I have neglected my blog, thought about it often, planned entries in my mind and then life moves on and time flies by. Such is summer.
My new home feels like home at last and that is a wonderful and a long sought for feeling. There have been lots of temporary stops on the way, many adventures and all sorts of encounters. I've developed the ability, as we often have to do, of being able to cope with inordinate amounts of stress by continually calling on the extraordinary innate drive that we all have and then searching for the silver lining in every situation, discovering much happiness, peace, contentment and a certain joie de vivre in unexpected places. Sometimes those silver linings are pure gold.
Settling in initially also held an extended period of total physical exhaustion. The search and the long journey over led to an unexpected enforced hibernation. Everything slowed down and a deep recovery began. It seemed as if I had run out of adrenaline and all of my vim. I could nothing other than sleep and rise once a day to make leek and potato soup. Perhaps if I were Jewish it would have been chicken. I craved salt and absolutely no sugar. My body dictated the rules. I have a deep respect for the intelligence of the body. Some people say that the body is our slave, if this is so then I've given my slave its freedom and we are now very good friends.
Spring and I emerged at much the same time and I set about bringing the old walled garden back into life. It had been neglected as a garden and simply used as storage for canoes and bicycles. It looked grey and dismal and I sympathised and did what all gardeners are compelled to do - looked on the bright side.
There is a wonderful tree in the corner - an Ilex - that spreads across the shed roof, hangs over the garden wall and casts dappled sunlight in the garden. Potential.
There is already a supply of electricity and water.
Another tree - a tall and wavering holly - that has developed two tones - one dark green and one variegated.
And - pièce de résistance - a delicious black grape and two old lobster pots. There is also a besom - a witches broom, that is the most perfect of all brushes for gardeners.
First step - begin to repaint the walls.
An instant transformation but a long way to go.
The gate is painted with chalk paint and it is water proof.
One simply cannot choose neighbours.
New gravel, appropriately Thames gravel - mud-larking connection plus flowers in pots and vases = a perfect place to work in dappled sunlight. Also, a place to hang out the washing!
It also transforms into a place to eat under dappled sunlight. Perfect.
This scented clematis will form an arch across the path next spring and summer, twinning around the bunting.
1 comment:
What a gorgeous garden you have created😍
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