Remember the rosemary, as well as the forget-me-nots
Is there a garden plant or shrub that is extra special for you?
Sweet peas! They are reminiscent of my childhood when my uncle grew masses of them every year. They are delicate and their colours are wonderful. Their perfume is heavenly and acts as a wonderful air freshener when the flowers are taken indoors.
Avril Taylor, Dundas, Ontario, Canada
• Rosemary, with much to remember and be thankful for.
Philip Stigger, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• I’m hoping our forget-me-nots will protect us against Alzheimer’s.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
• The flowering shrub, grevillea, is a particular favourite. The bees delight in it and the nectar-eating wattlebirds, rainbow lorikeets and eastern spinebills congregate around the constant blossoms.
Ursula Nixon, Bodalla, NSW, Australia
• The white roses in my wedding bouquet.
Jenefer Warwick James, Paddington, NSW, Australia
• The cauliflower. My father died just before I was born so I never knew him. I am told that his answer to “what is your favourite flower?” was “cauliflower”. Tasty, too – especially in white sauce.
Charlie Bamforth, Davis, California, US
• Basil, it adds flavour to food, repels mosquitoes and gives me fond memories of Fawlty Towers.
Marilyn Hamilton, Perth, Western Australia
• Chinese jasmine. Grows like stink, smells gorgeous.
Pat Phillips, Adelaide, South Australia
• The newest seedling.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
Do you want to run for office?
Is it possible that honesty is not the best policy?
Only if you are good at extricating yourself from deep holes.
David Tucker, Halle, Germany
• Some lies are like little gifts – absolute honesty is utopia.
Maria Linke, Munich, Germany
• Yes. if you want to become president of the United States or Russia.
Charles Drace, Christchurch, New Zealand
• I’d say yes, but I would be a liar.
Rick Bzowy, Swansea, Tasmania, Australia
• An honest person must say “No”.
Edward P Wolfers, Austinmer, NSW, Australia
• Honesty is not the best policy. It is the only policy.
Rod Alley, Wellington, New Zealand
• Yes, but when has the world ever been guided by policies?
John Benseman, Auckland, New Zealand
• In the pursuit of self-preservation it very rarely is.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• Just remember: your wife looks great in any dress.
Roger Morrell, Perth, Western Australia
• Are you buying or selling?
John Honig, Kingsford, NSW, Australia
It will be a miracle if we last
How will future generations view history?
The history they know will depend on which voices they hear – as it does now.
Trish Nicholson, Awanui, New Zealand
• By pondering on all that remains.
Paul Broady, Christchurch, New Zealand
• If humanity survives, it will view the past few years, and probably the immediate future, with incredulity.
Joan Dawson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Any answers?
Is there a family superstition that still has a hold after many years?
William Emigh, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
What matters?
Burkhard Friedrich, Berlin, Germany
• Send answers and more questions to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com
