Memories of making a garden for Nelson Mandela lead Alan to reflect on the power of gentleness – in nature and in life
In a world that seems to be increasingly aggressive, I find myself wondering whatever happened to gentleness. It is an attribute so rarely referred to nowadays. Sadly, it seems to have become associated with weakness rather than contentedness, with submissiveness rather than grace. And yet gentleness is one of the gardener’s greatest attributes, not just in the way we handle plant material but in terms of appreciating the very essence of a garden.
Yes, our gardens need drama, robust structure and an infusion of energy, but in a world where discontent and combativeness are the daily fare, a degree of gentleness provides a welcome respite. There are times, of course, when I need to remind myself of this, when I need to get the mowing done before guests arrive, when those shoots are at exactly the right stage to take as cuttings and when – if I don’t clip that choisya in late June or early July – it will have no time to refresh its growth and will sit through the winter looking butchered. At times like these, gentleness is far from my mind.
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Gardeners World.
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This story is from the September 2019 edition of Gardeners World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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