The Met Office has recently announced that here in the UK we have just had the coldest spring in 50 years. Well, I don’t think it took a formal announcement to make that clear and we will certainly all be thrilled (I mean horrified) to receive our little reminders of this fact when our next gas and electricity bills arrive.
Thankfully, this all changed this week! Coats out, sandals in, summer may not officially arrive until the summer solstice but it certainly has felt like summer all this week!
The best part of this has been watching my garden wake up from its extended hibernation. Shoots of new growth in that delicious, new green only seen in the spring, buds holding promise of the colour soon to come and leaves unfurling as if stretching out in one big yawn to embrace the warmth and light of the sunshine. My garden has come alive and it is making up for lost time!
Sign of Life
(c) copyright Sherri Matthews 2013
Time. That word.
All in good time.
I need more time.
What’s the time?
Time to go.
Time heals.
When we moved into our present home 5 years ago I planted a rambling rose at the front of the house. I had visions of it covering the entire front of the house and draping majestically over the front porch. For the first couple of years it grew vigorously , putting out shoots all over the place. I tended it, fed it with special rose food and sprayed it against black spot, mildew and those dreaded green-fly. I waited patiently for buds to appear.
After 3 years of vigorous but bloom-free years, at last my patience was rewarded and for one glorious week last summer my front porch was awash in delicate white-pink, rambling roses and the joy this gave me was indescribable. I was so proud when my neighbours commented on how beautiful they looked.
Well, you know what ‘they’ say about pride…
One week later a storm struck the West Country and tore down my rose. I thought I had lost it all. My husband, seeing my distress, assured me that the rose would recover. We managed to tie what remained of it back up as best we could and in the late Autumn we hired a gardener to cut it right back. My poor rose looked forlorn, desecrated. The gardener and my husband both told me that I mustn’t worry, the rose would recover.
All in good time.
My garden, the wildlife that visits it, all reliant on the seasons, the timings of nature and the weather. I see my life before me told in the story of my garden. I waited years for my own garden. I strived hard to achieve the delicious reward of seeing something which I have planted grow and flourish under my careful and loving care and not have to leave it behind as I have done so many times before.
This time I can be still and at peace in my own garden.
I want beauty in this garden of mine, in this life of mine, in this world of mine. I want a haven which is safe and colourful, a place to sit amongst the bees and the butterflies and the birds. It doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and hard work. Sometimes all that hard work comes to nothing. I’ve pulled out more plants which have died than I’ve planted. Slugs have decimated others. The inclimate weather has destroyed just a few.
You’ve just got to keep pressing on, rolling up those sleeves and not giving up.
Some things work, some things don’t. What works right now is my roses, my lavender, my butterfly bushes and my hollyhocks. My honeysuckle and jasmine promising a heavenly scent in just a few weeks to come.
This is all I want. I don’t want to think of what is outside my garden right now. In my garden I don’t have to think about time and its relentless push forward. I see the rewards of the time I’ve spent nurturing my garden and for a brief moment I can keep time still, take a snapshot in time to remember. I want to share this with my loved ones, those near and dear. It isn’t just for me.
I want to give what I have in my heart to those who grow in my heart every single minute of every single day.
I want to give them my time.
My rose recovered and how. A few weeks ago I noticed a few buds, then some more, then a positive proliferation of blooms!
Rambling Rose in the Spring
(c) copyright Sherri Matthews 2013
Rambling Rose
(c) copyright Sherri Matthews 2013
RamblingRose
(c) copyright Sherri Matthews 2013
Today, I have my rose back. What looked dead and dismal is now very much alive, beautiful and thriving.
This is how I want my life to be.
(c) copyright Sherri Matthews 2013
It is just a matter of time.
Time is like the wind, it lifts the light and leaves the heavy. ~Doménico Cieri Estrada
A View From My Summerhouse 
As you describe your garden and all the traumas associated with gardening so beautifully, it came over very strongly at just how all the joys and disappointments in a garden are just like life really. We just have to carry on and not give up. Our rewards will come in time. Your rose looks stunning and I know how much you have longed for roses round your door. Enjoy their beauty and all they give you and others. Much love Xxxxxx
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You know what lies behind these words so very well. This rose has bloomed earlier than the others, more to come! Perhaps it will be a good year and let’s hope that we won’t be blighted by storms this time, at least not until later in the year! Thank you as always mumblypeg for your lovely comments. Love & Hugs xoxox
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Beautifully written
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Thank you Sheila 🙂
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My elderly neighbour has white climbing roses and standard roses in his garden which I get to enjoy every day. So glad the weather has improved and we can now feast our eyes on the flowers.
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How lovely! It is such a blessing to be able to share with the neighbours! Despite the recent strong winds my roses have survived thank goodness and yes, we can have a feast indeed! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
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Hi Sherri, this was such a beautiful post. Have you considered turning this post into fiction? I think there is a lovely short story hidden in your roses!
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Ah, hi Rachael and thanks so much, great to see you here again! I honestly hadn’t thought of that, but what a great idea! Funnily enough, I am just starting to turn my thoughts to writing fiction – just reached this point with the WB! You have inspired me…watch this space!! 🙂
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Beautiful photos!!! Love that summer is in the air for you all! Hope you have a wonderful summer!!
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Thanks so much Jessie! Glad you like them and this post and always so lovely to see your comments and visits here. We had some more strong winds recently but this time my roses survived! Now it is very balmy and distinctly summer-like…just in time for Wimbledon, Strawberries and Cream! Wishing you all a beautiful summer too…enjoy every day with your beautiful family 🙂 x
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Hi Sherri,
My mother lived for her garden. It was what gave her peace and happiness. She is gone now, but what I learned from her has made me appreciate nature in all her wonder. I now have a small cabin on an island that I visit often. In Canada, as well, our summer has been delayed, but this past weekend made up for all the waiting. It was glorious.
I love your roses and your beautiful photographs.
Cheers,
Dennis
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Hi Dennis! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful testimony here about your mother and what her garden meant to her. The legacy she left for you by giving you a love of nature is a priceless gift. I always tell people that everything I know about my garden I learnt from my mum! So glad to hear that over in Canada you are now, at last, seeing summer bloom in all it’s glory! So glad you have enjoyed my photographs, many thanks for the lovely compliment 🙂
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Hi Sherri, thank you for visiting my flower blog http://wp.me/3jVw4 and nominating me for the Liebster Blog Award. Although I am declining it for reasons given on my blog, I am glad that it has given me the opportunity to visit your blog. I love this post – life and gardens ARE hard work and never stand still. I can’t wait to have another garden again, but until then I shall nurture my pot ‘garden’ and visit others. One thing can be said for England, there are lots of lovely gardens to appreciate.
Jude xx
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Hi Jude! Thank you so much for your lovely comment here! Of course I fully understand, no problem. I just wanted to recognise your lovely photos and blogs and I look forward to visiting again! I have had many ‘pot gardens’ so I know just what that is like, hence the importance of my garden now. The great thing about pots though is you can take them with you! This is the longest I’ve lived in one place long enough to have my own garden and I hope that you will also have your own garden again oneday. Keep in touch 🙂 x
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