Garden Talk: Design, Books, Tools, Shop

Show me your garden, 

and I shall tell you who you are.

Alfred Austin

I visited a garden last week,
 it was more of a discovery walk,
and the result was magical. 

I looked closely.
I looked for the magic.

I looked for the music.

And I found it.

Maude's Garden with Tara Novak on violin

I was inspired to take a fresh look and discover my own garden after seeing the wonderful creations of local garden designer, Maude Odgers. I wrote about Maude here and am lucky enough to have her creative expertise in our garden.

As I wandered through her gardens to the beautiful violin music of Tara Novak I started to think of gardens I have enjoyed over the years and what makes them so special. This is a train of thought you might enjoy too.

What is it about a garden that resonates with you? I like to see personality in a garden, I want to feel emotion and walk away grateful to have been in a sacred space. It doesn't have to be grand...just a hint of something...a depth and love shown by the person who designed it and cares for it.

It may be that it takes me back to my grandmothers beach side garden or reminds me of my father's affection for his veggie garden. It could take me back to England or around Australia and New Zealand or to a lotus garden in Vietnam..to all the places where I once tended a garden.

It's personal, for the gardener and the one fortunate enough to wander through it. If someones heart and soul is in a garden, you will feel it.

I like gardening-

it's a place where I find myself 

when I need to lose myself.

Alice Sebold

In Maude's garden, I feel like I am
romancing storybooks..the ones I love.

If you have a garden and a library,
you have everything you need.
 Marcus Tullius Cicero

Maude is an artist, painter, writer, avid reader, 

gardener and much more.  She does them all with passion
and it shows in her garden.

A garden is a grand teacher. 
It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; 
it teaches industry and thrift; 
above all it teaches entire trust.
 Gertrude Jekyll

Maude's Garden

I wandered through Maude's garden several times, quietly 

and within no time I was with Frances Hodgson Burnett 

in her pages of The Secret Garden and in another spot...

through the pages of Beatrix Potter...

half expecting Peter Rabbit to pop out of the garden patch

or Mr. Jeremy Fisher to splash into the water feature. 

There is whimsy

there is magic

and there is music

Maude's Garden

Everything that slows us down and forces patience, 

everything that sets us back into

the slow circle of nature, is a help. 

Gardening is an instrument of grace.

May Sarton

After visiting Maude's garden, 

I spent time in my own garden, digging, 

weeding, snipping, hauling...

and catching it in different light. 

Tahilla Farm Garden

Hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, 

dragonflies and bees are having 

a grand old time in our garden.

Monarch Butterfly in the garden

The flower garden beds and view to a mountain

Under the Studio window

and old Mr. Gnome who has

been guiding us since our first summer

at Tahilla Farm in 2013 is still with us.

I love that he is carrying a book..

a sign of Tahilla Gatherings to come. ;)

To the woodland walk

 I remember every stone, every tree, 

the scent of heather...

Even when the thunder growled in the distance, 

and the wind swept up the valley in fitful gusts, 

oh, it was beautiful, home sweet home.

Beatrix Potter

MY SUMMER GARDENING FAVORITES

I am continuing my Summer Favorites, 

you can find the first list HERE

First off, if you haven't discovered Margaret Roach's book, 

A Way to Garden, you must, HERE . I went along to

hear her speak at our local bookshop yesterday

and she was FANTASTIC! A wealth of knowledge, she 

made me appreciate the world we live in even more.

Her website is full of gardening tips, recipes and news as is her

podcast. The latest podcast on beecology is fascinating. 

In my garden tool bucket..

From White Flower Farm

Japanese Garden Snips

I call them my miracle snippers-

I never snip a flower without them.

Dahlia and Peony Bloom

Garden Gloves

How many gardening gloves can one person have?

Not enough if you tend to lose them like me. 

These fit beautifully and are too pretty to lose!

The Tip Bag

I first discovered the tip bag in England

and it has been a staple in my garden 

ever since. I suggest more than one

as they have a way of disappearing.

I don't know how...

From Amazon

The Dewalt Electric Hedge Trimmer

This came highly recommended

by my gardening friend, Joe Valentine.

This was my first attempt...don't look to

closely, but I was was pretty pleased that they

were still standing by the time I finished!

Hori Hori Garden Knife

This is a handy tool that I have 

with me at all times. I managed

to lose it last summer...I am convinced 

it is buried in the mulch pile which

I have no interest in exploring (deer ticks).

I ordered a new one...

and I am keeping

a watchful eye. 

The Nejiri Kama Weeding Sickle

This little beauty will leave no weed unturned.

It's me and my weeding sickle all the way!

From Gardeners Supply

 Large Gardner's Supply Cart

This has been a lifesaver for several years.

Mr. H bumped me up to the larger size 

(medium shown) and I am glad he did. 

Everything goes in here,

it's light and easy to move around. 

I love it!

From Garden Artisans

I must not forget my Wooden Garden Trug 

mentioned in my earlier post, here

That sums up a few of my favorite gardening tools this season.

The summer's not over yet, there may be more!

and lastly...

The book I featured in my first photo is 

Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes.

Synopsis via Frances Mayes

Kit Raine, an American writer living in Tuscany, is working on a biography of her close friend, a complex woman who continues to cast a shadow on Kit's own life. Her work is waylaid by the arrival of three women- Julia, Camille, and Susan- all of whom have launched a recent and spontaneous friendship that will uproot them completely and redirect their lives. Susan, the most adventurous of the three, has enticed them to subvert expectations of staid retirement by taking a lease on a big, beautiful house in Tuscany. Though novices in a foreign culture, their renewed sense of adventure imbues each of them with a bright sense of bravery, a gusto for life, and a fierce determination to thrive. But how? With Kit's friendship and guidance, the three friends launch themselves into Italian life, pursuing passions long forgotten- and with drastic and unforeseeable results.

I am making my second attempt with this book and am happy to say that I have made it past the sticking point and am well and truly into it. The book has me thinking of Tuscany, cooking and sharing great food, drinking Italian rosé wine,  running through the markets, popping into cafe's and thinking about olive oil in a new light. There is lot more to happen but so far....I am enjoying the ride. Tuscany anyone?

Best wishes for a wonderful week....hope you have a chance to enjoy a garden or two!

Jeanne xx

PS..if you have any thoughts and would life to write to me... jeannecollageoflife@gmail.com