Letters to garden makers

Dear Monty, I know that despite these rambles being addressed to you, they never reach your eyes or heart, but this question is most certainly directed to you : Can nature be ugly ? I am pondering this question sitting in my cupboard of a 'studio' where I am putting the finishing touches to paintings of  British native orchids, pollinators and butterflies for an exhibition next weekend. Now I believe that you understand perfectly well the response you may get when you make statements on GW - including the one about spent buddleja flowers being 'ugly'. I too have always deadheaded my buddleja for the same reason, and as you said to promote new flower spikes. But this ugliness is an intrinsic part of nature - it sets seed to create the next generation, the flowers last but for a few days. Is this ugliness a kind of acknowledgement of the frailty of 'beauty' .... and the cutting off and tidying away a kind of denial ? ( Perhaps I think too much.) I ...

Dear Monty, Sorry but I am back, not sure for how long but here goes ..... Integrity, beach boys and a spiritual song. Not sure why, but getting through each day at the moment is a struggle a battle and a challenge. What causes the falling away from relationships, bonds and promises? I see my weaknesses as exposed in the light, I still try to hide them but it is futile, it is not about guilt, it is about acceptance. We can be so troubled by the fear of illness, death and even life itself, with all of its false demands. I have just read the introduction to 'The Heartfelt Garden' by Sarah Wint, and this has encouraged me to continue to kick against the pricks. I love gardens, I love the therapeutic nature of nature, of connection, of soul. Sue and me have recently spent some soulful time on a Devonian farm with 13th Century mud, horse flies, chickens, vegetable patch and friends. Richard and Ruth have an old, rambling cottage with sparrows nesting under the that...

Monty, You will be glad to know that I am taking a break from blogging. Paul.

Dear Monty, 'Who is it that obscures my counsel without knowledge' Interesting that in answer to Job's complaints - God points out the nature of creatures, they are what they are, and we cannot change them, just like dog or stars or wind or rain or even box blight. We live we die, we are all flawed judges of each other. God is not a man that he should lie. Knowing God is God is knowledge, but we obscure his counsel by our own wisdom, programs, ideas and expertise. Monty, you got a drubbing on Twitter for your suggestions on planting fragrant shrubs, and how to pot up herby cuttings. I think it is undeserved - there are many who do not know how to do such things, there will always be those who learn, and I understand the argument that if you are going to teach you need to have knowledge, but there are different kinds of knowledge. Perhaps you are better at creativity in gardening rather than horticulture in its 'purest' sense ? I noted the shed behind you lo...