How do YOU enjoy a garden? I met with Elizabeth on May Day and we took a stroll down her garden, whilst I shared with her a few of my own thoughts. For me, a garden is about all my senses (sight; sound; smell; taste and touch). What treats might I find during my visit today?
From the patio doors the paving leads to a small pathway and a delightful walkway past her kitchen door to the front garden gate. The bright yellow flowers of the Welsh Poppies were such a treat and a welcome ray of colour on a grey and cloudy morning. Overhead there’s the promise of roses later in the year which Elizabeth tells me are “Bobby James” with a profusion of white flowers, so something to return to see another day.
The main garden is effectively 4 “rooms” and after the paving area you find densely planted beds, which proudly shows off a small headed, dark red peony with Elizabeth tells me had no label, and was bought cheaply. She still doesn’t actually know the name of this plant, so if YOU visit, maybe you can help her identify it?
Walking on to the 3rd area, there’s the most amazing Snake Bark Maple, the bark has a whole range of colours, and just has to be stroked! There are some beautiful Lime Green Vibernum to see here too, and then the gnarled trunks of several apple trees to enjoy. The flowers show a promise of fruits later in the year.
This is where Elizabeth has created her very private seating area, with a covered seat to shelter her from the breeze whilst she listens to the birds singing and plans her gardening tasks. Look carefully and you may even find the metal topiary frame Elizabeth is creating, using her own face covering. A lovely, unusual unexpected and inventive touch, but you need to search the bottom of the hedges to find it.
The final room is based on a circle of grass bordered by high hedges and again lots of natural planting and colour even at this time of year, including bluebells allowed to naturalise and a beautiful stone stature. From here, look back up the garden, and you can hardly see the house, but there are still treats to find as you walk back, and an opportunity to explore the garden view again from a different perspective.
So did I use all 5 of my senses? Sight without a doubt; Sound from bird songs and even a small plane from Stoughton Airport; Touch beingthe bark of various trees or stroking the flower heads; Smell from the apple blossom so all that remains is Taste and if I visit again at the right time, maybe a chance to enjoy some apples? Who knows.
I hope this brief summary encourages you to visit Elizabeth’s garden. She plans to be there for visitors on Wednesday June 26th and Monday August 26th.
Judith Proctor
Contact details 0116 2705711 email bacon605@btinternet.com