If you follow me here, you may possibly be aware of my fondness for books,
I am almost equally as passionate about documentaries
I suppose the obvious thing that relates here
is just how very much I love stories
stories behind, around, contained.. sometimes hidden
people’s stories
of how things came to be, of how we
came to be
the other night just as I am about to head off to bed
I am caught up by a program about Anna Pavord
her home in south west England
and her passion for gardening
I am hooked as soon as I see the English countryside
and the glorious sight of an English garden
instantly I can see myself in it
the sights, the sounds, the smells
the plants, the birds
ah… take me away
or rather… leave me here
I move closer to the TV, I watch and I listen,
completely enthralled as Anna talks about the need for pruning
and care
and just how very healing her need for this kind of nature
is
ahhhh yes, I think .. ah yes…
it’s funny, that this is heaven to me, although I am not what you would call
a very good gardener
I find pruning slightly painful, even when I know it to be a necessary evil
I cringe when I hear someone speak of ‘ripping things out’ and I wish to gather up
all discards and un-cared for’s
and take them home to love, like abandoned puppies
nature… nurture
I just like things that
grow
things of beauty and comfort
unkempt and unbridled
not forced or contained
things of change and delight
as well as the living-ness of a garden
(never do I have a wish to feel – done)
that encourages visitors, of the ‘natural kind’ – birds, bees, butterflies, toads, bunnies,
you get the idea
all welcome, not to be disturbed
I mean, I sometimes envision myself as this kind of gardener
this lovely woman, who looks so natural in this setting
who knows the names of all her plants
(where mine are usually called the pink one, and those yellow ones)
and knows just who grows best with whom
she also passionately talks about weeding, and this I am not very good at
I sort of believe in giving everything its chance to
beautify, in it’s own way.. I guess
“The point of gardening is the doing of it, not having got it done. It’s the process that matters, though it is of course directed towards an end result. It’s rare now for people to stay in the same place for generation after generation…In your garden, you can take a stand against the prevailing trashy mood of the time.” ~ Anna Pavord
it is for me also the company I keep, in the garden
the plants and flowers
the quiet jubilant beauty
the nature of which causes me to slow down,
to seek,
to pause
to
notice
and there really is a great healing peacefulness in this
a space of one’s own
to breathe
to
wander
to think
to be amazed and delighted
by small things, that may otherwise go
unseen
to feel the sun on your skin
for me it just makes the world
feel right
and my place in it
feel
gracious
here, I am my own kind of beauty
and I am always
Gratitude
and that is a beautiful place to be ♥