Good neighbours sow seeds of friendship (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Good neighbours sow seeds of friendship

AS an Arctic-like wind swept through the Pewsey Vale this week it was difficult to visualise Janette Miles' garden in its summer glory full of beautiful bedding plants.

Janette Miles and neighbour Golly Black share a love of gardening

Last summer she was the winner of Pewsey parish Council's best kept garden contest.

Her close friend and next door neighbour Golly Black missed out on getting into the 2005 top three but he was runner up the previous year.

The pair grow their plants together from seed they save each year.

Mrs Miles, a retired carer who now looks after her elderly mother, said: "We grow most of our own plants from seed we save ourselves." That way the pair can bring on the thousands of young plants they need to fill their gardens in Broadfields in Pewsey.

Currently the seed-sowing season is in full swing and Mrs Miles has plants in her conservatory, her greenhouse is bursting at the seams with seedlings, and there are more seed boxes in her kitchen.

Varieties that will be planted out when the cold finally gives way to some warmer weather round about Easter include bizzy lizzies, French marigolds, petunias and hollyhocks.

Mrs Miles said she plants her garden differently each season but not to any grand design.

She said: "We just do it out of our heads. If we think a space needs filling then we fill it."

However she tries to vary the varieties each year and buys a few new plants from which she saves the seed to keep the rotation going.

She ensures she gets her gardening magazine each week and watches TV gardening shows to pick up tips.

It's hard to believe that when Mrs Miles, a widow, moved in four years ago her garden was a virtual desert.

The garden at Mr Black's home next door was even worse and had been neglected for years.

Now, at the height of the season, people drive from miles around to have a free view of the adjoining gardens that are proof of pair's their green fingered skills.