For most of this year I have felt rather disconnected with our middle patio.
It got damaged by fire last year and was replanted early this year, I am, however, pleased overall with the changes and the new plants we've put in.
Other parts of the garden that were rehabilitated post inferno I'm really pleased with and think looks better now like the jungle hut and the jungle area which now has more tree ferns in it. The middle patio however, although new plants have been put in have lost the height, maturity, and lushness that it used have. And consequent to that the sense of privacy the area used to have.
How it was summer of 2012
March 2014
March 2014
An area that had towering plants surrounding it, with a Magnolia delavayi the tallest of the lot, and densely leafy that you could barely see the fences demarcating the boundaries.Now the area looked squat compared to how it was before. You can now see the newly painted fences and you can see beyond that too. Plus if you can see beyond that into the neighbours then it feels that they can see you too. Not to mention the view of those burnt trees that the owners have no extra funds to get taken down (more like it doesn't bother them so why make the effort).
June 2014
So no wonder I felt disconnected with this area, an area that feels familiar and yet alien at the same time. The new plants will eventually get height and area feel much more private again I know but that takes time to happen. I'm sure I'll feel connected again to this part of our garden but what I'm not sure of is when.The garden is looking increasingly autumnal as we approach November but on the whole most parts still looks lush and leafy. When I ventured on to the middle patio this morning I noticed how lush the area is looking. And then looked up and noted how tall a lot of the new plants have become.
Today...
And then I stepped back and thought to myself how much better the area is looking now, with the plants taller and the planting lush, almost as lush as how it was before.
Amicia zygomeris in bloom
Almost but not quite but at least much better than it was only a couple or so months ago.
Most important of all, seeing most of the plants gain height I felt a sense of hope, a sense of spark and start of re-connection to this area. We may be entering winter and most of the lushness will be gone but that's alright and is to be expected. But most of the height at least will be back next year and even more so.
Hope in the height, that this area will by lush and feeling private again. And that sense of connection will be fully restored.
Mark :-)
