Being open

We opened our garden for the annual Hospice gardens scheme once again today. A beautifully sunny day, which has resulted in a white "halo" on my chest where my necklace sat, protecting me from the sun which was shining down with some enthusiasm!

Once again, our hearts were warmed by the positive comments from folk who visited. We had felt it wasn't "up to scratch" this year, what with the heat, no rain, and both of us feeling a bit overwhelmed by all that needed to be done beforehand; there were too many bare patches of earth, things planted have not thrived, and fewer things have been planted that we planned. One of my failings is being seduced by tempting pots in garden centres which then languish as I ponder where to put them! However, the day dawned, folk were kind, and we have reached the end of it having welcomed over 100 people and had some delightful conversations along the way. 

So, just a few pics for you to enjoy a little of what they saw, while we sit down and contemplate the pleasure of sharing this space

You can see why I got a little bit pink!

The good man does a very fine line in beautifully planted pots

we are very pleased with our new bespoke pond cover, no more fish lost to the heron we hope

one of the lovely dahlias darling daughter gave the man for Christmas last year

As I was crouching above the pond to look across the garden I sensed a delicate fluttering and heard a tiny high pitched peep. If you look very closely at centre left, below the peak of the pond cover, you'll see a little goldcrest just about to land on the top level of the waterfall to take a few sips of water

To paraphrase Christopher Lloyd, if you are out in the garden enough, the birds will take no more notice of you than if you were a sheep or a cow. 

Dixter delight

We are so lucky to live within easy driving distance of this lovely garden. This week we had a very pleasurable visit from some members of my dear heart's family, including the recipient of this quilt, who has now grown into the most delightful little person who kept us very busy on the afternoon she and her parents were with us. My darling girl came round as well, and definitely fell in love!

The following day, four of us drove through the winding Sussex countryside to visit Great Dixter. The weather was wonderfully bright and breezy, and despite a brief and very threatening looking selection of clouds, it stayed dry and warm and the garden was at its wild and wonderful best.

The planting there, in particular in the areas bordered by yew hedging, is both tall and dense, which means you wander through, perpetually surprised and inspired by a new and interesting combination of plants. The style could be called relaxed or chaotic depending on your taste. I find the sense of enclosure creates a wonderful aura of mystery and timelessness. You are in a jewel box of colour, scent, movement and sound with occasional glimpses of the red brick and tiles of the house itself. For a change of view you can find your way out to areas of meadow planting and the arresting topiary yews. It is a space I could cheerfully spend many hours in, just watching, listening and absorbing. 

I thought you might like to share some of the pleasures

saying goodbye

Regular readers will be familiar with our lovely Cat Chaps, Rum and Raisin. They came into our lives in late 2008, rescued from a very good RSPCA Center in Hastings. We had lost three cats in the previous couple of years and I had been sent out to find "just one female cat", but these brothers captured my heart and so became part of our family. They had been deserted when previous owners moved house and left them to fend for themselves. Raisin was quite extrovert, came out of their "pod" to see who I was and trotted about looking very cheerful; Rum was the shy one, refusing to come and perform, but when I put my hand carefully into the space where he was he let me stroke his head, very briefly, before ducking it away with a motion that became utterly familiar to me over time. It was his "not now, but maybe later" declaration of independence. I couldn't leave them there after that. 

Christmas in the menagerie window of daughter's old bedroom

Since they arrived we have moved house, coming to our current home after my Mum died in 2010, and they have appeared from time to time here as part of our happy lives. They found the advent of a much larger new garden rather overwhelming at first, especially as it was dusted over with frost and then snow in the first few weeks

Crikey, this needs a bit of a tidy up

But they soon settled in, and games of "cowboys and Indians" on the lawn, followed by exhausted luxuriating in the warm sun on the path, became a regular entertainment for us and them

a peaceful pause with paws

As all lovers of pets know, we only have them for a short time, and last week I had to take our beloved Rum to the vets for a final visit. He was very poorly and one always knows what the kindest course is when this happens, but the repetition of loss makes it no easier to bear. My daughter and I took him along, the Good Man being too upset to come this final time. All was done with great kindness and gentleness, and his leaving this earth was a quiet and peaceful passing. His death is a small and insignificant thing in the context of all the sadnesses that are happening in the world just now, but I found myself unable to come back to writing here without marking our loss. So this is to say "goodbye Rum", you were a very fine cat chap, warm and loving, always eager to be stroked and fussed and brushed, independent to the last and we miss you. We are so grateful for the joy and gentleness you brought to our lives. 

slumbering potted cat

Garden glow

Sometimes when you are delighted by something which is catching the sun in your front garden, and are hoping to capture that feeling

someone else comes along, who feels the same way, and just has to get involved

the primroses are still shining in amongst the forget me nots

our tulips, a wedding present from a friend, planted four years ago, are still bringing joy

there are hellebores, tucked away in spots behind other things, which tease with their shy beauty as they catch the evening sunlight

the rill, which runs down into the pond, tempts frequent visitors to adjust their feathers and primp and preen ready for spring courting

and the little water boy looks on serenely as the garden blooms behind him

I will be away for a couple of weeks as from next Tuesday. I am going here. I am very excited, and just a little terrified, but am expecting to see marvels and delights. There will be photographs, but perhaps not until I come home again

some stitching, trees and beasts

My good friend Steph and I went to Ramster House and Gardens on Friday to view the embroidery and textile exhibition they have there every other year. We went for the first time in 2019 and of course they couldn't hold it last year so we were very glad it was on again this year. As well as lots of interesting bits of stitchery to see, we also thought we'd take a brief walk around the garden this time and were rewarded with some very fine trees and interesting creatures.

As with my last visit, I found that it was hard to take photos of the works I was most inspired by because of the amount of reflections. The beautiful 17th Century Hall where the exhibition takes place has a lot of lovely low windows which bring in natural light. This of course bounces about off the glass behind which most of the embroideries are framed. A distraction both when taking pictures and when viewing the stitchery close up. However, here are a couple which I did manage to capture despite the reflections.

Maggie Grey's Oranges Are the Only Fruit, inspired by an Italian Fresco

A lovely use of breakdown printing by Jane Mckeown - Rain puddles 

Isobel Moore's Secret Garden

these delightfully delicate landscape embroideries on eco dyed fabrics by Helen Followfield 

and Golden Tree by Jane Cobbett

After a refreshing lunch in their tearooms, we then ventured into the gardens where we found

130 year old Japanese maples, planted when the garden was first laid out in 1890

children at play beneath the trees, frozen in time - a delightful sculpture by Christine Charlesworth called Oranges and Lemons

cranes pondering the reflections in the lake

a kingfisher poised in the mossy banks

some glorious oaks spreading their branches to the sky. They presumably remain from the original oak woodland which predated the garden

woven stag and deer in the glade

a very imposing Wellingtonia - I found myself pondering about the life that must be supported underneath its soft, fibrous bark skin

and this very fine family of boar, sculpted from a fallen tree on the estate

All in all an extremely enjoyable day out which fed both body and soul. I hope yo have had an enjoyable weekend?