No, this is not my better half. I wish...
Today is World Naked Gardening Day when, according to its website, "people across the globe are encouraged to tend their portion of the world’s garden unclothed as nature intended."
It asks, why garden naked? Then tells us, "First of all, it's fun!" Mmm, I beg to differ. And, I'm told, it's a family-friendly activity. Not in my family it wouldn't be.
Apart from the risk of getting arrested in my staid corner of Devon, in the UK, has no one considered the British weather? Even if it’s lovely and sunny, by the time I've applied the Factor 15 sunscreen to my expanse of body it will be another time of day.
The website tells me: "Families can rake leaves in their backyard. More daring groups can make rapid clothes-free sorties into public parks to do community-friendly stealth clean-ups.”
I wonder if my village garden club will be out en masse, sans clothes tending the park – I somehow doubt it. Which begs the question, are gardening gloves allowed? I would also be worried about the thorny problem of prickly plants, stinging insects and rebounding branches. And the thought of all you men using a weed whacker makes me go cold.
The site then waxes lyrical: "Gardening naked is not only a simple joy, it reminds us - even if only for those few sunkissed minutes - that we can be honest with who we are as humans and as part of this planet.
"When you're out there with a gentle breeze on you, every last hair on your body feels it. You feel completely connected with the natural world in a way you just can't in clothes."
It’ll take more than a gentle breeze to tempt me to go out wearing nothing but a smile (or more likely a grimace, my garden being very far from perfect).
Before I come over as a prude of the first order, let me say I have no objection at all to naturists. If you want to walk around as God intended, it's fine by me. Personally, It's just not my scene, I'm far too much of a shrinking violet.
So fear not, friends, family and neighbours, I will not be pruning my Pieris in the altogether. Neither will I be dead-heading the dahlias or weeding the wallflowers. No, my Morning Glory is staying firmly under wraps.
* Today (6th May) is the coronation of King Charles III. I fear he has missed a trick...
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This would normally be a good time of year for it around here, but we've had a cold snap, and our temps are unseasonably chilly. (Not that anyone else would call them that, but at this time of year we're usually much warmer.) Not that I'd be doing it, even if warm. The condo complex has no private back yards, and I'm sure the HOA would cite anyone trying it, not that I would want to.
ReplyDeleteI somehow don't think the police would consider World Naked Gardening Day a good excuse for indecent exposure here where live.
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh with, "No, this is not my better half. I wish..." Agreed, my dear.
ReplyDeletePortland Oregon has a naked bike event each year. To me, that sounds painful especially for the guys, sticky too, if its hot. Maybe if we had fur coats or scales, anything......
ReplyDelete