Sissinghurst photos; 20 years old maybe, can't even remember what camera I had at the time but I think the yellow hollyhocks must have been a favourite, Vita Sackville-West's 'rooms' of flowers must have taken a great deal of upkeep, clipping the box hedges, and I never did really like the white planting but all these plants bask in warm Kent sunshine with faded brickwork, a tribute to a person dedicated to gardening...
Richard 111 in Court, a beautiful summary by Mike Pitts;
In reading his very long summary of court proceedings you would be forgiven for thinking you had entered into Alice in Wonderland but you haven't. The reburial of Richard's bone is being argued in the highest court with barristers on both sides. Really it is about where his bones should rest, and if his descendants should have any say in the matter. We are all vaguely related to each other, and therefore his DNA has been found in other descendants, and a group headed by Phillipa Langley wanted and now have a public consultation, and also a final say in the matter of where he should be buried, this decision is up before the judges of this land. Therefore the group headed by Phillipa Langley and Ashdown-Hill have taken action against Leicester University (who funded the excavation in the car park). The last of the Plantagenets, can't say he is 'turning in his grave' because he is'nt!
I never tire of photographs of Sissinghurst Thelma - it is how I would love my garden to look and how I know there is absolutely no hope of it happening.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of Richard III - I sometimes wonder whether it might not be better had his bones never been discovered. All this arguing and I suspect all they are really interested in is the tourism it would generate.
It is a beautiful garden Pat, I expect we all want to imitate it, but it needs years to get plants going.
DeleteAs far as the issue of the 'reburial of remains' goes, think Richard 111 has become the tug of war bone between Leicester and York, fuelled by emotional discontent and probably tourism...
We went to Sissinghurst a few years ago and it was still as beautiful as your photographs. The atmosphere that Vita nurtured has been saved with wonderful plantings. A very special garden, despite all the visitors who tramp through it nowadays. What would Vita have said to that I wonder?
ReplyDeleteShe could have taken pleasure that her garden was so popular, she did write gardening articles for the papers I think. It is a wonderful garden and perhaps does need sharing....
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