I can never walk past a stand of lupins without thinking of the Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch in which a bumbling highwayman named Dennis Moore (played by John Cleese) steals lupins from the rich and tries to give them to the local peasantry. Alas, Moore's efforts are met with derision by the people he is trying to hand his purloined florals to, and they demand other things instead, like Titian paintings, Venetian silver and art glass.
This morning's lupins live in the abandoned garden behind a small brick bungalow in the village. The elderly woman who lived in the little house had a wonderful garden surrounded by high hedgerows, and the garden could not be seen from the street. It always reminded me of the secret garden in Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden. There were fruit trees and blackberries and hawthorns, antique lupins in blue, purple, pink and cream, coneflowers, cornflowers, daisies, phlox, peonies and hostas. The place was full of birds and bumbles in the summer, and it was an oasis of serenity. I loved visiting.
The house was sold a few months ago, and its owner has moved into an assisted living community. The property will be bulldozed this summer, and the lot filled up with townhouses, no green space involved whatsoever. My friend's fabulous garden will soon to be a thing of the past.
This summer I am thinking of my friend and her fabulous garden rather than comedy sketches, and I am feeling a little blue. Some of her lupins, cornflowers, peonies and hostas will be coming home to my own garden this weekend, and I shall think of her whenever I see them.
4 comments:
It reminds me of a neighbor who moved into a house after living in an assisted living facility for a while...and who had her entire back yard planted in iris...every color imaginable. So for several years she had a bounty of beauty, then unfortunately had to move back to the assisted living. I think she had the right idea...plant when and where you can, then let it go. I didn't capture anything but photos, but when the next tenants moved in, they had children to play on the lawn.
So sad,so short-sighted. I'm glad that some of the plants will find a home with you.
Mary
I am glad you got to save some of those beautiful plants to fill your garden! Am sure your friend is grateful for your efforts , if she is capable of knowing... In any case, hope they give you joy, and peace...
Is she computer savvy? You could email her photos of those plants. I finally planted one lupine this year. It is probably too warm, but I do love their elegance.
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