hearing the garden
I wonder why we tend to privilege seeing the garden over hearing the garden.
It was Sunday. I got up early, looked at and listened to the garden. The usual sounds of traffic were muted. It was raining hard.
Standing in the doorway so as not to get wet and, more importantly, not to get the camera wet, this is what I saw and heard.
Lovely birdsong ... and I also love the sound of rain. I'm rather lucky in my spot to be surrounded by bird song ... and that is the sound I hear all the time as there is barely any traffic sound at all.
ReplyDeleteThe video was so evocative. A garden can engage all the senses.
ReplyDeleteThe dimension of sound adds magic to our worlds and especially our gardens. How lovely to hear the birds and rain today in yours. Soothing, comforting sounds. I love spring for the orchestral songs of birds and so miss them when they stop singing. Terrific point! ;>)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine a garden without sound. I rejoice in early mornings with just me in the garden... and all those delicious sounds. Yours are heavenly!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! One thing I remember from I believe a television show, was a woman in Alaska who had wired a speaker into her house so she could hear the birds outside during the long winters. I thought this was genius! Especially for those of us who are cooped up in the winter time. Sound adds so much more to a garden. Loved listening to yours.
ReplyDeleteWe can never separate the two, what we see and what we hear. Rains somehow submerge all sounds. ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteWhat a happy little bird singing away. Sometimes it is so good to just take the time to set and listen. Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteThe birds sound happy. I think we find it easier to hear the garden in the background rather than really isten to it - especially if not all the sounds are from nature!
ReplyDeleteOh the sound of the tropical rain! I love it! Seldom do we let our senses appreciate the blessings around us because we focus on the negative side of everything. This is a reminded to us to be keen on the beauty of nature.
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie, you are lucky being surrounded by bird song. In my case since so many nearby trees have been removed over the last 25 years, that hearing bird song is a relief and not hearing it is a worry.
ReplyDeleteHi Hermes, at the moment honeysuckle is engaging my sense of smell, but I don't know how to put that in the blog.
Hi Carol, yes I miss them too when they stop singing and worry they won't come back.
Thanks for the comment Mereduit - yes, mornings probably are the best time to hear the birds. And I also love being solitary in experiencing the sounds.
Hi TVF, I would find it very hard being cooped up all winter. I suppose you could rig up one of those security cameras and see and hear the garden while snug indoors!
Hi Bangchik, rain is a wonderful experience, especially when we thought it was a drought!
Hi Lona, thank you so much for your comment.
Hi EG, for me I'm happy when the natural sounds are louder than the human ones.
Hi Helen, I agree, there is so much wisdom and optimism to be obtained from the garden if we are still.
Cheers, catmint
What an Australian sound. It changes slightly as you travel from state to state, from tropics to temperate, but it can't be mistaken for anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteI had to turn off my music (The Lark Ascending, funnily enough) to listen to this. It gave me a wonderfully strange feeling to be able to listen to sounds coming from your garden. The pattering rain makes is a soothing counterpoint to the birdsong.
ReplyDeleteI listen all the time to the garden. Yesterday, all day I heard the whipbird, first the little song and then the strong sound of the whip.
ReplyDeleteI have to come back to listen to your garden, an error occurred and it did not work. It said try later which I will.
Nice sound! I can take a good nap at your verandah. Thanks for capturing in video also. Enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteDear Catmint, How delightful. You are so right in that we put sight before sound when thinking of the garden, but how enchanting it is to hear such sweet birdsong.
ReplyDeleteHi Paul, your love of country comes through your words.
ReplyDeleteHi Bee, how funny that you were listening to the lark ascending - reminds me one day I plan to do a post on Messiaen.
Hi Titania, I wonder why the error occurred. Hope you manage to listen later.
Hi Steph, you are welcome to take a nap any time on my verandah.
Hi Edith, so pleased you enjoyed the birdsong.
Cheers, catmint
Beautiful! It could only have been improved if you'd said a word or two:)
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