The level of the garden at the back of our house had sometime ago, been made higher, to enable Audrey (in her later years) to tend her garden without having to bend down. When we moved in, there were lots and lots of daffodils out in bloom, nodding their yellow heads welcomingly, in the April sunshine. Audrey's Brother had planted all the bulbs (as a gift) before winter had set in, so she would have a "nice show come spring time," so Margaret said.
It was such a pity that Audrey never got to see them.
Though I did, every day - until they too, died. I so appreciated their glowing abundance.
I found these pieces of blue and white when I first dug our garden, a few years back now. There were quite a few more pieces, but I have only kept these two (the rest are back in the garden soil). I put them outside on the kitchen windowsill for a while, yet that now have come to rest on the wooden shelf unit in the bedroom. I wonder if they were pieces from Audrey and Albert's old china plates?
I especially like the larger shard as it has a beautiful wing painted on the back of either some kind of creature or Angel type figure.
It's always intriguing to find bits of china in a garden - but it makes me wonder how it has made its way outside? I like the fact that you put some bits back - therefore giving future owners of the house the opportunity to rediscover the china for themselves - a bit like catching a fish and putting it back in the water! Do the daffodils come up every year or did you get rid if the bulbs? What a shame Audrey didn't get the chance to see them.
ReplyDeleteHi A - I have only just seen your last post on the sewing box post. Your wedding dress sounds amazing - and no, I didn't realise you had a thing for velvet. Nor do I embroider any more - although many years ago I had a phase of making samplers.
ReplyDeleteMore of Granny's handiwork coming up later.
We planted all of Audrey's daffodil bulbs in my Mum's garden. They come up each year, though after an Easter visit, I can report that they are late blooming this year - been too cold up 'til now!
ReplyDeleteA few years ago a part of the grounds of Bath Spa University was being dug over in preparation for re-landscaping - I was walking past on the pathway and noticed some pieces of blue and white china, so picked them up. Over the following few weeks I collected any more I could see (even the gardeners got involved and would leave gifts of broken crockery on the path for me to collect!). I had hundreds and hundreds of pieces.
There used to be a large house (St.Winifred's House) situated in the grounds until it was demolished for a Domestic Science College to be built in the 1960's. Could the broken pieces be from the house spoils, or from the college perhaps?
I wonder if we will get to see any of your past sampler phase on the tour P?
Can't wait to see more of anything to do with Granny.....
How nice that the daffodils were transplanted, and that you can still enjoy them (or you would if Spring ever arrives!). We usually always take plants from one garden to another when we move. At the moment I'm waiting for some lily of the valley to pop up their heads - I was given some cuttings from a neighbour 3 house moves ago, and have taken a bit with me to each house since. She has sadly died, but I like the fact I still have a small memory of Mrs D - similar to the Audrey situation - although you never knew her. (I think we are venturing into some garden archeology now!). I love the story of your previous found china collection – what did you do with it all? – and is it just my imagination, but why is all found china in a garden always blue and white?!
ReplyDeleteNow isn't this a whole other fascinating area ? - hand-me-down plants, flower transplants and garden archeology!
ReplyDeleteLily of the valley are so beautiful and fragrant - I bet they will look (and smell) wonderful when they do decide to peep above the soil! A nice memory of Mrs D.
It's interesting that you mention it (LOTV) as it was a plant that carpeted part of the top of our (old) family garden, and one of my favourites, as are bluebells.
I re-buried all the found china pieces (in one place in the grounds, rather than scattered)!
Maybe when blue and white became prevalent in all homes we then developed into a throw away society?
LOTV is great because it spreads really quickly - last year I moved a clump from the back garden to the front as I like it so much. I agree about bluebells - we re-landscaped both front and back gardens after moving in, as both were really sparsely planted, but we did keep the existing white clematis at the front and the bluebells, I wonder who first planted them? Did I tell you the well story? Several years ago somebody visiting the windmill started talking to me, and mentioned that he had lived on the street many, many years before. He said that there used to be a well in our front garden! this was before we dug up the lawn, so we were rather cautious when we eventually started digging - sadly we never found any trace of it, D was rather relieved whereas I was really disappointed!
ReplyDeleteThink of the treasure trove that somebody will discover one day when they find all the china pieces that you buried in one place – that’ll confuse them! Liking your theory on the blue and white china though!
Wouldn't it have been exciting to actually have found a well in your front garden? Especially one of the 'wishing' variety! How fortuitous that man was visiting the windmill when you were at home - the things that you find out by chance encounters!
ReplyDeleteAs a strange co-incidence, there was a (fake) well, that was planted up with flowers in the back garden of my old family home in Southampton. As a (secretly quite romantic) child, I used to bury money and make wishes there.
As I've been clearing bamboo from our garden over the past few days I've been thinking about what we bury and why. Traditions, superstitions and mementos.
As I was doing this, I came across some 'new' pieces of china, ha, ha.
Though I was careful to steer well clear of where we buried dear 'Piglet.'
I can't remember if I told you the story of a friend of a friend burying a hamster in their garden, and on the very spot grew a sunflower (a seed had grown from the food the hamster had digested). What a fitting memorial!
Any interesting items found or buried in your garden P (not necessarily pets of course!!!)?
A - you seem to have an amazingly bountiful garden in terms of hidden treasure, I wonder if there was another building on your plot prior to the existing houses being built? My garden is quite barren in comparison! The only occasional find has been a toy soldier and a few marbles (which I have kept in a pot outside).
ReplyDeleteAt a previous house we owned, the garden was part of the original castle moat - I had great expectations as we dug that plot, but alas not a roman coin in sight!
I absolutely adore the hamster/sunflower story.