how the garden changes
I took over the care of this garden 35 years ago. At the time nothing much grew here. A patch of lawn surrounded by a few boring shrubs decorated the front garden. The back yard had been used to store large quantities of rusty barbed wire and other rubbish. When I saw it, my first thought was to make sure we were up date with our tetanus shots.
Over the last 35 years, the garden has definitely improved and progressed. But ...
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| 2008 |
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| today |
The idea of progress - that things progressively improve over time - is a wonderfully naive, idealistic, optimistic idea.
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2011
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| 2014 |
When I've pulled out lots of plants, and / or done serious pruning, that area goes from looking fabulous to looking potentially fabulous. Then I think the tide is out for a while. Eventually the tide will turn.
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| 2014 - the tide is out |
It is true. Change is not always for the better like so often thought. Your statement, " is a wonderfully naive, idealistic, optimistic idea," makes the reality of change over time so obvious - even changing direction is like starting over in some cases. I too look back a sometimes think what was had more appeal.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes find it quite painful looking at past photos - but when I walk around the garden, tend to feel better, more centred in the now.
DeleteYour words in this post--very wise! Particularly, "progress doesn't happen in a straight line." That is so true! Thirty-five years is a long time! Your garden is part of your soul, I imagine? They have a way of getting under our skin, don't they?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth. I certainly feel very connected to the garden, suppose it is an important part of my identity.
DeleteI love your analogy of the garden ebbing and flowing like a tide. How true! But wouldn't it be just a little bit boring if it looked perfect all the time? Change is natural and good :-)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if any garden looks perfect all the time. I suppose if you didn't have perennials or annuals, you would have less change and then all you'd have to do would be to prune the hedges. Sounds boring ...
DeleteGardens reflect their gardeners and gardeners reflect their gardens. Our passions for certain groups of plants come and go; some true loves abide. Thank you for the images of your lovely garden through the years!
ReplyDeletethank you, dear og, for your encouraging comment.
DeleteI think most borders need redoing from time to time. Our ideas change over the years, at one time all I wanted was one of everything, now I would much rather have drifts of plants that are really happy in the soil here. It's lovely to see your photos from over the years.
ReplyDeleteDear Pauline, My idea of what I want to grow has changed so much, as has the picture I would like to create. Less northern hemisphere, and more local plants. It's exciting.
DeleteIt is an odd feeling for me just looking back a few years, and remembering plants that said No Thanks. I don't have the luxury of your timespan, but yet, it does look different. There are bits that I twitch to rework, when this cold snap has passed. Snow promised on the mountains!
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, twitch is a good word for it. Our mountains are snow-less and the skiing industry is worried, I think. Record breaking warm autumn, and winter so far pretty mild too.
DeleteI think of my garden as continually evolving. It will probably never be "completed", but that's the fun in gardening for me. Your garden has certainly come a long way, and you are very wise to use indigenous plants!
ReplyDeleteThat is something that I should be doing!
thanks, Dorothy, although the front garden is more Californian than Australian. Just waiting till they grow a little bigger before I post pictures.
DeleteOlder gardens have a nice feel to them. They may have their ups and downs, due to the weather or other changes. But I believe that they improve with age, like many things, if they are loved and looked after. Like your garden.
ReplyDeleteDear Denise, thanks for the compliment. It's certainly loved, and looked after, and agonized after, at times.
DeleteGardening is a lot like baseball - if we don't win the world series (and even if we do) there's always next year. Your garden inspires me and the fact that you are in autumn almost winter and I'm about to jump into summer 'messes' with my head.
ReplyDeleteHI Joy, It's very weird, isn't it? Also the fact that I'm sitting here typing while you are probably fast asleep in the middle of the night. I'm so pleased my garden inspires you - your garden inspires me.
DeleteI like the rocks you added? from 2008 to today. The Bugle Boy is a cool piece of yard art, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, I'm so pleased you noticed the rocks. They were scattered around, now they make a focal point and it's where I often sit with the children. BB was a present when I left a job a long time ago. He has seen a lot of changes in the garden.
ReplyDeleteSue I so agree with the creation or recreation of the garden as tidal...a perfect metaphor...your loving hands have created a beautiful oasis!!
ReplyDeletethanks Donna.
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