A Power Within

Category: Gardens and Gardening Page 1 of 2

This Special Time.

The late afternoon air was sweet,
delicious aromas of lavish scent
and expensive cologne filled the air,
the deliciousness of mouth watering food
filled this beautiful space
reaching my nose!
You know this coming together
of careful preparation, of thought
and special management.

This party was perfect and
I know about parties
the right ingredients that go together
to make it so, wonderful music and
a beautiful space,
this was certainly that!
All the tiny touches that create
the ambiance that pleases the eyes
even old ones, like mine…

Making no excuses I like beautiful things,
people, interesting and well mannered,
houses, homes stunningly created with
love and care.
Visually appealing always charms my soul,
It has always been this way
even when money was a little less available
beautiful scenes gave me immense joy.
All this was there…

A stunning home, beautiful gardens,
green and lush, dripping yellow roses
the scent of which caught your nose
and most of all beautiful people, laughing,
chatting in groups, catching up on years missed.
Oh the joy of talking to lovely souls! Seeing
the handsome faces with bright sparkling
joyful eyes, beautiful faces, pretty dresses
much laughter and special times…

Memorable moments are made from
these special occasions,
hard work and thoughtfulness that
bring together family and friends
who love to be together and will travel
across the world to make it so,
dear family that bring us closer…
My eyes are much older now, but my heart
brims with love to see them all.

Thank you everyone who made this possible
that made this such a special time…

©Susie Hemingway. August 2024.

A Sea of Roses.

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They spread their petals pink and white
scatter like snow flakes amid the green
a sea of roses this beauty seen, unique their faces an elegant theme.

A single rose becomes my garden
a million is my world…

A Country Garden.

“A folly to provide delight, sometimes a triumph of hope. Art that uses the flowers and plants as paint, the soil and sky as a canvas”

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Sweet Scent Of Summer – The Cotswold’s.

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Hedgerows sweet and heavily pungent,
drooping their white may-flower blossoms
falling like drifting snow, as on the gentle breeze
scented air, carries to eager senses.

Minute petals form the flowers of
Gods perfect creations.
Such are the delights of
these sweet scents of Summer.

Light tawny bricked cottages,
row on cobbled row,
the dark gothic mullioned windows,
their secret beauties contained within.

As hanging adorned, heavily
decked the lavender blues
of stringy wisteria, its dripping faded beauty
a Summer feast for weary eyes.

Curling petals, shedding blooms surround
old doors, sills, abundant heavy and wayward
‘Shakespeare’ roses weighty in beauty, itself
the sweetest scent of summer…
Awaits you here…

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Susie Hemingway @copyright 2016

 

Come Into The Garden Maud – Hemingby Open Gardens Day.

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Come into the garden Maud,
An open day of gardens galore,
some long, some short, some thin, some broad
all I’m sure deserve awards.
June came round double quick
as we tried to make our lawns lush and thick,
to coax and water blooms to show
the magic as our gardens grow.
A little tweak here and there,
a rake, a broom, a weather prayer!
Come on Roses, show your faces
we need some colour, some perfect Acer’s.
Poppies, Geraniums, Lavender blue,
delight at every corner anew,
hanging baskets lend their hues,
as birds sing to add to pretty views,
of twinkling ponds and water features
the bubbles of the little creatures,
that swim beneath the lush green creepers.
Hosta plants with waiting blooms
to lift our spirits from Winter gloom.
Hydrangeas, Rhododendrons, tomatoes in pots,
delight our eyes and produce a lot!
Trellis’s of Sweet-peas reach our noses
their pretty faces in tangled motion…
Tall fir trees sway in breezes, good
not to have hay-fever sneezes.
These beautiful gardens, prepared for you
with care and love, I must applaud.
So come into the garden Maud!

Exterior Completed – Well Almost!

Such a fun filled few weeks watching the Garden Room rise-up towards completion. Not the best of weather with quite a bit of overnight rain and it looks bleak everywhere but the good workers championed on to get the roof secure before the Christmas and New Year break. They all worked hard and with copious cups of strong tea and many plates of biscuits and Xmas Mince pies they succeeded. The garden is in aterrible mess now but when Spring approaches it will be great to think about the design for a small patio and a good general tidy-up. Still lots to complete before then with the stud-boarding and plastering to all walls and the knocking through to the kitchen, the tiles and lighting. With the plumber having done his bit, the pipes for the radiators have now been ‘picked-up’ and joined from the main system but the radiator has yet to be installed.

Christmas has been strange this year opting to stay put at home with not knowing at what stage the project would be at when arrangements were being talked about, although I was lucky with several invites I was worried to leave but as it turned out all was secure, still I had made up my mind to stay put and stay put I did.  It was not so bad as anticipated with a nice walk down to the village pub on Christmas day andfestive chats there, kept me buoyant as did the couple of good brandies to ward off the very chilly weather. Boxing day I went to Lincoln and roamed the furniture shops looking primarily at sofas and dining tables and nice pieces to decorate my Orangery. I enjoyed my day and snuggled down comfortably in the evening content to watch some films and eat far too much chocolate! The first ever Christmas spent alone at home but I managed it well I feel,  it was all rather peaceful and calm and I like that.  I managed also to clean Hamada’s headstone in the churchyard after I had my delicious warming brandy of course – it does get cold up there with the wind cutting through the bare branches of the surrounding trees.. His headstone tends to get covered in a green verdigris type substance at this time of year. I had my usual little chat with him and felt comforted on my walk back. Life is after all what you make of it. I am rarely lonely, alone yes but feel very lucky that I am able to be content and peaceful when life does not always deal you the best hand.  I miss my ‘best love’ more than words can say but as I have said before “Sorrow is better than fear, for fear is a journey a terrible journey but sorrow is at least arriving” Deep sorrow is something you CAN live with but the fear when someone is ill, the constant worry that you are doing all you can for them, even though deep down you know you are and the deep desire that when the time comes that all will be peaceful and right, is far far worse than the sorrow and loss I feel now.  I have drifted off the subject somewhat but that’s what happens with writing sometimes.

As we approach 2015 I would like to wish those who read here a truly enlightening year with all good and delicious new things coming your way, peaceful pleasures that bring joy to your soul. Mostly I wish you good health to be able to go out and walk – if you can- in this lovely world of ours. If not to look at the magic wonders of our sky especially at night with the twinkling stars that fill this velvet void. Thank you for reading my simple words. ” Our joys as winged dreams do fly. Why then should sorrow last…” Stay strong all those that live alone and know that I am thinking of you and wishing you well. And so with these words I march onwards with this good life of mine. God Bless!

 

 

 

“How Heavenly” – Dedicated to the loving memory of Maeve Craven.

 
How heavenly are the roses that bloom
turning heads to sun in June
tiny faces in perfect form
that scatter their smiles on the lawn
majestic, abundant and heavens gift
that give of their beauty, and our hearts a lift…

 

“No spring or winter has such grace
as I have seen in one little face…
 
This little verse is dedicated to the memory of Maeve Craven, much loved Mother of Karen who died in June 2014.

The Garden Swing.

 

Garden Swing Photos June 2010 009

We swing together you and I
in that old shaded place we love,
peaceful sweet smelling garden air
that gentle breeze that tickles hair,
the yellow Iris in our view,
Oh how I love to be with you!
Tranquil sounds of garden spirits
the chirping of the evensong thrush
lavender blue scent comes through,
we swing together like children do.

 

This quiet spot where we can dream
these special hours away,
amid the slowing of day ending
we talk of yesterday,

 

no more is needed for you and I
we know that time is short
and so we talk and dream and think
of what this life has brought.

 

We dream together
                                              you and I,
                                                                     on this old garden swing.

 

 

Photo: from “Hemingway”
All Rights Reserved.

Autumn Lady – A Vignette by Susie Hemingway

 Autumn Sept 2009 008

 

She came rushing in, or though it seemed to me,
disbelief that this colourful Lady with her cloak of reds and golds had
already arrived, when I glanced from my window.
I must have been looking the other way!
but then we don’t count the days pursuing more important matters now.
As the relentless stricken battle appears once more
on the horizon, had she come to distract my mind or bring colours to my heart?

 

This feckless stunning Lady who sheds her clothes
and scatters them where she will, like drops of tears in
a template of sadness perhaps?
A powerful change of authority as restless and now incipient to decay.
Old roses fade and fall like shattered fragments of glass from a precious mirror,
the hedgerows become bare, no  more luscious berries
but still holding onto their thin strips of  life.

 

Leaves, could they ever be more beautiful?
turning to deep maroons and burnished, glinting,  jewelled colours.
Conkers appearing from their secret shells to fall in copper splendour
from the impressive stately Horse Chestnut trees.
We arrived, like we had  just opened our eyes.

 

Another Autumn! who would have believed we would
see this majestic Lady together, dumbstruck once more at her  beauty
but belligerently waging war on staying in our perfect peaceful Summer,
not for us, the rushing of time.

 

conkers

@Copyright Susie Hemingway 2009

K

A Summer Day.

Open Gardens June 2009 050

 

How beautiful this Summer day the colour of the flowers,

to match my mood, I’d like today,  rain and thunder all the way.

The snow and hail they could come, and even lightning too,

If I could take your pain away a hurricane would do.

How beautiful this Summer day, with not a cloud in sight

and there you are again in bed, putting up a fight.

 

The sun is blazing down the rays, and when you turn and smile,

I’ll keep you with me  and that gaze, and never miss the flowers

and if you think I love you less, I’ll long for summer showers.

How beautiful this Summer day the stillness of it all,

the sky is brilliant almost red!  you smile at me and rest your head.

So does it matter the flowers are out does it matter that their blue!

if I could take your pain away, then this is what I’ll do.

 

For then the rays, the lovely sun, the flowers each and everyone,

I’ll keep you and that lovely gaze then this will be my Summer day.

 

@ Copyright 2006

“Open Gardens” by Susie Hemingway

 

Open Gardens June 2009 053 

 

How glorious the gardens
each and and everyone,
how extravagant and bursting forth
with riot of perennial fun,
we wandered down the sunlit lanes
on this our lovely ‘open day’
the splendid evergreens and rose-beds  wide
to narrow scented lavender surprise,
walkways of the greenest hues
from red, to yellows and to blues,
the pinks so soft upon your eyes
geraniums  potted on one side.
Hellebores in groups of six
herbaceous borders in pretty mix,
cabbages, onions and chickens too!
fruits and herbs in stunning views
delphiniums lush in velvet blue
sturdy potatoes in their pots!
leeks , carrots and shallots.
Water features to cool and trickle
fish ponds, rock gardens and plants that tickle!
Many pots and nursery beds
perfumed scented that turn your head.
Arbour’s, enchanting ‘rose cascades’
Ah! what a wondrous pleasant day.
 
What a wondrous pleasant day…

 

All Rights Reserved @ June 2009

A Very English Day

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It was our village ‘open gardens’ day this Sunday, the morning dawned fair and after such preparation from the eleven sensational gardens that would be open to the public, we knew we were in for an exciting and enticing day. Abundant flower drenched bowers, roses dripping in splendour,  colourful arbour’s, covering walkways, plants of  such exotic delights, lawns manicured to perfection, handmade paths so clever in design.  All manner of interest and panoramic views to mesmerize, scents to please the senses and calm and serene borders and textures. Corners of interest and wonderful hidden places to sit and view awhile.  Vegetables crammed and laden, bursting full of goodness and showing skills of years of knowledge and precious tending. For many of the gardens with chickens, ducks and geese producing a self sufficiency with daily  eggs, crops of every vegetable,  fresh and packed full of glorious vitamins.  We feasted on wonderful fare on the stroll around the lanes of this enchanting village, stopping for a ploughman’s lunch with a selection of English cheeses and pickle and a cooling drink at the hottest part of the day. Then peeping into our little church to view the theme displays of flowers, some shown below.  On we went, with ice-cream in hand to end our very English day at the last garden for afternoon tea and delicious cakes and scones laden with strawberries and cream. My photos do not do justice to these wonderful gardens but perhaps will give you my reader a little idea of this heavenly day…

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A Special Gift.

 

Before A Storm Hemingby 2006A HemingbyVeiw-  Green 2007Hemingby winter scent march07

As most of my readers know, I am very fortunate to live in a lovely Wolds Village in Lincolnshire. Living in such a beautiful  place often  turns up rather special days. The views shown above are  from my windows which especially at this time of the year are magnificent. Always changing  like the seasons, the sheep arriving in the spring and then within a glance the spectacular Lincoln Red Cows have taken their place!  So the ‘pictures’  I see, often change by the hour. I do spend rather a lot of time looking at this  stunning change of scene. Then sometimes a little ‘extra gift’ is thrown into the melting pot of nature. Imagine my surprise when gazing with morning coffee in hand and there standing proudly in my garden was the  most exquisite Peacock. He stood surveying the scene seeming very tame.  Not wanting to frighten him I crept closer with camera in hand. He later accepted some bird seed and small nuts and enjoyed a chat staying for the day, sitting on my wall in the dark and then returning again for the next three days. I was sad to see him go but  Mr Peacock was last seen walking down the lanes of this very special Village What a  gift!

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Love Smiles – By Susie Hemingway

 

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Although you’re down and feeling blue
a little bit dreamy not wanting to
talk or read,  I understand,
just love smiles will do…

 

I’ll wrap you soft as feather down,
and feed you from a silver spoon,
bewitch you with procured delights
just return those love smiles tonight.

 

I’ll fill the room with bergamot
and camouflage  your pain,
find the crystal glasses
and then I’ll pour champagne,

 

unstring my heart like oyster’s pearls
enthral at just one glance,
if you can muster just for me
a ‘love smile’ when I glance.

 

I’ll soften all those noisy vowels
when cooing gentle mantra,
and even toast some butter crumpets
or pick a  Shakespeare rose…

 

and as the peace from pain
like absolution comes,
as when the scent pungent and loved
reaches to your nose,

 

smile for me beloved one
those ‘love smiles’ that I know…

 

All Rights Reserved @ May 2009

www.myeloma.org.uk

Flowers To Cheer.

 

23 November 2008 012Village Veg Show August30 2008 038

My dear sister brought these beautiful roses as a gift at the weekend, how lovely they are and how they cheered and lifted our spirits. It has been rather a sad week in our little village, losing a much loved older village member. Arthur was in his eighties and had started work at the age of thirteen on the local farm – he was such an interesting and very knowledgeable man – often winning the first prize at the village vegetable show. He knew all there was to know about growing vegetables and was a fount of knowledge for us all. He answered all our gardening questions with such grace and clarity. He had not been  well in recent years but still managed to tend his plot and produce the best tasting and marvelously ‘giant’ marrows and onions amongst all other vegetables, that I have ever seen.  We will miss him at all the shows and when on our walks, seeing him with his cheery smile, sitting in his window, waiting with a  wave. Today we celebrated his life. The village church was full to bursting  as over two hundred people paid their respects to this much loved man. He never travelled far, once visiting Skegness  but didn’t like it much there, quickly returning  to his beloved village. Arthur was honoured with a medal from the Queen for forty years service to farming but carried on for many more years after that. He was laid to rest in the village churchyard with his family and many friends around him.  We will miss him so.

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