-)? Or would you reluctantly dispose of it before Chief Wiggum drops by only to find out this is a serious felony?


Anyway, this recent discovery has reminded me of a great motion picture I have seen several years ago, and although many gardeners have seen ' Saving Grace', not many people I know have even heard about it. Which is a shame, for it's a truly fabulous movie, it has been filmed at some great locations in the UK, has a significant gardening theme, abounds in great humour, great acting, and Craig Ferguson is both an awesome director and actor. I have watched it again last night and I was crying my eyes out.

The synopsis: A small-town English widow (Brenda Blethyn), facing financial troubles after her husband’s suicide, turns to agriculture of an illegal kind.




There's much more to it, but if you haven't seen it yet, I strongly recommend it. It has got to be one of my favourite comedies and it's quite amusing to find out where Phalaenopsis hybridizing could take you...

And of course, your comments on any other garden-themed movies and shows are very welcome.