Hello my fellow garden lovers, how are you? Some pics of the greenhouse in the main garden today. It’s not looking as abundant as it usually does at this time of year but I think I can be forgiven. I’m getting good biceps traipsing up and down with a watering can in each hand, trying to keep everything alive for the open garden this Sunday. After which, I will stop and it’s then going to go one of two ways…
June/July have been hot and chaotic, time is flying, days are being overfilled with to-do-lists and I’ve found myself on more than one occasion bypassing dreaming of Autumn like I usually do and heading straight for winter. I’m ready to hibernate. I believe that we humans have our own seasons- a time where we need rest (winter), renewal and inspiration (spring), productivity (summer) and enjoying the fruits of our labor (autumn). These in-built seasons don’t always coincide with the seasons of the earth. For instance- When the sun shines high and the days seem never ending, that’s my own season of winter. When summer comes, I feel the need to rest, to be still and not rush around like an angry wasp. I’m out of kilter.
Summer, with it’s extra light and warmth seems to force us to fill the days, there is a feeling of guilt if a long day hasn’t been used productively- like we should be making the most of it. Well I’ve re-learnt an important lesson this summer, to not only listen to my own rhythm, but to remember the order they come in, thus avoiding burn-out and frustration. I’m wilting like my garden and finding myself looking forward to things being over, in turn I realise i’m wishing time away and I hate that, as time is so precious. This year, summer in particular is making me reassess the things that are important to the way I want/need to live. I love appreciating the little things and to do that there requires an amount of slowness to the days, an amount of space. Of discarding some routines, pursuits that no longer align, putting some projects in a file and popping them on the shelf, maybe never to be seen again…
I’m told that August in retail can be quiet so I shall use this time to simply be. Obviously I’m not going to shut shop, but I will rest, read, write and create slow work from the studio above the shop. I’m going to set up a photography and writers nook by the window in my studio. My door will always be open and you can probably expect more musings in my newsletters for a while, possibly even more newsletters…
I’m considering creating my own seasonal chart and putting it up on my wall as a reminder of when, and when not to put my big ideas into practice, and when I shouldn’t be overfilling my calendar and when to book in time for events and being social. I find I need a lot of space in my diary whatever the season if I’m to feel at peace and satisfied. Are you somebody that needs to fill every waking hour, or are you more like me- someone that needs a lot of time to process and reflect before the next move?
Anyway, my ramblings aside, I spent last evening quietly pottering in the garden, tidying up the greenhouse and planning where to put chairs and rugs for the open garden. I’m using the french shed as the tea & cake shop with what’s left of the plant stall to the left of that, honestly, I’ve lost so many plants this summer so it’s looking rather sparse.
I was determined to use this lace curtain somehow. I’d originally suspended from the ceiling for shade but it looked a bit naff, I need two really to do that. So for now I’ve flung it over the table, i’m not sure if it will stay there or not but I like the softness it brings to the space. The open garden is taking place this Sunday 26th of July 2-5 as part of the NGS and is in Campton in Bedfordshire, England. If you’d like to visit then either see the National Garden Schemes website or send me a message for more details.
This summer has also made me rethink the cutting garden for next year. I will no longer be growing annuals for cut flowers, the only exception being sweet peas as I haven’t grown these this year and I’m missing them. I will concentrate on my dahlias and growing more fruit and veg, everything else will have to self-set if it wants to appear again, to be fair, a lot of it has this year. The wild carrot pictured below has self set freely along with verbascum in one of the cutting beds, I’m enjoying what it’s doing so I’ll let it continue.
A little peak of what my chart might look like-
Earth season summer - My season of winter, rest and recharge, nestle into the garden and give myself space mid June till the end of August.
Earth season autumn - My season of spring, renewal and inspiration. I feel at peace in autumn, it’s my favourite season and I find inspiration in nature, ideas flood in, I’m also happy to be out. I like to give the seeds of ideas room to grow here.
Earth season winter - My season of summer, A time I like to create, put ideas into practice, brainstorm. I have more energy to give to others. (Although I don’t like being cold and get frustrated by light going oh so quickly- I do perform best in winter).
Earth season spring - My season of autumn, I’m enjoying the fruits of my labor, watching ideas come to life and choosing which ones to keep and discard, like selecting the best apples to store. I must remember I’m getting ready for my winter which always comes abruptly- therefore I need to remember to balance my diary.
Out of all of them, the season of autumn (my spring) is my favourite time.
What would yours be?
Emma.
Don’t forget you can follow my instagram stories here.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.