From my Journal, Sunday, May 31st, 1998, Totnes.
"Today we drove out to Fermoy's Garden Centre on the road to Newton Abbot and bought two small plants, one a rose, and the other a clematis, for our garden. On my return home I proceeded to plant both the rose and the clematis. In an abstract way I saw this as an act of love, in that I like sitting in our garden looking at the flora, but in reality it became an act of impatience. I am not confident in my gardening skills and this leads first to anxiety, then to irritability and finally, as it did today, to intolerable frustration which can create an atmosphere for others which is filled with trepidation and the fear that I am about to blow my top to the extent that what should have been a pleasant creative experience can be tinged with tension and some measure of uncertainty. One way or another I got through my panic and completed what I hope will become an act of love."
"Today we drove out to Fermoy's Garden Centre on the road to Newton Abbot and bought two small plants, one a rose, and the other a clematis, for our garden. On my return home I proceeded to plant both the rose and the clematis. In an abstract way I saw this as an act of love, in that I like sitting in our garden looking at the flora, but in reality it became an act of impatience. I am not confident in my gardening skills and this leads first to anxiety, then to irritability and finally, as it did today, to intolerable frustration which can create an atmosphere for others which is filled with trepidation and the fear that I am about to blow my top to the extent that what should have been a pleasant creative experience can be tinged with tension and some measure of uncertainty. One way or another I got through my panic and completed what I hope will become an act of love."
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| The Clematis and the Rose May 31st, 2018 |
Twenty years later despite my anxiety and fears on the day of their planting the Clematis and the Rose are now mature, healthy, beautiful and much admired and loved.
A few days ago a neighbour of ours, 6 years old FW, who loves flowers, came into our garden and saw our flowers and gave them his approval. He also told us a great deal that we did not know about our fruit trees, particularly our apple trees. I am sure he will become a renowned botanist and horticulturist. Remember you first read this on this page. He particularly liked the Clematis. Here it is, once more in all its glory.
