Late yesterday afternoon as I was watering, it struck me that I never take the time to enjoy my garden. Quite why this came as a surprise I don’t know, because Him Indoors is always telling me so. I guess sometimes you have to work these things out for yourself.
Jaded after a long day of email wrestling, I have come outside with a gin and tonic to just sit, look and listen. The plants are growing so fast I can almost hear the sap gurgling through their veins, rising like an unstoppable tide. The gaps I purchased plants for two weeks ago are already gone, and still the cold frame is full. Above my head a honeysuckle is about to put on a firework display and tulip petals litter the decking. Summer is just around the corner.
The garden has never looked better and that’s no accident. I’ve worked at it. By and large that’s the first rule of gardening: what you put in, you get out. I feel momentarily gratified, knowing there is so much more to do. Just not today.
Beautiful photos. Very lovely observations. Delightful blog and so pleased to have found it and your knowledgable musings. (Mr indoors sounds wise)!
Oh he is. He has an opinion on everything 🙂
I agree – I love black and white photography 🙂
A beautiful post in many ways.
I’ve been outside until 9 this evening busy, busy, before heading to London early tomorrow for three days. But it felt good. As you so rightly say, what you put in, you get out, and already this spring has been a complete joy in the garden. I can feel I’m getting increasingly obsessed….
Ah yes, it’s an addiction that’s easy to slide into! Fairly harmless as obsessions go though. It’s not likely to kill you and you can’t be arrested for it, so why not? Enjoy London!
We’re all guilty of often thinking about our gardens as an endless list of tasks, that if we only do them all everything will be perfect and THEN we’ll be able to enjoy things. I find it helps to have plenty of benches and places to rest and view things (and G&Ts are quite helpful too). 🙂 -Beth
Exactly. I find I cannot rest if I can see something that needs doing, so I sit down and then am up and down like a yo yo! If the G&Ts multiply then I find things look proportionately better 😉
Love the black and white. And you took some credit. Good for you. I do aimless wandering, which is the slow motion version of stopping and looking!
Aimless wandering is good too! Helps to shape one’s thoughts and ideas. I thought the black and white made a nice change, although I am colour boy at heart 🙂
With no doubt, you were a poet in a previous life 🙂
That’s very kind of you Stefana. Usually my attempts at being poetic are not very successful!
The life of a gardener is a good one. Tree trimming for this one today. 🙂
I wish I was tree trimming today Judy. Well, I sort of am. I am up to my ankles in fake snow at a Christmas photo shoot, dressing trees with decs!
You said the “s” word in May. Oh my, I may need a cold one to recover. 🙂 I bet those trees are gorgeous!
I am happy you took time to sit and enjoy your garden. Beautiful pictures of your ferns and hostas…very calming in black and white! Cheers : )
Thank you Laurin. Back to ‘doing’ again today 😉
Lovely! The black and white format for the photos also reminds us that sometimes we get distracted by the color and don’t appreciate the form as much as perhaps we should. 🙂
Very true. Ferns especially look great in black and white which highlights all the tiny details. I will always revert to colour, but it’s fun to try new things 🙂
A very calming post on a day when calming is much needed. x
Oh dear! Hope you are not too fraught? I will need to catch up with myself tonight as there are three sacks of manure in my car that need spreading ready for the tomatoes to go out 🙂
Very evocative. What great texture and patterns, well worth slow contemplation. Enjoy!
Thank you. Contemplation over now and back to work!
wow, good fotos!
Thank you Katharina!
Wonderful how b&w gives a whole new look to the plants we pass each day. Thanks for taking the time to enjoy your garden and sharing it with the rest of us.
Thank you Kevin. I will try to take some more now I’ve started.
Hi, may I please know the plant in the second picture? It is beautiful!
Hi Sherry. It’s a Hosta called ‘Guardian Angel’. It grows very very slowly, but has wonderful leaves in all shades of grey, green and cream.