Celebrating the Jubilee
Ursula Buchan
The regiment in which my father-in-law served during the second world war never stood or stopped talking for the National Anthem, because its loyalty to the Sovereign was not in doubt. Well, the loyalty of this Northamptonshire village is not in question either, but we are celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee with some enthusiasm, if not with any great sophistication. Being bucolic dullards, we have quite missed the point implied by metropolitan opinion formers that, because the Queen's family gets itself into a more than average kind of muddle from time to time, constitutional monarchy is therefore fatally undermined, 50 years of public service by the Queen negated, and the prospect of the Jubilee greeted with general apathy, if not antipathy. Perhaps the metropolitan media should stop reporting what they see in the mirror, and look out of the window.
Here a church service of thanksgiving will be followed by a champagne toast. The next day there will be a street party, children's games and the lighting of a beacon. That priceless British institution, Pulp, may be sorted for Es and Whizz but we are sorted for teas and fizz. The funds have been raised (an excuse for another jolly village party) so that everyone can come and no one pays, the road closure and bar licences have been applied for, the insurance arranged, the bunting ordered, the music seen to, the wet weather contingencies made. The bureaucracy has been a bore but, thanks to a helpful district council, not insuperable. To dodge the clutch of Nemesis, I have to say that difficulties are bound to arise unexpectedly but, up till now, the words 'operation', 'military' and 'clockwork' have seemed not entirely inappropriate. Indeed, we are slightly at a loss to know what everybody else's problem is.
I feel, however, that there is even more that we could do. This month, whilst there is still time to sow seeds and plant plants, must be the moment for the nation's gar deners to mobilise. I remember, in 1977 at the time of the Queen's Silver Jubilee, seeing narrow flower borders edging the gar den paths of many a rural dwelling, a riot of white alyssum, blue lobelia and red salvia. I hope that happens again. There is so much that can be planted in gardens and school grounds, especially where these front on to the road, as mute but eloquent testimony to the nation's gratitude. In par ticular, those who fear that nothing of a celebratory nature is planned for their street, can still stop their neighbours in their tracks with bright, symbolic flowers and send them onwards in thoughtful mood.
The seed and plug plant catalogues are full of suggestions for suitable half-hardy bedding plants which should be flowering by early June. Petunias are a particular favourite because there are pure white, deep purple-blue, and scarlet-red cultivars available. Put them together in a mixture and, voila, you have Petunia 'Celebrity Bunting' (Patriotic mix of red, white and blue to help you wave the flag') or 'Jubilee Mix' (Vibrant and vivid it will bring splen did colour to your baskets, containers, beds and borders. What better way to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee Year [than] with a patriotic display?') What, indeed. If you are the sort of person who hates to follow the herd, you could try 'Valentine' (white), 'Oxford Blue' and 'Red Arrow' sweet peas, or even white, pink and blue varieties of lupin.
For those who naturally lean towards restraint, there are plenty of golden flowers and foliage plants to choose from instead.
A new yellow-variegated deadnettle called Lamium 'Golden Anniversary' would be suitable as groundcover while, in the rose bed, you could cram 'Golden Celebration' in with 'Golden Anniversary', 'Golden Years', 'Golden Oldie' and, inevitably, 'Golden Jubilee'. Amongst half-hardy annuals, there is a French marigold called 'Royal Gold' and a daisy flower called Cladanthus 'Golden Crown'. Lilies yield up 'Golden Splendor' (sic) and 'Garden Party'.
Even the patriotic amongst allotmenteers can do their bit, with 'Golden Ball' and 'Beacon' onions, as well as 'Golden Nugget' and 'Sung°ld' tomatoes.
There is no end to the number of shrubs, since dozens of golden-leaved versions of common plants have been released onto the market in recent years, including no fewer than ten golden-variegated cultivars of Spiraea japonica alone. If you put enough effort into it, your front garden could look as if permanently bathed in sunlight.
And what of my garden, you may ask? Is it to be a riot of golden roses and striped petunias this June? Will I put gold where my mouth is? Probably not. I like to think my loyalty is not in doubt.
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