Somewhere towards the end of winter, dedicated gardeners become slightly... odd. It may be caused by "soil deprivation syndrome" - failing to get our hands grubby for three months, or breathe in the scents that increase our levels of feel-good serotonin and decrease feel-stressed cortisol.
It may also be shock from temporarily having clean fingernails, at least till spring. Whatever the cause, even the most sensible gardeners are tempted by the end-of-season bulb sales, forgetting our aging backs and aching knees as we dig hole after hole to plant another 20 daffodils and 50 gladioli that had been on special and absolutely unmissable.
