{"id":7555,"date":"2024-12-08T10:51:03","date_gmt":"2024-12-08T10:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/?page_id=7555"},"modified":"2024-12-13T07:47:46","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T07:47:46","slug":"100-centimetres","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/100-centimetres\/","title":{"rendered":"100 centimetres &#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"7555\" class=\"elementor elementor-7555\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-868688a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"868688a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bbd7859\" data-id=\"bbd7859\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcd8a68 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dcd8a68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">100 centimetres ... or 100 acres!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ed2d8b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4ed2d8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">             ... saying goodbye to the \"lower lawn\"<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-485a326 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"485a326\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3c13ec5\" data-id=\"3c13ec5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de82688 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"de82688\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The focus of this piece is the repurposing of a section of the garden that had functioned as a play area for our two boys &amp; the dogs. After many years of admirable service, of lolling &amp; frolicking, ball play and somersaults, its days as a lawn had come to an end. The design intention in this part of the garden (let\u2019s call it the \u201clower lawn\u201d \u2013 a pretentious overture to what it once was), had three core elements. Four raised beds, a small Cor-ten steel herb bed, three larger circular Corten steel wildflower beds (100cm in diameter), and a water feature. The combination was intended to be simple, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-80090fc\" data-id=\"80090fc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81afeb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"81afeb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-7555 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"81afeb4\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzU2MCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0xhbmRzY2FwZS1wbGFuLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjgxYWZlYjQifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-plan.jpg'><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1206\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-plan.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-plan.jpg 1206w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-plan-177x300.jpg 177w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-plan-603x1024.jpg 603w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-plan-768x1304.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-plan-905x1536.jpg 905w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1206px) 100vw, 1206px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8d083f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"a8d083f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81fc573 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"81fc573\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Simple:<\/strong> \u2026 well, it is what it is. Four circles and four rectangles arranged on a piece of lawn.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Functional:<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0the vegetable beds would be productive and easily accessed (especially important given the state of my failing knees \u2013 future proofing eh!). The Cor-ten wildflower circles would hopefully attract a wide variety of pollinators \u2026 and provide me with &#8230; something! I wasn\u2019t sure what given that I\u2019d never created a wildflower bed before. There was an early consideration of using the two <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7571 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Image-3-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Image-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Image-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Image-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Image-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>beds that border the path flowing down the garden with asparagus. In terms of space, in a small vegetable patch, this was a bit of a luxury I know, but there was also an aesthetic to my thinking in that once the asparagus had been picked, the fronds would form a pleasing, wispy border along the path. As it evolved, this idea was put on hold for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the first year.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Aesthetically pleasing:<\/strong>\u00a0I see no conflict between functionality and aesthetics. Things can work really well <strong><u>and<\/u> <\/strong>look good. I like the exposed timbers of the raised beds, the juxtaposition of circle and oblong, the colour combination of browns, greens and an ever-changing floral panorama, and I also didn\u2019t want the chickens to be looking out on some static, inert, landscape, like prisoners looking from one cell block to the next!<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>In relation to aesthetics, what is it about Corten steel? As I\u2019m writing this, I\u2019m looking out past the plane tree, across two hedges that border the middle garden, on to the red cedar stained top of the pergola on the screen garden \u2013 where all the screens are Corten steel. I\u2019ve explored this in a little more depth in my exploration of the screen garden <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/screen-garden\/\">(see here)<\/a><\/strong>&#8230;<\/em><\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The build: <\/strong>So,to the build! The hard landscaping (i.e. The raised beds) were easy both in terms of construction and materials. I won\u2019t bore you with the \u201chow to build.\u201d The materials were close to hand in that they were the reclaimed sections of the \u201cwhisky shed\u201d that had been deconstructed in building the new workshop\/studio.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-697d7c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"697d7c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-7555 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"697d7c3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzU5MiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0xhbmRzY2FwZS0xLXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNjk3ZDdjMyJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-1-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-1-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"697d7c3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzU5MywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0xhbmRzY2FwZS0yLXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNjk3ZDdjMyJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-2-scaled.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-2-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"697d7c3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzU5NCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0xhbmRzY2FwZS02LXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNjk3ZDdjMyJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-6-scaled.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-6-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"697d7c3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzU5NSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0xhbmRzY2FwZS1ncmlkLXNjYWxlZC5qcGciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiI2OTdkN2MzIn0%3D\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-grid-scaled.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-grid-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-grid-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-grid-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-grid-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-grid-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-grid-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Landscape-grid-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ee95505 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ee95505\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d47fde2\" data-id=\"d47fde2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8267f89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8267f89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The filling of the beds was more challenging. The size of the raised beds was such that I needed a lot of compost. If I were buying the soil, it would cost a fair bit but there was no rush. I don\u2019t know about you, but I get quite a kick out of all thing\u2019s \u201ccompost\u201d (<em>15 years ago, I could never have imagined saying such a thing!)<\/em>. One of the results is that I\u2019ve got a \u201c3-bin\u201d system in the garden. Built from wood out of reclaimed garden projects and pallets, it works really well. Year 1 &#8230; fill Bin 1, year two, transfer Bin 1 to Bin 2 (&amp; refill bin 1), Year 3 &#8230; transfer Bin 2 to Bin 3, and so on. By the end of Year 3, bin 3 is a well composted, dark, warm, friable mixture of nutritious garden glory. So I used what compost I had, enough to fill three of the four new beds.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f134240 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"f134240\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9310c2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9310c2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflections on the first year<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b40599e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b40599e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This project has been one of the most pleasantly surprising events in my gardening life to date. Who would have thought that a relatively small, 100cm circle of steel, could contain so much! I\u2019ve thought about how to frame the following reflections and concluded that they might work if I write about what I feel I may have contributed to the garden, and what the garden has given back to me.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82778c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"82778c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>A clearer understanding of the reciprocity of gardening<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c07e1 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"28c07e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0Gardening is, in essence, a reciprocal process. It is an act of both giving and receiving. It\u2019s sometimes too easy to lapse into \u201ctake and control\u201d mode when it comes to gardening, to express a planting proforma that speaks exclusively to what you want and not necessarily to what nature might want or need. Creating something that, in theory, will have balance, a life of its own and be of benefit not just to the onlooker but to the surrounding flora and fauna is, in essence, a way of giving back.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>The wildflower planting didn\u2019t instil in me a sense of smug satisfaction and self-righteousness, but nurtured more a feeling of connection to living processes, to the intricate, dynamic and natural process that is the garden.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4646571 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"4646571\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-7555 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4646571\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzYxNywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0lNR181ODkyLXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNDY0NjU3MSJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5892-scaled.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5892-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4646571\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzYxOSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0lNR181ODk0LXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNDY0NjU3MSJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5894-scaled.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5894-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4646571\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzYyMCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0lNR181OTc0LXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNDY0NjU3MSJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5974-scaled.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5974-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4646571\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzYyMSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0lNR181OTc1LXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNDY0NjU3MSJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5975-scaled.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5975-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acb86a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"acb86a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f3241a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2f3241a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-987a172 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"987a172\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>New gardening knowledge<\/strong>:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6694e9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6694e9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time &#8230; time &#8230;time &#8230; I found that\u00a0the beds acted as some kind of horticultural vortex, drawing me closer, asking me to sit, to watch, to immerse myself in the ever changing display &#8230; and then to learn. There were some flowers that I recognised but the majority were a revelation to me. The first coloniser of the beds was the \u201c<strong>Fiddleneck plant<\/strong>\u201d (<strong>Phacelia tanacetifolia<\/strong>). I admit to being somewhat underwhelmed at the beginning given that, pre-bloom, each of the three beds was dominated by a thick covering of this wiry, grasping plant. I thought that it would be the one dominant feature, the big \u201cI am\u201d &#8230; but how wrong could I be. It produced a wonderful, bountiful, and unique flower that attracted so many insects. It was a signpost to what was to come!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dd9d5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"8dd9d5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-7555 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"8dd9d5d\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzY0MywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL01lYWRvdy1ncmlkLTEtc2NhbGVkLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjhkZDlkNWQifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-1-scaled.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-1-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"8dd9d5d\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzY0MiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0JvcmFnZS0zLmpwZWciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiI4ZGQ5ZDVkIn0%3D\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Borage-3.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Borage-3-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"8dd9d5d\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzY0NCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL01lYWRvdy1ncmlkLTMtc2NhbGVkLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjhkZDlkNWQifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-3-scaled.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-3-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-3-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-3-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-3-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-3-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Meadow-grid-3-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"8dd9d5d\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzY0NSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL05pZ2VsbGEtMi5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiOGRkOWQ1ZCJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Nigella-2.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Nigella-2-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-406fc0d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"406fc0d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the next few weeks, slowly emerging through the verdant orchestra of fiddle neck, a variety of plants reached out, sometimes transient, fleeting, sometimes with a little more staying power. Morning Glory, Speedwell, Borage, Poppy, Flax, Nigella, Scabious and more! I won\u2019t go into much detail here as I\u2019ll be elaborating on them in the \u201c<strong>Flowers Gallery<\/strong>\u201d<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/flowers-gallery\/\">(see here)<\/a><\/strong>. In many ways the pictures speak for themselves. The one that struck me straight between the eyes was the delightful scarlet Flax. Mounted on lanceolate leaves, at times a dark heart, bleeding out in perfect symmetry, a ship\u2019s propellor threatening to whirr into action, at times a burst of colour of such crystallised power that it dulled all in its immediate vicinity. A revelation for me!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-419b9aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"419b9aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>An appreciation of the pollinator:<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf1c625 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf1c625\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9385e28\" data-id=\"9385e28\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1c3249 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f1c3249\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-202e0b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"202e0b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In providing a \u201ccompact and bijou\u201d landing ground for a plethora of fauna, you are providing a stage on which the flyers and crawlers can dance, can perform, can entertain, can encore at will. Small copper, meadow brown, Burnet moth and Bumblebee dance around the blooms. Violet oil, ladybird, yellow flag and carder bee, soldier and swollen thigh, crawl, hover and fly, reaping the benefits of this rich and giving arena.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0ac9cd9\" data-id=\"0ac9cd9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0e2487 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"e0e2487\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery galleryid-7555 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-medium_large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"e0e2487\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NzYzNSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL215Z2FyZGVudGFsa3N0b21lLmNvbVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTJcL0ZpZGRsZW5lY2stMi5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZTBlMjQ4NyJ9\" href='https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Fiddleneck-2.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"883\" src=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Fiddleneck-2-768x883.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-7635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Fiddleneck-2-768x883.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Fiddleneck-2-261x300.jpeg 261w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Fiddleneck-2-891x1024.jpeg 891w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Fiddleneck-2-1336x1536.jpeg 1336w, https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Fiddleneck-2.jpeg 1728w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-7635'>\n\t\t\t\tPhacelia tanacetifolia &#8220;Fiddleneck&#8221;\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1dd7d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e1dd7d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddc8db5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ddc8db5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Space is not an issue:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cabca92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cabca92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It\u2019s true that our garden is bigger than the average garden. Not huge, but bigger than most people\u2019s growing space. The title of this piece, 100cms, is significant here. The rewards I took from the processes and outcomes of creating these beds aren\u2019t limited to large growing spaces. Indeed, one of the beauties of this project is that it\u2019s replicable in more confined spaces. I could see small wildflower\/meadow beds on allotments, as part of a play area, part of a lawn, and even on a balcony. The fact that I\u2019ve used Corten steel is irrelevant, any durable material would suffice. It potentially opens so many possibilities for so many to add something of value to their gardens\/growing spaces.<\/p><p>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1bde30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1bde30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Emotional connections:<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3915e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d3915e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Over the days, weeks and summer\/autumn months, I recognised that the pausing by the beds provided an opportunity to practice (or maybe to rediscover), the life skill of \u201cletting go\u201d. I\u2019ve mentioned this elsewhere on the site but it\u2019s worth another plug. Those times when you can simply \u201cbe in the moment\u201d, free from extraneous pressures, everyday demands, are to be savoured. I\u2019m hesitant to use the word \u201cmindfulness\u201d because I think that it turns many people off these days. Perhaps it\u2019s just me but my feeling is that it\u2019s become tarnished with a label of middle-classness. I\u2019ll stick with being in the moment for now.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However you want to view it, don\u2019t underestimate removing or reducing the potency and power of the \u201cshould\u201d. As a simple, reflective exercise, it can be quite useful to explore how much of what you do in the garden is a response to the word \u201cshould\u201d (\u2026I should be pruning, dead heading, mowing the lawn, weeding, \u201cslugging\u201d etc). Of course, there are always tasks that need to be done in the gardening year but if the majority of our gardening activities are served to us on a bed of \u201cshould\u201d, it\u2019s not difficult to see how our enjoyment of our gardens might slowly dwindle.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once happy with that, the ability to relax and enjoy \u2013 the removal of a \u201cshould\u201d, the circles came to represent, for brief moments of time &#8230; freedom, taking time to briefly look after myself &#8230; and that\u2019s OK.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcfc7d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"fcfc7d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cea443 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6cea443\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Conclusions<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b42cd04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b42cd04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just to reiterate what I wrote at the beginning of this section; the wildflower planting has been a revelation. I\u2019m left with a cast iron commitment to continue a wildflower\/meadow theme in this section of the garden and possibly\/probably expanding it to other areas. I\u2019m also looking forward to broadening my knowledge base in relation to wild\/meadow flowers<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new raised beds have worked really well, and I\u2019ll create more of these to replace the 9 flat beds on the other side of the path. One of next year\u2019s tasks is to replace the deck boards on the top deck and much of the wood, whilst not good enough for the deck, will be fine for the new raised beds.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In terms of what I\u2019ve \u201cgiven\u201d to the garden, my sense is that I\u2019ve created a more \u201ddynamic\u201d and interrelated space. Aesthetically, there is more beauty in the garden. Functionally, there are more productive spaces adding to the sustainability factor. In terms of what the garden has given to me &#8230; I would refer you to much of what I\u2019ve written within this piece \u2013 connectedness, tranquillity, and another seed of anticipation that will nurture me through the cold of winter. \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ccbb72c elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"ccbb72c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"http:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_5898.mov\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4932049 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4932049\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/?page_id=13\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Back to \"reflections\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>100 centimetres &#8230; or 100 acres! &#8230; saying goodbye to the &#8220;lower lawn&#8221; \u00a0 The focus of this piece is the repurposing of a section of the garden that had functioned as a play area for our two boys &amp; the dogs. After many years of admirable service, of lolling &amp; frolicking, ball play and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7555","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7555"}],"version-history":[{"count":289,"href":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8034,"href":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7555\/revisions\/8034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygardentalkstome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}