Lots of debate here about the next year. The wedding planning meant the garden became a beast, delightful though it was and the overarching ideas to reduce the workload going forward were postponed for a year. That said we rather enjoyed all the wild flowers and colour…
My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline.
I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy.
I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere.
These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
Reducing the workload on that beautiful garden sounds easier said than done. Maybe dog can help. He seems to be wondering the same thing. Stunning flowers for this time of year.
Lovely as it is, and having spent a very busy day in the garden yesterday, and the day before, I see more work than I personally could manage nowadays. Good luck with the decision making Geoff.
Now that you have married off both of your kids you can decide how the garden can best serve you, the Textiliste and dog. Probable less photogenic but much more relaxing to maintain.
Geoff, I’ll have to email you some photos of my parents’ garden as a warning. The garden was originally landscaped and planted out by a garden enthusiast with sandstone paths azaleas, camellias, a climbing rose, towering rhododendrons, a very expensive plant with strings of little white bells, Japanese maples. Every Spring it’s an explosion of colour. However, it has this self-seeding thing going on. Each Spring their front lawn is a carpet of snowdrops and forget-me-nots and it’s so beautiful in a wilderness sort of way. Camellias self-seed and the other day Dad pointed to a sizable tree and said had sown itself. Unfortunately, a lemon balm which I planted in my herb garden back at school still ravages the backyard and fishbone ferns tower over the swimming pool like triffods. Mum and dad aren’t into gardening and aren’t getting any younger and the whole thing has turned into a wilderness, although Dad is fighting back and I think we’ll be going down to lend a hand. I think it would be heaven for anyone with a thing for hedge-trimmers and the like…a cathartic release.
I remember when you fixed or added the pond and your garden seems to have grown from there. It does take a lot of energy, but could be quite therapeutic for a writer’s soul perhaps. Relaxing.
It’s hard once you’ve reached such a pinnacle of perfection because there’s this expectation to maintain and continue on. However, for many there’s joy in creating and not so much so in the maintaining. It might also be a season.
What are your thoughts?
Best wishes,
Ro
PS another plant hasn’t reacted kindly to the heat and is in resus by the kitchen sink. Life is short in our garden.
TanGental 
Remarkable! Both the garden and the guardian!
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Reducing the workload on that beautiful garden sounds easier said than done. Maybe dog can help. He seems to be wondering the same thing. Stunning flowers for this time of year.
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He’s a ponderer extraordinaire…
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Dog loves the garden as it is. I would keep it. The colours are fabulous.
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Lovely as it is, and having spent a very busy day in the garden yesterday, and the day before, I see more work than I personally could manage nowadays. Good luck with the decision making Geoff.
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Probably we will leave it for a few months
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Bet you don’t!
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Would the decision be easier if you had more hands to help with the upkeep? If so maybe it is a matter of allocating additional funds to the garden.
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I think wevwill just hit pause for a few months, keep it tidy and then think again…
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Always a good idea.
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More veg and fruit and maybe a walnut tree or something? Otherwise, the garden team should keep doing what it’s doing as it looks fab.
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I think we will have a bit of a break. Walnut? Hmm nice that’s a nice idea.
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Now that you have married off both of your kids you can decide how the garden can best serve you, the Textiliste and dog. Probable less photogenic but much more relaxing to maintain.
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We’re definitely taking time out for a period
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Your garden is exquisite, Geoff. It look so gardening-magazine beautiful! You’re inspiring.
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Oh I don’t know… but thank you
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You definitely groomed your garden, but you know, I like it kind of wild! Sort of like its owner.
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Oh that’s me. Wild and wooly.
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Geoff, I’ll have to email you some photos of my parents’ garden as a warning. The garden was originally landscaped and planted out by a garden enthusiast with sandstone paths azaleas, camellias, a climbing rose, towering rhododendrons, a very expensive plant with strings of little white bells, Japanese maples. Every Spring it’s an explosion of colour. However, it has this self-seeding thing going on. Each Spring their front lawn is a carpet of snowdrops and forget-me-nots and it’s so beautiful in a wilderness sort of way. Camellias self-seed and the other day Dad pointed to a sizable tree and said had sown itself. Unfortunately, a lemon balm which I planted in my herb garden back at school still ravages the backyard and fishbone ferns tower over the swimming pool like triffods. Mum and dad aren’t into gardening and aren’t getting any younger and the whole thing has turned into a wilderness, although Dad is fighting back and I think we’ll be going down to lend a hand. I think it would be heaven for anyone with a thing for hedge-trimmers and the like…a cathartic release.
I remember when you fixed or added the pond and your garden seems to have grown from there. It does take a lot of energy, but could be quite therapeutic for a writer’s soul perhaps. Relaxing.
It’s hard once you’ve reached such a pinnacle of perfection because there’s this expectation to maintain and continue on. However, for many there’s joy in creating and not so much so in the maintaining. It might also be a season.
What are your thoughts?
Best wishes,
Ro
PS another plant hasn’t reacted kindly to the heat and is in resus by the kitchen sink. Life is short in our garden.
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I think we will just let it run itself for a period and see what happens. We all need a bit of a break…
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