My garden visit didn't turn out as I had hoped. Walking around the gardens I felt uninspired. All the snowdrops looked alike and much larger than I remember snowdrops being. Regimented swathes of them lined up over the undulating earth. There were Hellebore's with their heavy droopy heads that seemed to be hanging in shame and weak specimens of purple crocuses that looked like damp squibs popping out of the grass. Had I been in a different frame of mind I may have felt differently about the plants but I wanted to feel excited and energised but the gardens in early March left me feeling flat.
I continued walking around. There was a group of elderly women following a tour guide and a few couples. Apart from me there were no other people except for the volunteers who were busying about tidying and planting and looking industrious. There really wasn't anything to catch my eye to record on camera apart from the 'neglected' corner pictured above. In all the contrived planting in the garden I much preferred to see the naturalised primroses in front of the tin bath. Now I am wondering if the scene was contrived or just happened by chance?
I didn't spend too long visiting as I still had to walk the 2.7 miles back to home with a detour to the supermarket to pick up something to eat! I don't think I will be returning here for a while. It all felt very sombre.
I am so sorry that your walk turned out to be rather a sombre affair. How sad for Alison but at least her mother wasn't ill for years nor did she die not knowing who her family were as some mothers do. Death is the one thing we can be sure of in this world though not of course how it will happen. It is true that time is a great healer though one never gets over the loss of a loved one one does learn to remember the good times and not the sadness and life does go on. Not a day passes but that I think of my Mum but it isn't with the same weight of sadness now after 13+ years. Sometimes it isn't the anticipated beauty of a garden in springtime that cheers us but perhaps a bird's song or a tiny weed pushing up courageously through the mud or something equally unepected. Our spirits lift when like a butterfly we are not chasing lands upon our sleeve a happy thought appears but we cannot grasp it and hope to hang onto it but must let it go only to return when we least expect it. At least you had a long walk and your body must feel the better for the exercise?
ReplyDeleteThat is a very sad story, one sadly that comes to all of us.
ReplyDeleteSorry that your walk wasn't what you had hoped it would be Simone but I suspect you weren't really in the right frame of mind for it maybe revisit on another day you might be pleasantly surprised.
V x
Oh, what a sad story - it brought back memories of how I felt on losing my mother. such a heart rending read. Your mood after reading that would have been very grey and so the grden appeared grey too. I'm sure if or hopefully when you do go back, as it sounds like a lovely walk to take, things will have changed, I hope so. I love to see often quirky little corners in gardens like in your photo and same as you I'm never sure how 'planned' they are if or they have just evolved:)
ReplyDeleteI saw that post the other day, it is completely heartbreaking isn't it.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for getting out and walking so far, very good for you. Shame the gardens weren't able to lift your spirits. I love the old metal containers.
Lisa x
You went out with purpose and it is a shame the gardens weren't quite as you'd wanted.
ReplyDeleteHope the week improved and you were able to enjoy a walk or stroll locally.
All the best Jan
I read the link you shared. A very sad story. I think walking helps to clear the head. Perhaps you should go back in the summer, you may see changes in you as well in the garden. I hope so.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad story, Simone. I am sorry that you were not able to enjoy the garden this time, but I hope you will go back on a brighter day and have a happier time.
ReplyDeleteHelen xox
How sad that something that should have been so joyful ended up being much the opposite. I would have loved to see all of the flowers you mentioned (and i think the "neglected" corner looks beautiful) instead of all our snow. Sometimes our moods color everything and nothing can help us turn them around. Sending good thoughts your way.
ReplyDeletei think you should back there in high summer with a picnic, a floppy hat and a friend. All three of those things make me happy! You can chase the sad ghost away.
ReplyDelete