Hallo dear Hive Garden Enthusiasts!

I've been deeply immersed this week in this garden, which I have had a 12 year relationship with:

My fingers are quite sore and I have a few cuts that make it hard to type... but here's a wee sneak peek, before I share more about the process of clearing the space.

The gardens were restructured and cleared 12 years ago, when I first moved here - and I spent a year with my ex, planting and shaping them...

But we split up, and it wasn't terribly friendly... though we slowly developed an at-least-partially-amicable friendship, and he gave me the keys to the garden as he wasn't visiting this weekend home any more - I couldn't get into the space at all - it all seemed too messy/ neglected and I didn't have the tools. I gave it minimum attention, which did involve a lot of watering in our super-dry summers.

This last week I had a sudden calling to do massive clearing work though: bringing light into the overgrown spaces and opening up the whole top layers of the garden so that each tree can flourish.

I'm VERY excited about how it'll develop now, as it's already looking greatly, immensely-satisfyingly improved! And am feeling enormous benefit mentally, emotionally and physically, this having been a partifularly stressful week with Italy going against the global move towards releasing from the grips of tyranny... Euuucchh: SVELGIATI, ITALIA!!!

Here's to more freedom, fresh air and exercise for all,
Blessings!
:clare xx