Letters to garden makers

Dear Monty, 21/4/14 Forgive me for writing again so soon. It all happened within about 30 minutes but I wasn't really counting. I had decided to just sit and enjoy the early morning sun with its warmth and illumination of this small garden below the coal tip. A ragged long tailed tit took a break from feeding the chicks to feed itself on the bird feeder, then in a sudden rush of air and wings and clicks, a carrion crow black shiny and heavy swooped low in front of me just skimming the 6' hedge  - chased by a pair of furious mistle thrush. He then curved upwards into the blue sky and landed atop the pine at the end of the garden still being mobbed by the mistle thrush. He must have found the nest concealed in the ivy clad sycamore. Then I worry that the peregrine falcons nesting on the cliff on the mountain opposite might become aware of the commotion. But calm returns when the carrion crow decides to give up. Within a few more seconds, a great spotted woodpecker causes ...

Dear Monty, Part 1 'Why do you ask my name it is beyond understanding ? ' This was the response of the angel of God to Manoah  - the soon to be father of Samson. Today starts with a warm and beautiful morning, some plants have died and some have survived the wet and windy winter. Great tit pierce the air with staccato calls. Blackbird, redstart, thrush and bullfinch all join in. The bullfinch has eaten all the blossom buds off the apple tree, but I forgive him in exchange for his beauty. Why do I look for answers ? Why do I examine the motives of my heart ? I already know them. Why do I need a name to explain this sudden sense of peace ? It is beyond understanding but now made certain. Part 2 Much form and little reality This sums up how I feel about my life as a Christian, it is so difficult to communicate the reality of spiritual things, in truth it is foolishness. The garden reflects my soul. How does it do that ? How can gardens mirror o...

Dear Monty, Strange how winter creates a fading of both plant life and the memory of it. I am surprised each spring by the emergence of plants forgotten about in the cold (and this year - wet) winter. This morning in the rain - I noticed how beautiful are the bursts of subtle colour in the new leaves, ranging from dark purple to yellows and acid greens. There was only ever a roughed out plan for this garden, other than that it continues to change and develop year on year in an organic and sculptural way. Yesterday I walked along the coastal path in North Wales with  charleshawes  .We followed the line of the Ffestiniog Railway with its evocative sights smells and sounds. Our conversation ranged from discussing gardens, sex and God. We walked a hilly 9 miles from Maentwrog .... ... to Porthmadog where we found an eatery called : The Big Rock Cafe. It was immediately welcoming with an enticing array of baked goods, breads, cakes and savouries. ...