Suddenly, just before lunch, a wizard appears.
"Hello there", he says amiably through kind, red-rimmed eyes. This man has clearly been at the pipeweed. Launching immediately into the reason for his being here, he babbles a barrage of botanical queries:
"So, what's your favourite thing about gardens? What is your favourite garden? Ever been to the botanical gardens? What's the best thing you've ever found in a garden? Do you enjoy gardening? Do you have a large garden? If I were to tell you that you can build your dream garden and that money's no object, just what sort of garden would you create and what would you put in it?"
Flummoxed, your mind races to catch up and, after a few moments of careful consideration, you put your answer to the eager wizard whose eyes are beginning to swivel unnaturally.
Escapists, what do you tell him?
"Hello there", he says amiably through kind, red-rimmed eyes. This man has clearly been at the pipeweed. Launching immediately into the reason for his being here, he babbles a barrage of botanical queries:
"So, what's your favourite thing about gardens? What is your favourite garden? Ever been to the botanical gardens? What's the best thing you've ever found in a garden? Do you enjoy gardening? Do you have a large garden? If I were to tell you that you can build your dream garden and that money's no object, just what sort of garden would you create and what would you put in it?"
Flummoxed, your mind races to catch up and, after a few moments of careful consideration, you put your answer to the eager wizard whose eyes are beginning to swivel unnaturally.
Escapists, what do you tell him?
For as long as I can remember, I've loved strolling among the vibrant bougainvillea and tall hedgerows of the parks near my home in China. One in particular had a little statue garden with some art pieces and a war memorial tucked into a corner. There would always be a group of the elderly soaking in the cool morning air and practicing Tai-Chi.
I've been the botanical gardens in Malaysia, England and Canada. I loved all three experiences. In Malaysia, monkeys and lizards were plentiful and the former would jump onto my back and grab food or drinks from my hands if I wasn't fast enough. The squirrels of Greenwich park would intercept peanuts meant for the pigeons and try to burrow into my sleeves. In Canada, the hedge sculptures were a real sight to see.
I like gardens that are made up of several contrasting sections that are like little pockets of tranquility. I'd have a hedge maze with several little open spaces inside for reading benches. At the center of the maze would be a little shrine or memorial. There'd be a little lake with a pagoda and a small crowd of flamingos who'd come and go as they please.
I'd have an area of flat lawn bordered by a row of fruit trees and a large weeping willow sheltering a reading bench that looked upon the placid lake home of a pair of swans. I'd have a small vegetable garden with flowerbeds to attract bees and some bird feeders hanging from a central bougainvillea tree.
For the actual gardening, I'd probably need the help of a few happy gardeners with all that. I could use the exercise involved in tending to the vegetable plots and lawns, though!
I've been the botanical gardens in Malaysia, England and Canada. I loved all three experiences. In Malaysia, monkeys and lizards were plentiful and the former would jump onto my back and grab food or drinks from my hands if I wasn't fast enough. The squirrels of Greenwich park would intercept peanuts meant for the pigeons and try to burrow into my sleeves. In Canada, the hedge sculptures were a real sight to see.
I like gardens that are made up of several contrasting sections that are like little pockets of tranquility. I'd have a hedge maze with several little open spaces inside for reading benches. At the center of the maze would be a little shrine or memorial. There'd be a little lake with a pagoda and a small crowd of flamingos who'd come and go as they please.
I'd have an area of flat lawn bordered by a row of fruit trees and a large weeping willow sheltering a reading bench that looked upon the placid lake home of a pair of swans. I'd have a small vegetable garden with flowerbeds to attract bees and some bird feeders hanging from a central bougainvillea tree.
For the actual gardening, I'd probably need the help of a few happy gardeners with all that. I could use the exercise involved in tending to the vegetable plots and lawns, though!
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