Garden objects
Metals, minerals, and wood are a wonderful complement to the plant life of any garden,
and along my travels and wanderings, I pick up souvenirs and bric-a-brac…
I have long been collecting teapots, and this one I bought from a local potter on the island of Saint Lucia during a sailing adventure across the Atlantic Ocean.
Its beautiful green algal patina is intensified by the light filtering through the dense woodland canopy, and underlined by the soft green mosses and lichens.
Contrast and repetition are powerful attractive forces in the garden. Here, the three large spheres reflect the spherical bowl of the teapot, and the ‘trio’ of decorative boules, while giving earthy undertones to the bright-leaved hostas.
I found this little Buddha in a street sale and brought him back to a quiet corner of the garden,
where he heralds the morning sun atop an old oriental-style table.
The tapestry of the floor cushion has been entirely fashioned by nature.
This old ‘Tommy’ helmet is a reminder of troubled times here in the Somme.
Here we are some 30 to 50 km behind the front lines and the village was a hub where soldiers were billeted and came to rest away from the trenches.
The nearby railway line served to bring both troops and supplies to the front.
This helmet has an unusual story, as I found it as it fell out of a tall holly tree (Ilex aquifolium) one very windy day.
It had been discovered on the property by one of the previous owners, who was apparently throwing it like a frisby when it caught in the branches of the tree,
where it stayed until it was finally shaken back to earth!