come for a wander

Our garden is singing it's quiet song just now. There is plenty of sound: the ripple of water into the pond below the mossy rockery; wind chimes in the bird tree; the little flutters, tweets and twitters of multiple birds; crows and pigeons marching, or waddling, about the lawn; jays screeching down in the Dell; squirrels racing about raiding the peanuts and a pair of seagulls with whom I am at war!  

The quiet in this garden is about the feeling of time having passed, the procession of harmonious colours, experiment over many years and some benign neglect. There are always weeds somewhere, but at this time of year, much to enjoy. It is the longest I have ever had a garden in my care, we have been here now over 14 years and I am just beginning to understand how a growing space evolves. With time you notice the way the soil works, how the light falls and what comes up when. Just now all is full of spring lightness, the colours are quiet, the plants partly from the previous owner and partly from my planting. I pop things in and care for them to a greater or lesser extent, and some thrive and some don't. The primroses are certainly thriving this year, washing the space with their delicate yellow. The camellias are out and the pulmonaria with their glowing blues, pinks and purples are just at their best.

Look one way and you'll find the shed with a camellia glowing at the end and some of the many clusters of primroses in the foreground

turn round and the pointy covered pond is there, pots full of expectation and a chair and table to sit and watch the fish as the weather warms and the chimes send out their bell like notes.

There is often a garden tool propped up somewhere, remnant of a forgotten task

The oriental lady still welcomes you along to path to the wind chimes, pulmonaria at her feet and the flowering currant nodding above.

Half way down the path, the tripod lantern holder my son in law made me some years past holds a glass lamp we brought home from Turkey many moons ago.

The rockery by the pond is always a battle to keep clear of weeds, but the moss is doing nicely these days

The little waterboy stands guard by the small steps

where some lovely daffodils, which came with the garden, give us joy each year

And in the courtyard, the promise of blossom just swelling from the buds of the miniature plum.

We are so lucky to have this peaceful spot to soothe our souls.