Mud, glorious mud splashed beneath our feet at Highgrove Gardens, and umbrellas attempted to dance out of our hands. A breeze teased the plants and flowers until they bowed, and heavy rain crowned the plants with the colour.
A bouquet of garden rooms offered a parade of flora, fauna and other objects d’art to nourish the imagination. Because phones and cameras are not permitted, we viewed the world through our senses rather than a lens. With Mother Nature as our guide, we were transported into an impressionist painting. Plants and gateways framed views and invited our thoughts to wander freely. Artfully decorated with climbing plants, even the house was in harmony with its surrounding and the windows peered out to the vistas.
Thyme Walk left an imprint of my senses, with the twenty varieties of herbs and topiarised yews. As I write this, I can see the thyme at the side of my garden. I will encourage the herb to become a constant companion of the roses planted over sixty years ago by the previous owner. The pathway covered with moss invited my imagination to meander. Maybe I should let the moss carpet the ugly pathway in my garden, so it blends into the lawn.
Highgrove Gardens are constantly evolving because nature presents new challenges each year. Prince Charles also collects ideas and inspiration on his travels, and I imagine he scribbles his thoughts in a notebook and sketches his ideas. Without a notebook in my bag, I scribed my reflections on a napkin while I drank tea after the tour. It was wonderful to sit and discuss the garden with my husband; we gathered different impressions of the two hour stroll.
Without any photographic evidence of the visit, we will have to rely on our memories and show the influences of the Prince’s pallet in our garden. Before we departed from Highgrove, we bought wine and a decorative tortoise for my garden wall. The tortoise, now named Charlie, is a reminder that I should slow down, watch the seasons and not be too hasty to control the environment with chemicals. I will let Mother Nature work her magic, and this is the best gift I received from the garden.
What a joy to capture my experience with words rather than with the camera. I departed with memories, conversation and questions for gardeners.
How does your garden grow? Do you battle with Mother Nature or adapt your garden according to the challenges you face each year? What inspires you to shape your garden?
Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.