or, the one that I nearly didn't attend.
I mean very nearly didn't. The Garden Museum's Literary Festival is always special and I loved last year's festival but when I thought about it, not quite as I usually do. I enjoyed the talks and I loved wandering the gardens, but I was not in the right place to really enjoy it. The problem was me, not you, as they say. I decided after some reflection I would not book as soon as it was announced as I have always done previously. I would wait and see what the programme looked like and then decide. This was a mistake. When the programme came out I decided I did want to go and all the tickets were sold. Rude words were uttered and I put myself on the waiting list just in case I might get lucky. Thankfully I did. Tickets were bought, B&B was booked and all was good.
Out of all of the photos I took over this weekend, this one is the one that sums up the festival for me. This is the cloister, a place to think, pray if that is what you do and meditate. I have written previously that this festival opens that space for me where I relax and think and just be. Last year that did not happen. Last year I had a lot going on and not much of it was good. I think my head was too full of chaos to take a moment to pause and be. This year there is still a lot that is not good but maybe the exhaustion of it all meant I had to stop, I had no choice. There are few better places to stop and relax than Iford Manor. A garden I am immensely fond of and first visited nine years ago.
It is a garden though that has had change imposed upon it recently, this is where the statue of Romulus and Remus sat. Sadly this was stolen along with other statues recently. One can only hope that they are returned. Can you see the face in the trees in the background? A great example of pareidola; I decided it was the spirit of the place overseeing all that was happening.
One of the great joys of the festival is that you can find yourself alone in the garden, which is a real luxury. I sat here for quite a while, drinking tea and just listening to the breeze in the trees and the distant murmur of conversation.
and whilst the garden is large, there are always the relatable small areas, the exerts that piece together to form the whole. This is a small shady area, probably no more than one metre in diameter. It is a gap with some wall by some steps.
It was the lemon knifophia that drew me in to look, but it was the begonia that captured my attention. It is perfection in shade planting. I sat on the nearby steps, there was no one else around so I did not feel in the way. And then it happened, I realised I had stopped. I was just being and enjoying the moment..... and then the man with a big bag, whom at first I mistook for a postman, climbed over the chain link barrier designed to stop people going that particular way, and was walking towards me. I made ready to move but he swerved down another path; maybe he realised the disturbance he caused. It did not matter, I had had my moment and now all seemed more balanced. The festival and Iford had worked their magic.
There are always special perks when attending this festival, you do get access to parts of gardens you might not otherwise have seen. We were allowed to visit the walled garden that is the private garden not usually open to the public. This is a very special place.
which demonstrates the balance and proportion of the main garden,
with its own quirks,
and special moments that made me go 'ooh'.
with added vegetables.
I loved the talks I went to; especially the ones that were about Iford Manor and its history and Harold Peto.
I left the festival feeling calm and totally inspired. If you can be calm and buzzing with ideas at the same time, well colour me that. Did I buy any books? Mais oui, but more of that another day.
I stopped at Special Plants on the way home - t'was rude not to.
A modest four plants demanded purchase.
Now I am properly looking forward to next year's festival. I will not leave it to chance this time to book, it will happen immediately the tickets go on sale.
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