Hattie - Article for you!

[vfem]

I saw this article today and thought of you. Its from a science website:

http://www.biosciencetechnology.com...rdeners-must-unite-to-save-britains-wildlife/

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Thank you!

Yes, this is part of a movement started quite a few years ago to form corridors throughout the country for wild animals & birds to get to safe habitats or find mates. It inspired me when I was making my woodland garden. It also encourages people to leave parts of their garden space un-manicured.

When I moved to my present house I was very influenced by the writings of Mirabel Osler, the author of "A Gentle Plea for Chaos: The Enchantment of Gardening " & it's influence took root as I organised my garden.

The following passage is a quote from from The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/13/books/noted-with-pleasure.html

Mirabel Osler urges gardeners to restrain the impulse to impose rigid order on a garden, and to preserve some sense of the ragged charms of nature. Her piece is included in "By Pen & By Spade: An Anthology of Garden Writing From HORTUS," edited by David Wheeler (Summit).

The very soul of a garden is shrivelled by zealous regimentation. Off with their heads go the ferns, ladies' mantles or crane's bill. A mania for neatness, a lust for conformity and away goes atmosphere and sensuality. What is left? Earth between plants; the dreaded tedium of clumps of colour with earth between. . . .

There is a place for precision, naturally. Architectural lines such as those from hedges, walls, paths or topiary are the bones of a garden. But it is the artist who then allows for dishevelment and abandonment to evolve. People say gardening is the one occupation over which they have control. Fine. But why over-indulge?

She was also a great writer about food, a contemporary of Julia Child, Elizabeth David, & M.F.K. Fisher -- my food heroes, who fed my interest in cooking. I urge you to read all of them.



:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

Well....couldn't resist. Just ordered a copy of "A Gentle Plea for Chaos..." off ebay ($4.79 incl. shipping)
Sounds like it would be "right up my alley".

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi boggy b

I thought you might like a list of her other writings:-

http://www.librarything.com/author/oslermirabel


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[vfem]

I have to admit Boggy... it is looking interesting... and I would love to learn more ideas and techniques. This book sounds like gold!

 

[boggybranch]

Sure sounded interesting to me.....seein' how "chaos" sorta discribes my gardening techniqes, anyway. Never been much on uniformity (in rows or garden design)...kinda takes the fun out of it, to me, to have a garden so regimented that it looks like it ought to been in a prison.
I'm really looking forward to the books arrival.

 

[boggybranch]

Hi boggy b

I thought you might like a list of her other writings:-

http://www.librarything.com/author/oslermirabel


:rose Hattie :rose

Thanks, Hattie,

Just went to eBay and several of them are available, but the sellers didn't give a synopsis so I'll research more thoroughly on Amazon.