Saturday 18 April 2009

ONE PERFECT DAY

Some people love to spend the day amongst other people and shops and noise and hustle and bustle.

Some people love to stay inside and read or talk with friends and maybe cook or drink.

Some people love to sit on the beach and just watch and listen to the sea.

Some people love to do something to make the adrenalin rush like rock climbing or parachuting or playing computer games.

Some people love to garden and get things all orderly and under control.

image  Today I spent my one perfect day with tiny things. I needed to get my soul nourished; to feel rich, fertile soil in my fingers; to be there amongst it all with those creatures who live there in my vegetable garden but whom I haven't visited for a while. For the first time in several months I spent the day in my own garden.

The tiny things were around me all day and I don't think I have ever noticed such a diversity of life in one place before. It was as though they all said.... here she is.... look.... come and say hello.... show her you are still here doing your best for her.

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This little frog, about the size of a strawberry, was in the worm farm and seemed quite happy to let me get within inches of him to take a photo..... The bee collecting from this dahlia obviously loves orange because its legs are loaded with balls of orange pollen.....

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There were several sorts of ladybirds, this one on a fennel flower.

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This wasp found the fine landing platform of a large succulent leaf an ideal place to do a spot of face cleaning....

 

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The butterflies were out in the sunshine too.....

I invited 3 friends around to help me with some of the gardening but all morning there was just the one friend and myself, working side by side, not talking much...image here she is..

 

 

 

 

When I came back out after lunch I could hear that the other 2 had arrived and they were happily chatting away in the garden as they worked and didn't even notice when I arrived....

Vegetable gardening is not just about food; it is so much more. It is about life. Real life.....

The soil was so full of worms and bugs and insects and all manner of creatures, working slowly and steadily to keep the cycle of life alive. I left my camera inside after lunch other wise I would not have finished all the clearing out and digging over I needed to get done in order to be able to sow and plant tomorrow. But I saw them all and I felt so happy to be with them all again.

4 comments:

Cecilia Macaulay (Tess) said...

Thats so lovely. "Productive gardening is not about food, its about life. Real life".
You are right. Garden neglect isn't not a matter of procrastination, its a lack of inviting friends over to help. I had two wonderful day-WWOOFers over on Saturday, Sawa and Adison, who renovated my balcony garden for the autumn. There they are now, up on my blog.
x

Naturalnightdew said...

I am sure all the tiny things in your garden must have missed you..that was a lovely...

Anonymous said...

That's lovely Katie. I am so glad you enjoyed it sdo much. I hope you will be back to work in our garden again very soon. I'll look forward to it and maybe I will be able to share the pleasure of it with you next time. Love Roger

Christina said...

Yes, it is.

Thanks for sharing that life with so many people.