I bought a beautiful Bougainvillea for our house in London. Then I bought two more, and inexplicably, for a couple of years, they thrived. It was not a great location, round the corner from the local council recycling centre. Affectionally called “the tip” by the locals, there were several, not so fragrant times during hot summer days.
The Bougainvillea were essential to counter-balance the less than gorgeous surroundings. They cheered me up every single time I looked at them. Every single colour of Bougainvillea is glorious to me.
There is something about Bougainvillea that reminds me of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, another part of the world that I love. What’s not to like?
Well apparently quite a lot according to the gardener who tells me that Bougainvillea are a bad idea. When I ask why, he tells me that you can’t control them and they just go wild. I think “perfect”. He makes his “mad English” face thinly disguised in a smile and I say I don’t mind. Needless to say the requested plants have yet to appear and I have since heard that the gardener just doesn’t like Bougainvillea. In his world they’re a pain, in mine a delight.
The gardener may not be keen on the Bougainvillea but he’s fond of the mango tree. Despite the mango tree’s role in a termite incident a while back, I too am fond of the mango tree.
I once met a woman who didn’t like mangoes. Unbelievable I know, but I did check. I asked her if she’d ever actually tasted a real mango, not tinned. Yes she said, “I just didn’t like the taste”. I have no words except – what’s not to like?