UP THE GARDEN PATH

I’ll start this little ramble with a quote about gardens from my book: “Each of us had our own little plot or section to tend – Gran, Lorna and I, and a bit of competitive spirit entered too!”

At the moment I’m feeling a little of this energizing spirit – if not competitive then rather excited at the numbers following me on Instagram (pariscelia_author). Thank you to them – mostly book enthusiasts and it seems, also lovers of gardens and nature.

My husband’s mother used to say that it’s not the house you remember, it’s the garden – and definitely, as I grow older and prepare to move again, I agree more and more with her….We’ve lived in many houses and I’ve known and worked in many gardens – by far the biggest and the best was the one we owned in France…I could never quite believe that it was all ‘ours’. It started off as an overgrown wilderness, complete with snakes, literally hundreds of brambles, and bracken – fougères in France and ready to take hold ferociously given a tenth of a chance! But with much hard work over six or so years, cutting back and inching forward, the garden was gradually tamed and reclaimed, taking shape in a most satisfactory way. I was particularly proud of a path which I marked out and edged with stones found and collected around the house and surrounds, and finished off with bags of small chippings – providing a route around the garden plus a track for timed races! A very productive Bramley apple tree was discovered, shrubs were planted to border the lane, along with bags of bulbs, grass seed, wild flower seeds, and even potatoes and a small potager. Springtime was the best with all the blossom and bluebells and various ‘spots’ soon became favourites for sitting and contemplating, reading, gazing at the view, especially enjoying a coffee or a ‘sundowner’!

I’ll attach 3 photos to give a little of the ambience – I can’t help feeling pangs of emotion and regret when I look at them and more so with a French CD playing in the background!

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