This month is ‘no mow May.’ I’ve taken a middle ground of mowing corridors of grass and leaving pleasing swathes to grow. I’m going to leave these right through until the Autumn and then scythe them back. I’ve left the front lawn totally unmown and it’s a cloud of dandelion seed heads.
My neighbours have noticed! It’s been quite a friendly and curious noticing though and a nice talking point. I grew up gardening and there is a tendency to want to make our gardens neat and tidy. Of course one of the joys of gardening is relating to a space and bringing in the colours, shapes, scents and features that bring joy. There’s a fine line between cocreating a beautiful environment with nature and being in a battle for control.
I’ve been enjoying finding different ways to approach this relationship. Sitting for a while and just watching the grass grow, noticing what wildflowers emerge in the unkempt waves of grass. Vetch and geraniums and clovers all bringing a spray of magic and attracting bees and other pollinators. New sounds come with long grass, clicking and whirring of grass hoppers and the russling and tidal rolls of the grass in the breeze. The dog burys herself in the bluebells that have emerged around the base of the apple tree to cool down. I’m wondering what the garden needs and what is my place here?
This year has been a mast year for sycamores. Hundreds of tiny trees have burst out across the lawn in cracks in the retaining wall of the house and all over the drive. The woods are ready to claim this space. At first I was alarmed. Then I got curious. How could I approach this in a way which wasn’t exhausting and didn’t feel like a battle? Each day I pulled a few seedlings out from the retaining wall. I figured perhaps the competition of some many seedlings would do some of the work and the ones in the lawn would either be mown over or dug out if they managed to out grow the thick grass. I even considered just letting them all grow and being with whatever young woodland emerged. I’m still in the question and seeking for a balance that feels right.
I want my garden to be an inclusive place and a beautiful place and I want to see what wants to emerge here and what impulses arrive in me! When you’ve spent years growing and working professionally in gardens it’s easy to become rushed and goal oriented and to forget the needs of your body and soul and trust the gentle unfolding of nature. One of my offerings is time in the garden – to find out more click here.