Finding peace in the garden in stressful times

So here we are in May 2020, a time when we were expecting to be busy with guests and yet the whole world has shut down due to Covid19.

Frustrating and worrying as it is, we have to make the best of the situation we find ourselves in and for me that peace is always to be found in the garden here at Prospect House. I truly believe that gardening for me is a form of meditation and I can lose hours just planning, planting, watering and weeding with nothing else in my head but the next patch of soil.

The garden here covers one acre and is still very young - like any gardener anywhere in the world, I am always planting up new areas, moving plants from one spot to another if they seem unhappy where they are or bringing new plants to the garden to try. These wonderfully scented Frangipanis seem to love the site here and I’ve been taking cuttings over the last years to spread them further around the garden.

Also as in any garden, i have had my fair share of disappointments (that will be for another post!) as well as moments of great joy to see new plants establishing themselves and bringing all sorts of new wildlife to the garden. Each day brings new birds and butterflies, amazing insect life and fascinating anoles and ground lizards. Not to mention wild tortoises who wander through the garden watched by the lazy iguanas in the trees!

It’s always important to remember to take a break from time to time and just stop and look and listen. Today as I stood up from my weeding, I was treated t the most beautiful birdsong. ….which reminded me to put some more water out for the regular visitors! Here’s the first arrival today - a Mocking Bird - enjoying a drink and a bath!