Sins of A Gardener

Hermits Wanted

Do People Piss You Off?

Want To Get Away From It All?

Like to Read - A Lot?

Then we have a job for you!

Hermits wanted for ornamentation of gentleman's estate. You must never be seen. If you have to poke your head out of your grotto/cave home, it better have a long, long beard on it and be stroked by your long, long fingernails. You will be paid a small fortune, but not until you complete 5 years of service as a garden ancient - an ornamental hermit . If you don't last the five years you forfeit all earnings.

Yes, it was quite the fad in the 18th century to have a live ornamental hermit installed in your garden estate. The most famous employer of one of these decorative solitudinarians was Charles Hamilton. (Hmmm I wonder if good old Chuck is sitting in my family tree somewhere?)

Genius Loci, Hermits and Homelessness

Homelessness - what has that to do with gardening and garden design? How does it connect to the Genius Loci of creating a timeless garden of beauty?

"Achieving a connection between culture and nature has become increasingly difficult in modern society. This difficulty extends from the vast gulf separating "nature" from the human visions of progress growing out of the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s. Brian Black, Department of American Studies"

The issue of homelessness definitely informs the Genius Loci of where I live. How will it inform my garden design? Is the spirit one of paranoia - high fences, gates, walls to keep "them" out? Somehow I feel the spirit of this locale is more one of understanding, respect, sharing. This is Lotus Land mild and moderate climate and gentle landscape that lulls you into days of wasteful dreamy do-nothingness of the laid back Lotus Eaters. So we will see how this plays out in my garden design.

Hermits in Lotus Land or Squatters in Mill Hill

Squatters were found living on the otherside of the hill I live on. Parks employees had the tough job of cleaning the debris from the sites. During all the hiking we do we have never seen the squatters, or park employees for that matter. But we stick to the trails to avoid damaging wild flowers. Here are some pictures of Mill Hill beauty (in case you are tired of ferns - I am not).Here in Lotus Land, the nickname of where I live (more on that in future blogs), it is one of the top 20 most expensive cities in the world to live. Rental vacancy hovers around 0% and has for decades. The climate and the people are generally mild (hence Lotus Land and us as Lotus Eaters -BC Bud may have something to with that, too) so the homeless population is large for such a small city.

Ferns Are Sexy

At Hatley Castle, a healthy walk from my house, there is an old fernery. The moss covered rockery paths and climbs are being re-discovered and restored. It is atmospheric in its dark, sunken grotto, with water gushing through heavy greenery. Right now a blood red rhodo is blooming amidst the wild setting. The Victorians were mad about their ferns, too.

It was a time when it was considered that studying the 'Natural Wonders of Creation' was an appropriate way of praising God. The study of flowers and other plants was considered to be fairly safe by the Church and could be pursued by mixed groups including men and women, whereas the study of animals was frowned upon as it might lead to embarrassing situations and 'unsuitable parallels' being drawn between the activities of animals and people!peterboyd.com

Ferns are sexy. The unfurling, striving, reaching primevial furry fronds in the dark, secretive atmosphere of the fernery. Very primal. I think those Victorians new it and were glad the church didn't catch on to it.

Mad About Ferns

I am mad about ferns! How can I get on with garden chores while there are so many fantastical ferns unfurling?! I want to walk through the woodland trails with Oberon and discover one new uncoiling frond after another.