COLUMNIST: ELI APPLEBY-DONALD
Truth be told however, for some new gardeners, it can be daunting to join a local gardening club or society, or even to make new gardening friends - I know it was for me as a new gardener.
Why? Well, simply because the language being used was alien to me. I didn’t understand what people were speaking about, I couldn’t understand why other gardeners seemed to spontaneously break into Latin. They asked me questions I couldn’t answer. In short, I felt like an outsider, or even a 'fake gardener'. It sounds elaborate for me to describe things this way, but it felt entirely terrifying.
Often, in all walks of life, we don’t realise that the language we use, the language created to ensure we all understand what is being spoken about, can also be a barrier for those who are new. And often, we don’t like to draw attention to our lack of knowledge by asking what a word or term means.
Let me help you by explaining some of the most common words and gardening terms I’m asked about by new gardeners.
Eli Appleby-Donald, of @inthegardenwitheliandkate, tends a productive garden in Musselburgh, East Lothian, on the principle that gardening should be fun. She has an urban garden which she has managed to make as beautiful and productive as possible, given it is north facing and mostly in shade. She considers herself a perpetual learner gardener, and has spent the last 11 years learning by experience, success, and failure.
The lack of good information about growing in Scotland when she started, spurred Eli into putting those skills in action, and she regularly blogs and vlogs about gardening on her own website and YouTube channel, as well as appearing as a guest on others worldwide.
You can find out more about Eli and all the fun of creating your own suburban garden paradise on either her YouTube channel, or website.