The power of flowers

and not just prettily displayed in pots and vases

PIVOTAL, life-changing moments only happen every now and again. Mine happened last month when my brother asked me if I would be godmother to his one-year-old daughter.

Not having any children of my own, I was over the moon to have a little person to think about. I was even more thrilled that my brother considered me a suitable candidate for the job.

I reassured him that I would guide her in the right spiritual direction and keep her supplied with a constant presents and gifts. He laughed and replied that as long as I taught her everything I know about gardening then that would suffice.

He was jesting, in part, as the role of godparent is a very serious one, but if the fact that I'm a competent horticulturalist swung the decision of being the little child's godmother, then I am glad for all the years that I have spent pulling weeds out of winter cold ground, the days spent breaking up frozen vegetable plots and hours spent pushing noisy, heavy lawnmowers through overgrown, wet meadows.

The christening coincided with her first birthday, so the event was quite a big one for the Press family.

Relatives travelled from as far away as Staffordshire, Birmingham, the flooded city of Sheffield and Norfolk. The local congregation filled the church, most of which have seen us all pupate from primary school pimples, to students, and finally to responsible, committed, working adults.

Once the pews had filled up, the service had been conducted and our pledges made, I relaxed a little and began looking at my surroundings.

I smiled as I realised that even in a room of stone I was bounded by floral borders.

The church wasn't bedecked with vases and flower arrangements, and despite having passed lavender hedges on the way in, the stained glass windows were too high to see into the churchyard.

The flowers were on the fabrics of the churchgoers.

There were white roses in the hat of my sister-in-law's mother in the row in front of me.

My sister-in-law wore a stunning red blouse, covered with the patterns of tropical flowerheads.

Her sister had a white dress smothered in the blue leaves of an entwined vine.

Red rosebuds were bursting into bloom on aunty Mary's sleeves. Mum had a mixed paisley pattern (based on the mango) in a beautiful mid green shade on her blouse, whereas Mrs Blackett, who was in blue, sported a floral brooch on her jacket.

It suddenly struck me just how highly we hold flowers and their meaning.

We choose to wear clothes with floral emblems when we take part in important, joyful events. There is no hierarchy in the types of motifs used, nor the colour of the cloth or dye. We simply want to share the joy that we get from the beauty of our surrounding flowers.

In times of celebration we draw upon flowers to emphasise the jollity and happiness that we are feeling. They are symbols of peace, of friendship and happiness.

One day, when she is older I will teach my little goddaughter to identify all the plants that were on each and every dress and blouse on the day of her christening.

Reader's question

What fruits can I grow in pots?

MARY from Stockton has just moved into a new ground floor flat.

It only has a very small garden, but a fairly decent patio area. She would like to grow some fruit, but knows that there is not enough ground space to fit any in.

She has written in asking what fruits can be grown in pots and containers.

ALMOST all fruits can be grown in pots, but they do take more looking after than ground-planted trees and bushes.

Watering becomes critical, as does protecting the plants from the wind and the frosts. Pests seem to be attracted to pot-grown fruit as well, but don't let any of that put you off as the taste of homegrown fruit is infinitely better than that of any shop-bought produce.

Figs respond exceedingly well to having their root ball contained, as do any of the grape vines.

They need clothing in a curtain of fleece in the winter, but will reward you with juicy fruit in the autumn. Blackcurrants, raspberries and gooseberries will do well in a pot, but the easiest fruit of all has to be the strawberry.

They thrive in pots, as the fruits can dangle over the edge and not get soggy in wet ground. You don't need many plants to a pot either.

You could experiment and have a go at the acidloving blue berries, bilberries and cranberries, simply by using an ericaceous soil and plenty of water.

Trees can cope in pots too, such as the apples, pears and cherries, but try considering some of the ballerina varieties, which are smaller, or the mixed variety types, which will give you two or three different tastes on each trunk.

Jobs

* ENSURE you make the most of the warmer summer evenings by filling any gaps with fragrant plants such as pinks, lilies, tobacco plants, stocks and lavenders.

*Continue the daily programming of deadheading around the garden. Just a few minutes every evening will keep the garden looking neat and tidy as well as encouraging the plants to maintain their blooms.

*All fruit trees can benefit from a summer pruning now. The stone fruit are less likely to suffer from disease if cut now, and pear and apples will put on more fruiting spurs as opposed to leaf growth if snipped in the summer and not the winter. It is a little harder now as there are leaves and fruit on the trees, but a little sacrifice now may result in a healthier, more productive tree.

* Brigid presents Ask About Gardening every Sunday on BBC Radio Cleveland 95FM from 1-2pm. Questions will be answered on the day by emailing brigidpress@bbc.co.uk anytime during the week, and texting 07786-200995 or phoning 01642- 225511 during the show.