A blanket of bindweed was hiding almost everything when I arrived in Mr K’s back garden, so it was one surprise after another as I set to work untangling potted plants, uncovering ornaments, clearing the path, and freeing up the branches of trees and flowering shrubs so that they can once again thrive in the summer season of growth. It was a pleasure to see Mr K’s smile as his garden reappeared. Although, sadly, he currently feels unsafe going down the step from his back door to sit outside, he enjoys a good view from his kitchen window and was clearly happy to see the space looking tidier and better cared for. He asked me to pile the weeds on bare ground beside the shed – a great idea as they’ll quickly decompose, adding nutrients to the soil. I finished by watering Mr K’s tubs to give his plants a better chance of growing now that the sunlight can reach them.