My first published piece.....
QCWA Ruth Magazine Autumn Issue
An absolute joy for me has been
to create a garden to share with those I love.
Gardening is many things to many
people, but for most it is time we can spend enjoying our homes and
gardens. Hard work at times, but when
the hard work is done how wonderful to have time to spend a moment or an
afternoon enjoying what we have created.
In creating a garden to enjoy
with our family and friends it is important to plan and create special
areas. These areas can come in many
forms. Some simple, while others can be
more complex in design. Ideas can come
from so many places. Visiting beautiful
open gardens, reading blogs and searching places like Pinterest and Instagram
and of course reading inspiring magazines.
Take a simple idea, and begin
with a small space or if you have a blank canvas to work with then you will be
able to dream big and enjoy creating your beautiful garden.
A quiet area hidden from view
of the house is a great place to start. If
starting from the beginning, plant some areas with screening plants to
eventually give you the space you have envisaged. I have found Murraya Mock
Orange and Photinia to be great plants for this.
A garden bench or a pair or
Adirondack chairs to share the time with someone will be a lovely way to spend
an afternoon or evening enjoying the garden.
Read a book, listen to some music, chat with someone or just sit and
enjoy the peace and happiness that can come from spending time in your
garden. Make your space
comfortable. Cushions are an easy
project for the garden. Cheap and
cheerful fabric or even pretty linen tea towels can be made up into great
cushions.
An outdoor eating area can
also be another way to share the garden with family and friends. Many happy hours can be spent creating
special memories of friendship shared and wonderful family times in an area
created within the garden.
This can be as simple as a
table and chairs with an umbrella for shelter from the sun. A barbeque or a pizza oven can be
incorporated into the garden. Remember
to plant beautiful perfumed herbs and plants in these areas to enjoy their fragrance.
Herbs could include Rosemary,
Lemon Balm, Oregano, Mint, Chives, Basil and Thyme – these are then also handy
to snip and use in the meal being shared. Recycle old containers such as olive oil
tins to make a quirky display of herbs in your garden.
Star Jasmine, Wisteria, Lemon
Scented Pelargonium, Gardenia, Lavender and Murraya Mock Orange just to name a
few favourites will make your outdoor space a delight to enjoy. Spring flowering bulbs can be planted during
autumn – favourites include Freesia, Jonquil and Daffodil. Citrus trees are
another wonderful addition to the garden.
The perfume is amazing in Spring then harvesting and using your own
beautiful produce creates another sense of happiness and satisfaction of having
a garden to enjoy.
A chair or a bench in the
vegetable garden or Potager is also a delightful place to spend some time
planning and dreaming of your next project in the garden.
Even those who live in units
or have small gardens can make a beautiful space to be enjoyed. Pots of all descriptions are available and can
be planted with herbs and perfumed annuals, bulbs and shrubs to be enjoyed. Remember to keep the furniture smaller and
enjoy creating a space to spend time enjoying your garden.
To plant a garden and create
special areas to share with those we love is truly a gift we can give and
enjoy. Those moments of complete
happiness are created in enjoying and sharing our creation.
