A few Pictures from my grandmother’s garden in early June. And I’ve included at the end, a lovely article from her in 2020 that describes her love of gardening.
“In nature nothing exists alone”
Rachel Carson
An 80 Year Old View on Gardening
As I am now over 80 years old, my actual physical gardening is much more limited.
But when I moved here five years ago to a large flat garden, I was able to have lots of fun planting a mostly blank canvas that had three apple trees and shrubs down the far end, under the shade of the next garden’s oak tree.
I had to learn which shrubs might survive a clay soil which was waterlogged all winter and bone dry in summer nearer the house in hot sun.
I am still learning!
When I plant, I am trying to make a picture that looks good from all angles, but particularly from the South-facing windows of the lounge, dining area and kitchen
So colours are important, both foliage (evergreen or deciduous) and flowers.
When one is older, not everyone can grow vegetables and fruit. But even in a rainy day, one can get pleasure in seeing different plants and shrubs blooming throughout the seasons. Snowdrops under the smaller apple tree herald spring, then crocuses and various daffodils.
Later blue Camassia bulbs which survive flooding then drought!
Other plants and shrubs come into play, as the seasons pass, maybe even briefly hold a starring role!
So even as the years pass, one can dream of a small clump of new bulbs, maybe a different shrub…
Gaps appear as certain plants decide flooding in winter is not their thing! So one can peer at catalogues and a thread of hope appears for the future picture one can already see clearly in one’s mind’s eye, even though stiff knees will mean a considerable amount of modification!
Thus one’s love of gardening continues down the years.