It was Thursday.  My son Dylan asked me if I wanted anything in Woodies on the Boghall Road, Bray. He was going to buy paint to finish the last bedroom in the house he shares with his wife Jenn. I was being brought along as there’s a 10% discount for pensioners on a Thursday. I said “yes” as I needed to get a special paint for a few damp spots at home.  Upon arrival we meandered between the paints, garden equipment, furniture and rows of everything you could think of to do with your house and garden. Other people were wandering around, picking up things and inspecting them, putting on reading glasses to look more closely, moving at a leisurely place.  A few were already at the checkout, decisions made.

Dylan went off with his trolley containing the emulsion for his job, and I followed him out to the garden section, after selecting the paint recommended.  There was every plant and shrub you could think of, including summer bedding and ornaments for your garden.  The sun amplified the colours like the rainbow.  I wanted to get a Salvia, a purple plant that’s suppose to attract bees and butterflies. I couldn’t see any so picked up a few herbs, Rosemary and Sage. The Sage has leaves of green, white and purple-pink, a lovely contrast beside the green of the Rosemary.  Dylan was wandering around to get some plants also.  I asked a young boy in a green Woodies t-shirt where I would get a Salvia. He didn’t seem to know what I was looking for, but was doing his best so I followed him around. Up by the roses and clematis.  Down by the shrubs and rhododendrons.  Past all the varieties of geraniums and fuschias.  “We don’t seem to have any” the young boy said apologetically, and wondered off.  By chance I saw a salvia on the ground, near some summer bedding. It looked a bit tired and dried out so I left it where I found it.  I’d try another day at my local garden centre.

After we had paid for all our goods and were loading our bounty into the car, I decided to go back after all and get the Salvia. A little watering might revive it.  Back at the checkout again, the man in front turned around, and I casually said to him “do you think this will flower again” as it did look a bit scrawny.  He laughed and said “you should ask for a discount”.  I then noticed the young boy who worked in the garden section, and said “this is a Salvia”. He didn’t seem to know a lot about plants and could have been new to the job.    A blond woman standing in the queue behind me said “that’s not a Salvia” with a voice of authority.  She was with a young girl, maybe her daughter, probably availing of the discount too.  I turned the pot around to show her the name on it.  “Oh, it must be a different kind”.  “I thought so too” I said “I thought they looked a bit like lavender”.  She smiled and said “well you learn something new every day”.  We both laughed.  “Yes you do” I said and paid for the plant, heading out to the car with a smile still on my face.