In reply to Charles Cresson's garden in Swarthmore ....Ten minutes or less. (I've kind of punished myself on this one. I use timers. Especially in the garden. I have so much to say about Charles' garden but I used fifty minutes of my allotted hour chopping Crassulaceae for holiday presents instead of writing about Amherst Ave. and myself. No one wants to hear people talk about themselves tho! so.... Will have to edit later) The stink bugs flying around the room sound louder than the dishwasher right now. Continue Reading ...
I liked that Cresson's grandfather chose a U-shape for his white picket fence at the rose garden instead of a conventional form. I didn't feel stuck or confined in this "formal english garden" the way I usually feel in perfected spaces. I'm glad Cresson made sure w knew about the U-shape and shared his thoughts on its affect on the space on the other side of the fence, its flow, etc. I think it has a positive impact on both sides of the fence.
While Mr. Cresson told the history of the land around us, for the first time ever I felt like someone else might actually understand why I am so eager and willing to work at my family's property.... empathy or not, the Cresson and Crawford properties have a few things in common....
rose garden - springhouse - lightening strike (2x) - check, check, check...
tree falling in past ten years - check: (banter warning) July 2010 a decent weather system tossed a rather large tree on top of my parents house (graciously sparing the porch furniture, a volunteer japanese maple my mom potted, and well, most of the house). The tree fell prior to my year-long stay in Colorado, and plants had yet to reveal their magic to me so I can't say how much this fallen tree affected the garden or surrounding ecosystem(s). However! Last winter three trees that must've had overlapping roots simultaneously fell. No houses or humans or dogs harmed this time around, the
reason I mention it is because the "new" sunlight brought to the property is kind of a weird thing to transition to. I am happy for Charles that his Camellia's accepted their newfound intimate contact with the sun so well. The connection to the land that has been in the family for generations holds a much stronger energy than I can explain. I am thankful that I've been lucky enough to grow up and work on a place that has positive impact on its visitors and surrounding community. One of these days I'll have a better reply to Hedgleigh Spring but I don't think that will happen until I find the words to articulate my appreciation for my grandfather and the place I think of as home. |