Shocking

I know that there will be an outcry in the media tomorrow after the shocking revelations this evening about the abuse in care homes. If nothing else it underlines to me how vital is the environment that we live in and the environment that those who are mentally vulnerable live in. I know how very lucky I am to be able to improve people's lives through the creation of gardens that make them feel secure and safe. I also know how brain injury, disease, and neurological illnesses can make people uncomfortable to be around. We are simply not good at dealing with mental illnesses; however they occur.

I am fortunate enough to see the transformation in people's lives when they can engage with a garden whether it be looking at flowers, feeling the grass under their toes, or digging a bed. Getting outside, having a routine, watching things grow produces a deep seated satisfaction within us - whatever our mental state. Surely horticulture should really start to be used as a mainstream therapy rather than being looked at askance by mental and healthcare charities/institutions.

New beginnings

I am ashamed to admit that this is almost the first time since January (cannot believe the picture of Fizz in the snow) that I have sat down to write a blog. So much has happened, changed and moved forward.

Firstly I have moved to Wiltshire and into a delightful cottage (well bungalow in fact) that sits on the side of a hill with the most wonderful views; birdsong and neighbours.

Secondly I am now doing more project management (including mazes)- life never stands still and am simply loving my work. My learning is on a huge huge curve and life is exciting and challenging. I am still involved in brain injury work and love it - it makes me feel humble when I realise how challenging this condition is for families and loved ones; it certainly makes me incredibly grateful for my life and what I have.

And thirdly, I had time to go to Chelsea....... interesting.... some great ideas, and some not so good. I am just so so so grateful that I did not have to design, plant, construct a garden in those conditions. As always I am full of admiration for the contractors who make impossible designs a possibility. Always underappreciated and underrated - you deserve gold medals for dealing with the logistics, conditions (and dare I say it.... designers!!!)

It is so good to be alive day!

There is no doubt that working out on the ground keeps me sane. Today was positively mild at about 10 degrees, and whilst admittedly wet or rather damp there are signs of life everywhere. I have seen my first snowdrops; the bluebells are starting to push their way through the ground as are the crocus'. Why I wonder have crocus' become so unfashionable. They are some of the unsung heroes or heroines of the plant world. They come in stunning colours in either spring or autumn, and what to my mind is one of their best features, is that their leaves are fine and not that noticeable so there is hardly any mess to clear up. And they proliferate like mad. The secret is to plant them quite deep so that the birds don't eat them. Mind you, I have had my Jack Russell help herself to a few......... Don't be fooled by the black ear and nose - she has a degree in low canine cunning!

Happy New Year

I feel that I should start the New Year off with an apology and not a new resolution. I have been out of communication for several months - all of which convinces me that time is passing faster and faster - for a number of reasons. Primarily, I have been in the throes of passing part of the business over to Carolyn Powell at Shrublands all of which has now happened, and we are both looking forward to a fruitful new partnership. And secondly, I have been working on several new projects, trying to start my correspondence design course (I live in hope), and organising my life. And in all of this of course we had the huge snow fall, which was simply wonderful, amazing and spectacular. If it is going to snow it might as well do it properly. And to be truthful, I am very fortunate having lived part of my life in Scotland, so am not unused to snow and ice. And if we think about it we used to have a fair amount of it (well if you are my age you will remember it!). But we have become so used to balmy winters that we have forgotten the days when we all used to wear 5 layers; lose 30% of our garden plants; have to put water out several times a day for the birds; and regularly take the ice off the windscreens. The upshot of it all is of course that when spring comes it is all the better for it. I have attached a few photos of some of the area around us, which looked absolutely stunning in the snow.

Frustrated....

Is how I feel right now. The weather is all over the place; one day fine the next day, well, revolting, might cover it. The economy is on the up or in free fall dependant on which radio station/newspaper/person you talk to. Yet, life goes on albeit like a merry go round! Trying to stay positive and upbeat when petty red tape and people's limiting views constrict one, can just be downright, hard. When that happens I try to stop, take a few breaths and look at the world around me. It goes on regardless. The autumnal colours at the moment are wonderful. The frost yesterday morning was stunning. I wish I had had my camera with me. At a client's garden the sedums were in full bloom with the most exquisite frosting around each individual flower so that their heads looked like they had been sprinkled with the lightest dusting of icing sugar. It is still a wonderful world!

New partnership

As autumn rapidly approaches (I think) we have teamed up with a super small gardening company based in Gillingham called Shrublands Gardening. Carolyn Powell who heads the team has an ethos similar to mine combined with a great sense of humour (absolutely essential). I am looking forward to working with her, and expanding our reach to include the Blackmore Vale and Gillingham area.

Our most requested plant from the Combat Stress Therapeutic Garden

Well, I could hardly leave our most requested plant identification off the website. It was Francoa sonchifolia 'Rogersons Form'. A lovely frost-hardy perennial that has stunning spires of pink flowers about a metre high that last from summer to early autumn. We planted it around the base of the multi-stemmed sorbus and the pink flowers set off the pinky bronze trunks quite beautifully.