I’ve often wondered why I enjoy visiting gardens so much. I love the smell of a garden on a warm summer’s day and the surprise juxtaposition of plants or elements. I enjoy unravelling the history of the place and seeing if I can capture its spirit. But gardens give me so much more. Wandering around a garden gives me a calm which I rarely find elsewhere. Over the last few years, there’s been lots in the press about mindfulness – on how focusing our minds on what’s in front of us can help us to engage with the world around us. And gardens are where I find this peace. Eastern cultures can also teach us a lot. In Japan for example, gardens are created to reflect the essence of nature and to provide space to explore the meaning of life while the Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates life’s transience.
Please let me know of any beautiful and interesting gardens near you that I haven’t included.
I also give talks to gardening clubs and history societies:
Arts & Crafts Gardens
A Short Account of Garden History
From Trade to Topiary: The Nabobs of the East India Company and their English Gardens
Stately Gardens of England: Alnwick, Chatsworth, Chiswick and Syon
The Rothschilds and Their English Gardens
If you would like to find out more, please email: camilla@visitgardens.co.uk