NOT SO SECRET GARDEN

"I am writing in the garden. To write as one should of a garden one must write not outside it or merely somewhere near it, but IN the garden." -Frances Hodgson Burnett ( 1849-1924)

 Well, not exactly the secret garden from the book,  but  it's my little oasis.

 And it's booming.

 Dragons blood, anenome, climbing hydrangea,  sedums, have taken over the wall.

 Verbeena, Rhubarb, Cranesbill (lots and lots and LOTS  of Cranesbill)

 Geraniums everywhere, all starting to flower, and roses, just beginning....

"I am sure there is Magic in everything, only we have not sense to get hold of it and make it do things for us...."
                                                 -Burnett ( The Secret Garden 1911) 

 Alchemilla ( Lady's Mantle) at first light, drenched in the rain.

 Busy bees. Feeding off the Cranesbill. Their bodies carrying  orange pollen.

 Abraham Lincoln Rose. 

 The Verbascum ( considered a huge weed by some) is Massive already. It will make giant sunflower stalks that the bees will sleep in.

 "If you look, you can see right away that the whole world is a garden..." -Secret garden 1911

 Mauve Perennial Geranium

 And lots of bees. BUZZ. This is good.

 Maidenhair Fern. I thought it was dead. It's GIGANTIC. 

 Rain on it and it will come back.

"And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles...." -Secret  Garden 1911 

 And of course, it helps to  have Spencer  snoozing at the entrance......he blooms and blooms in the sun on the gate.

Photographs 2020

THAT DIRT I LOVE....

 "There's something satisfying about getting your hands in the soil....." - E.A. Bucchianeri

 For the Love of Dirt............

 A good way to spend that time we have to Stay at Home these days.

Simon

 Time to destroy the rotten benches and planters. 

 And put together new ones.

 Hauled out everything from the greenhouse. Except the Toilet.  Repurposed.

 Pine Siskins  hang around the bird feeders.

 To be caught and fed to Stellar Jay babies.

"The soil in the great connector, the healer and restorer and resurrector...." -Wendell Berry, Culture and Agriculture.

 Sweet peas . Hoarded from various sources. soaked and ready. 

 Stuffed into as many basins as I can find. Sinks, pots, troughs, baskets.

 "Sweet peas were the kinds of flowers fairies slept in..."
-Allison Pearson

 And in the dirt of the greenhouse .....It's only just begun.

 And the sun sets, while we still wait and Stay at home.

 Another new bench ready. Spencer's yellow cup waits for him.

 Out of the dirt rises more white bleeding hearts. I thought they had become squashed over winter. Resilient......

 "There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them..." - Jo Walton

 The violets were definitely squashed in the snow. Resilient. They've popped up. Just like WE will pop up. Out of the dirt. That I love......

"A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon..."
              -John Steinbeck ( Grapes of Wrath)

 Photographs 2020

*After a long winter, Cordelia rises to the fence once again. She is  a VERY old girl by now, but she still manages to get to the top of the fence. To have a look. To say hello... Resilient.

AT THE PORCH.........................

Bunny's basket

 IT's TIME AGAIN...........For dirt and more dirt and flowers everywhere.

 And Spencer, the neighbour's very smart cat, sleeping on the porch

 Native Cranesbill  growing every which way.

 Troughs of variegated coleus. In the shade. Under cover on the porch.

 CAT Plant. Scientia Cattus. In his own pot. Before the flowers.

 After planting....

 IDYLL by SIEGFRIED SASSOON (1886-1967)
"In the grey summer garden I shall find you.......

greenhouse

 With day-break and the morning hills behind you. There will be rain-wet roses; stir of wings...

 And down the wood a thrush that wakes and sings. Not from the past you'll come, but from that deep...

moss shoes/impatiens

 Where beauty murmurs to the soul asleep: And I shall know the sense of life reborn....

 From dreams into the mystery of morn

Spencer's moss pot

 Where gloom and brightness meet.....

                                                  And standing there.....................

Cordelia on roof

 till that calm song is done, at last we'll share

 The league-spread quiring symphonies that are 

 Joy in the world.........

  ...........................and peace, and dawn's One star....."

sweet peas

 Photographs 2019