So we come to the end of this years a -z - I hadn’t realized at the beginning of this memory of 'gardens in my life' just how much they had influenced me. A garden is just a garden is just a garden - right?
As a child I was a fearful wee beastie. Frightened of my own shadow and everyone else’s to-boot. The garden was a haven of safety and peace from the world and more importantly from people. I didn’t know what to do with people for many years.
The garden was where I played out my imagination, where I learnt about the more fascinating and less threatening world of nature, it was where, with my friend from forever/editor, I learnt all about risk taking.
It was the secure environment that nurtured me and helped to build my confidence so that when it came to take of and travel the world I was prepared.
Then in my middle age after years of almost nomad living it afforded a whole stack more interests in the world of nature and science. A new past-time to calm and test me simultaneously.
Now in my older years even though I am losing the ability to do exactly as I wish out there in my green space,the garden is offering me a new haven of peace and contentment.
However, this is not a story of demise, what I haven’t lost with the physical agility is my feeling that every day will bring new discoveries, new interest, new reasons to enjoy life. My imagination is still intact - touch wood! My reasoning powers have more time now to tangle with large questions in life! I have time to shake my head at the follies of humanity, time to ponder.
Despite setbacks and failures I have not lost my zest for this life and world .
