ON THE COUCH WITH JASMINDA: We could use more communal sensibility

DEAR Jasminda,

MY friend often takes plant cuttings from other people’s homes on our walks.

Is this acceptable behaviour, or should she seek permission?

Betty G.

DEAR Betty,

THE gardens of our parents and grandparents were often planted with cuttings from neighbours, and the reverse also applied.

There is a wonderful communal sensibility from this era that we could all benefit from, and our gardens and the environment would certainly benefit as well.

I can’t see any issue with taking a sprig of lavender or a stem of hydrangea as you wander past the fences of your neighbourhood.

It would, of course, be unacceptable to wander through your neighbours’ gardens with a pair of secateurs in one hand and a basket in the other.

Propagating by stealth could result in you ending up captured by a security camera and then posted on a community page with the message:

‘Does anyone know this woman? She was armed with a weapon, creeping around my begonias at sunrise.’

Betty, I think it is wonderful that your friend is growing plants, improving the habitat for insects, birds and other wildlife, improving her health and wellbeing, and providing a colourful sanctuary for everyone to enjoy.

This makes much more sense to me than the many people who remove trees to build bigger houses and rip out native plants, replacing them with synthetic grass that can heat up to 80 degrees, decrease biodiversity, and ultimately end up in landfill.

In terms of crimes against humanity, I’d say your friend is in fact engaging in far more acceptable behaviour than those who aren’t thinking of the long-term environmental impacts of their decisions.

In the words of Audrey Hepburn, ‘To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.’

Carpe diem, Jasminda.