When we lived in the old flat, I spent a lot of time in the front window looking at my garden. This was how I did the bulk of my observation; when I was in the garden itself, I did not feel free to stand and look. It was a small tenement garden the size of a parking space, practically on the pavement, and I wanted to always look busy in it because being busy meant it was harder for people to stop and talk. The hyper-social element of a very public-facing front garden was both a joy (so many friends made just by being outside) and a hindrance (so many man-splainers and conspiracy theorists, so much introversion in myself).
Hi Meg, I always read your newsletter and today I feel like commenting as you’ve mentioned something I particularly relate to! I also find the need to just sit with the plants I tend to at the community garden I go to. Photographing with my camera really helps me appreciating the beauty of plants, fruits and flowers. What I found even more helpful for being more present with plants is to draw them, without any pressure of producing a masterpiece, just to be with them:)
i love this!! i am typically very bad at drawing but there's something about drawing the garden that feels really welcoming and meditative. i can't wait to try
Hi Meg, I always read your newsletter and today I feel like commenting as you’ve mentioned something I particularly relate to! I also find the need to just sit with the plants I tend to at the community garden I go to. Photographing with my camera really helps me appreciating the beauty of plants, fruits and flowers. What I found even more helpful for being more present with plants is to draw them, without any pressure of producing a masterpiece, just to be with them:)
i love this!! i am typically very bad at drawing but there's something about drawing the garden that feels really welcoming and meditative. i can't wait to try