Remembrance Day is just around the corner; a day that I find very moving and thought-provoking. We're all familiar with the wonderful services on November 11 that pay tribute to the thousands of brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom; but I was gratified to read about a service performed the other 364 days of the year, by gardeners!
By chance I stumbled upon a site (www.cwgc.org) for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which says: "We commemorate the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars. Our cemeteries, burial plots and memorials are a lasting tribute to those who died in some 153 countries across the world."
If you visit this site, click on "About Us". The write-up begins with a quote: "'There is no reason why cemeteries should be places of gloom.' Sir Frederic Kenyon, How The Cemeteries Abroad Will be Designed, 1918. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ensures that 1.7 million people who died in the two world wars will never be forgotten. We care for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 153 countries. Our values and aims, laid out in 1917, are as relevant now as they were almost 100 years ago."
To find out about the horticultural aspect, click on "What We Do", and then one final click takes you to "Horticulture". They have such a lovely explanation there that I will quote it for you now: "With gardeners and horticultural experts working in 150 countries, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is one of the world's leading horticultural organizations, with an enviable track record of innovation and expertise. More than half of the 1,750 acres of ground under the Commission's control is given over to fine horticulture, making maintenance a year-round task for our 900 gardeners.
Working closely with the architectural teams, the horticultural department has, since the beginning, played a major part in the look and feel of our cemeteries. Variety in texture, height and timing of floral display are important considerations. Each headstone border is planted with a mixture of floribunda roses and herbaceous perennials. Low-growing plants are chosen for areas immediately in front of headstones, ensuring that inscriptions are not obscured and preventing soil from splashing back during rain.
The horticulturalists go to great lengths to ensure that the right plants for the right cemetery are carefully managed and nurtured. This might mean bringing seeds from Nepal to use in the Gurkha cemeteries or Maples from Canada for Dieppe. Our cemeteries are living places and our gardeners are proud of their work, which they maintain to the highest standards."
Isn't it wonderful to know that such care and attention is going into the perpetual care and beauty of the resting places of the war dead. Not only the poppies grow to mark their place: it is obvious that great consideration goes into every planting. How lucky those gardeners are to be able to work on such a project! I have the feeling that you and I would find great satisfaction in that work if we had the chance.
Please remember, the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be holding their AGM and Supper Banquet on Wednesday, November 26. Please call Liz at (306) 782-2830 for info and tickets.
Till then, gardeners, have a good week and a thoughtful Remembrance Day.
