|
|
A garden is a place of peace and healing, a home to
many many
creatures, a source of comfort and joy, where you really can
be nearer to God than anywhere else on earth.
|
|
There's nothing like a garden for developing the quality of patience, along with
blisters, muscle strain and sheer awestruck wonder at the glory of creation, and the ever-repeating miracle of renewal.
Much as you might want to, you just can't rush it. I've had the pleasure and pain of
working with this one since 1988, sharing it with himself on the right.
I have absolutely no idea who he is, but there's no doubt
he belongs. We found him here half buried, a rough face shape hidden under multiple
layers of paint. In 1997 I decided to see what was under the layers. Many sessions
with the Nitromors and wire wool revealed him as you see him now ... identity still a
mystery to us, but clearly happy to be part of it all.
I'm no expert plantswoman by any means, but I knew I wanted a garden which would be easy
to maintain (no bedding plants, thank you) have scent and some colour all the year round, plenty
of water, a few secret places, and most important which would be attractive to wildlife.
|
 |
|
In 1999, for the first time, all those things were in place, and I decided to open the garden
to a wider public than those who are able to journey here in person. As is absolutely typical
for anything to do with gardens, what started out as a small project ... "Oh, let's just have a gentle
saunter round and see what's going on", then 10 hours later you realise you've just dug in 200 litres of horse
manure, reconcreted the patio, mowed every blade of grass to an inch of its life, weeded the borders and there's
still time for a bit of pruning before tea ... turned into something larger than just a few pictures for one year.
It's now more like a continuing diary, I suppose, as we go into the third year of this part of the site.
For those who've visited before, I've done a bit of remodelling of the 1999 pages. I hope both previous and
first time visitors will find something here to enjoy. So pick a year, and step inside ...
|