“Tip-toppers”
The Secret Garden must be in tip-top condition to make other neighbourhoods in Amsterdam green with envy.
A dedicated Topsoil ground force is driven by cutting-edge horticulture research
attained from a school garden visit, wherein they discovered the merits of topsoil and intergenerational learning from a class of 10 year-olds. This uppermost layer of soil has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms needed to nurture show-stopping floral exhibits.
The Topsoil ground force springs into action to organise a reconnaissance of the Jordaan’s local garden centre, a temple for avid gardeners great and small. Rich topsoil bagged at a cheap price, it’s time for a Secret Garden work party to prepare the ground.
However, one Bloemgracht denizen misread the invite and turned-up, not for topdressing the Secret Garden, but top-dressed for a garden party. In a spirit of camaraderie we all agreed that grubby garden tools did not befit his fashionable ensemble, and sent him to save seats for us at Café Chris.
The act of raking itself is a therapeutic way to alleviate anxiety or stress. Whilst Japanese monks raked beautiful patterns that mimicked water drops and ripples to reach a meditative state in Zen gardens, our Secret Gardeners are a tad more extrovert by nature and difficult to keep grounded.
A whirlwind of topsoil is scattered and kicked with fervour to the four corners of the Secret Garden in mounting anticipation and excitement of an upcoming seeding ceremony, and quite possibly for the evening’s Dutch football match in the European Championships.
