A trip down memory lane- letting things be

Letting new ideas in & time in the garden.

Hello, welcome to the third part of my memory lane series- This week, a little flick back though some of the images from moving to the garden at Potters cottage. It’s been just over three years now since we took on this garden, it was a blank canvas. At the time of moving, I didn’t even know which direction A Bunch Of Wild was going in, I think I just needed a rest, to spend time on this garden, time in my studio and not have any plans. It was the first time in a while that I didn’t actually have anything figured out- it was both unsettling and a relief. So I did what I love to do- make everything beautiful and just see what happens next. I designed new areas of the garden, grew flowers and styled shoots, painted and drank a lot of tea. Added plants to a wish list, removed some, added others, worked out yet another flower bed and watched the grass grow at an unbelievable rate, wondering if I should do away with plants and just keep goats. I don’t really like goats though, I am considering bees! Well actually, I’m considering letting bee keepers use the garden for hives and not me personally looking after them. Anyway, enough rambling for a moment…

In my element- making a garden bouquet.

Styling flowers from the garden.

Full of cold but enjoying making Christmas decorations last year.

Roses - I must have roses, garden ones!

Arranging your own garden flowers is so rewarding, there’s few things better than taking a cup of tea out into the garden, favourite snips in hand and selecting blooms that make you smile. I bang on about it a lot- flowers are my muse, they fuel my passion for photography. I love to document the changes in the garden, it’s never the same from year to year. One year the wood was full of cow parsley, it was a picture (one I didn’t take), it’s not done it since. The gravel garden changes too, I chuck a lot of seed around up here, one year the cosmos took over and it was beautiful, the next year it was a mass of foxgloves, this year it was bronze fennel, all beautiful! I particularly love bronze fennel for winter structure, it’s so ethereal with delicate cobwebs and frost, natures art. I’ve enjoyed the surprises that this garden brings, simply sitting with it, tweaking a bit here and there, but mostly letting it just be.

This weekend we received some news that the proposed building plot that was trying to happen in the garden next door- might not be happening at all now. We are crossing everything and praying like mad! Maybe we’ll get to spend a bit longer in this garden. If we do, we’re planning on having an open garden next year for the NGS, if we are still here it will be July the 26th.

Foxgloves taking over the gravel garden.

Of course the biggest change we’ve made has been the greenhouse. It was a devil to put up (never again) but it’s really made all the difference. The bold choice to put it in the middle has given the garden a heart, it was a little odd when we took it on with outbuildings around the edges, it felt like being in a western. I’m all for creating rooms within the garden but I’ve been going slowly with this one, waiting for it to guide me slightly. Amongst the garden design and enjoying a quiet simple life, I also found respite in the garden studio. Built by the former owners as a carpentry workshop, the space was perfect to set up my pottery and art studio. It’s also perfect for drying flowers especially when the kiln has been on! The garden inspires my work and A Bunch Of Wild has slowly blossomed into more than cut flowers and styling, it’s now the umbrella for my ceramics, photography and art practice (Emma Connolly Designs). Everything is slow, considered and sustainable, the garden has really taught us a lot over the three years. It’s reminded us what’s really important- connection! Being connected to nature, what’s going on around you and connecting with people that bring a gentle energy to the table. Last year I’d had quite enough of hearing about ‘the word of the year’. A word that you chose to reflect going forward into the new year, it could be calm, freedom, spontaneity… that sort of thing. I nearly always chose freedom. Last year I was done with it and just wanted to enjoy a good year, to be honest, I think I was suffering quite a bit with sad and didn’t have the headspace to think. Turns out my word found me- it’s connection! This year I’ve made and developed new friendships, connected with places and my practice. But I’ve also re-connected with myself. The gentle drifting, recharging and slowing down made room for new things, new friendships and new possibilities. I guess what I’m trying to say- is don’t put too much pressure on yourself to come up with words and resolutions, because they will find you when you least expect it. You do need to be optimistic though and be open to change. We don’t move forward if we aren’t prepared to face change. If you have a word for next year or resolutions- great, but if not, don’t stress over it.

The greenhouse - summer 2024

Early autumn 2025

I love sitting here in this secluded spot, considering the garden, thinking about the day ahead. I do my best thinking in the garden. The greenhouse is a retreat for not just the plants in winter but me too. As someone that suffers with sad- I find spending time in the light of the greenhouse, even when it’s windy and raining outside, to be a great comfort. I still haven’t got around to putting a log burner in here yet but it’s on my to-do list.

During the headache.

It’s all a bit of a soggy mess right now but there is comfort to be had in that it’s simply sleeping for winter. I still need to get my bulbs in, how long have I been saying that for now? I did plant my iris bulbs a couple of months ago though and they are now popping through, so exciting! It’s nice to see the promise of winter flowers. I think sometimes we’re in such a rush to get to spring that we overlook how beautiful winter structure can be. The viburnums in flower now and all the winter flowers to come, hellebores, snowdrops, winter honeysuckle, winter Jasmine & Daphne to name a few. I love potting up some hellebores to dot around the gravel garden but my favourites are always the little iris flowers that I plant in small terracotta pots, I move these around where I can see them from the house, they bring me so much joy!

I hope you’re enjoying the images from my memory lane series- next post I’m sharing the farmers markets we used to do to get A Bunch Of Wild off the ground.

Emma.