...in the back of the garden, competing for the highest top !

Wandering between mists and seasons...
a wonderful place !

There's so many things in life that can make a person happy.
Who also owns a garden can call himself a lucky man.
You can talk about it, write about it, but most of all experience it.
That hasn't always been the case for me.
Although...in the very beginning, when we only had a piece of land
and not even a house on it, I already did feel an itch.

I suppose it's in the genes. I remember my great-grandfather's
garden, his love for my grandmother's flowers, my parents,
who also loved their garden very much..
But also my husband turned out to be a gardener in the bud.

I've always loved nature, but ??????; know ????? and especially
actively working it, that was something different.
When we got married we got so many beautiful plants and flowers
that we didn't even have enough windowsilks.
Nevertheless this was the beginning of an encounter
and exploration journey that is still going on...
 

Spring 2003, the American oak awakes,
the acorn was planted by my son, when he was still a toddler

The piece of land we had bought was a lovely spot, even back
then, with old, bent appletrees. A shame several of them had to
be axed when we were gonna build our residence here.
Some have kept us company on our 35-year journey.

Once in a while they even surprise themselves with their strength
to live when in the spring blossoms appear on their tired old stem.
They didn't even expect that themselves and to be quite frank,
neither did we.


 

Pear tree, at least 70 years old, still blooms every spring

We have learned much more.... "roses",
for me a late but true discovery and a new love.
How is it that one day a person starts looking at things so
differently ? Is it because they touch you ?

It can happen between people too ! Suddenly one looks t
hrough the eyes of love and everything becomes
much clearer and purer, real ?????, the blue sky, the clouds,
infinity, fellow-man, God...

roses - Claire Matin





and New Dawn




Clematis-Montana - Mayleen against the wall

and also hanging-baskets !

Reaping the benefits from a trip to "garden country" England.
And even though we don't call them hanging baskets here, like
their brothers and sisters across the Channel.
Does that sound pretentious... alright, "almost" as good then.
 

copper coloured hanging begonia

and herbal bouquet with dill, thyme, mint and geranium

The waterparty, the buzzing of the bees and bumble bees,
visiting and pollinating their favorite plants, the birds...industrious,
combative, making music. Butterflies fluttering around a sedum
and butterflybush, our frogs, a late hedgehog and even
a lost squirrel, it's all part of the scene.
Thank you, thank you...for all these presents and joybringers.

Our little pond - no matter how small - full of life with frogs and salamanders,
and on the plants dragonflies, bumble bees and bees...

As you can see, one is never too old to learn...one can never enjoy
a garden too much or be grateful for it as a gift, where one can work,
live and spend time with other lovely people.
I have been blessed with that luck and it makes me very happy.

Winter - february 1999

Addendum to August 2, 2003

Just got back home after spending a few days in the Cotswolds.
Can't but admit in all honesty I still got a lot to learn about hanging baskets. Magnificent baskets against pictureque houses !
All I saw was gold, except for the rain. But that's what makes
them live and grow.

Got some new ideas for next year !