Friendly Friday – In the Garden

I could never have thought I would be invited to guest host Friendly Friday; the feeling of excitement and honour is overwhelming. This was the first challenge I’ve joined when I got back to blogging along with Lens-Artists, which I am now a proud host too. This year, in blogging terms, can’t get any better. Even if, yet again, everything else is crumbling around us, I thought we could try and focus on the positive things in life. For me, gardens and more recently gardening have been a lifeline.

When I started photography, there were two subjects that interested me: street photography and flowers. I soon realised to take pretty photos, flowers were where I should focus. I’ve never managed to take a bad photo of a flower but now, years later, I’ve understood that most of them where just that, pretty. I also understand now that photographing them is no longer enough. I’ve developed a green thumb after years of unsuccessfully trying to grow things. I think I’ve found the perfect country for me as a gardener, one that doesn’t require me remembering to water the plants as there’s a constant supply.

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There hasn’t been a country I’ve visited that didn’t involve a visit to a garden. I’m not picky either, I enjoy formal gardens and Japanese gardens immensely, but I also like a meadow or a cottage garden. The beauty of all of them is within our grasp, the calming effects, the certainty that somehow, Nature will prevail in the end. Gardens are a reflection of cultures too. Japanese gardens are methodical, artistically conceived for meditation and mental fulfilment. In Scotland, I particularly like how vibrant and busy borders can be, like a symphony of colours and smells. In Paris I’ve found that even gardens are made to a grand scale. In Southern Spain gardens truly are like oasis and in my Lisbon, gardens are full of memories and love.

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My small back garden is like therapy. After months of not really looking after it, this past weekend was the first time I had a look and it’s bursting with life. Tiny shoots of roses, sweet pea growing for the first time in years, a fluffy moss carpet, a bamboo too stubborn to die. The crocuses are nearly gone but still beautiful, soon there will be red Tulips too. It’s being pleasantly surprised, having a gift almost every day. I am nowhere near in control of this space; I simply attend to it. In return it looks after me too.

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In the past two years, gardens and parks regained an important role in our lives, both mentally and physically. We are also encouraged to do more for the environment in easy steps as having bee and butterfly friendly outside spaces or replacing lawns as they take too much water to maintain. For this Friendly Friday Challenge, photography, stories, poems are all welcome to show us your feelings and thoughts about gardens. I would like to thank Amanda, Sandy and Sarah for this opportunity to guest host and to all who take this challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing your replies.

This challenge runs for the next 2 weeks. Please remember to tag Friendly Friday so we can find you. After that Friendly Friday is back with Sarah on 25^th March. Make sure to follow her magnificent blog Travel with me.