When the hype goes and joy begins.

Soulful gardening and musings from a creative creator.

I like this time of the new year. When we’re over the first couple of weeks and I no longer feel like I have been dropkicked into New Year’s Day, supposedly having figured out- the goals, resolutions, intentions and words of the year. It’s all too much that first week and I cant even think straight, I don’t even know what day of the week it is, let alone come up with a genius plan for how I want to live/go forward for the next 12 months. At first I try to fire up my brain, willing it to come up with some intentions or words whilst I contemplate another mince pie. My only thought that pops into my head at that precise moment is- is it really such a bad thing to bake another batch of mince pies on the 6th of Jan… After this point I decided to stop trying so hard to have it all figured out and I just decided to get on with the stuff that needed doing and hope that inspiration strikes. I find walking best done on my own when I need a moment of calm and some space to think and over the new year I have found a lovely new-to-me place to walk in the next village. During the stillness I notice the seed heads and textures of the landscape, my thoughts are turned to spring and how beautiful it will look then just judging from the seed heads going over. I start contemplating what seeds to order for this year. For me- the flowers are a byproduct of the process of growing and connecting to the earth and environment. Gardening is a ritual, it nurtures my soul, the flowers are the bonus that feeds my creativity, they are my muse. In the garden art and nature become one.

In my garden the plucky hellebores bloom and the first of the snowdrops are showing their pretty white droplet heads. There are soggy half frozen dahlias still in a bed that I must get around to lifting but it’s been too cold to do it. I’m not panicking, they’re fine for now. I’ve just started thinking about ordering my sweet peas, my favourite variety is called Cathy. Years of experience has taught me to not be impatient and not start sowing seeds too soon. Instead I will amuse myself with making pretty planters of spring bulbs that I can bring in the house.

The garden in its frosted state last week. The gravel garden has been looking really pretty too with lots of seed heads left for winter structure and as a source of food for the birds and shelter for insects. I’d been dreaming of a garden this size and I absolutely love it despite it being hard work at times. I don’t go in for manicured designs and I’m certainly not a meticulous gardener. Things have to work hard for me and not the other way around. I only grow a few annuals as I’d rather spend my time discovering interesting perennials that will last and multiply. My top annuals though are always ammi, cosmos, sweet peas and helichrysum, sometimes I swap between love-in-the-mist and cornflowers. I used to love orleya but it doesn’t like to grow in this garden. I often shake seed about in late summer and see what happens, this garden favours love-in-the-mist and foxgloves. The other garden loved ammi and cornflowers, it’s interesting to see what comes up and which plants want to thrive.

In the cottage the paper whites are flowering. It just goes to show how ill treatment of bulbs doesn’t do them any harm. I’d bought these back in September, shoved in a brown bag and plopped them on a shelf, there they stayed until two weeks ago when I stumbled across them. I popped them on some old mixed compost and moss in a vintage tureen, watered them once and plonked them on the table- now that’s my kind of gardening. They smell incredible although the mr disagrees, yet the whole family is enjoying their cheerful white flowers as they pop open each day. I noticed them flopping this morning so I’ll have to gather some twigs to support them. I’ve always used vintage pots and tins for spring bulbs, they add a level of pretty interest and are more individual to the owner as they have personality. I have a vintage section in my online shop if you need inspiration.

I treated myself to a couple of mags to read this winter- a Country Living and a Red. I have to say that the Feb copy of Red had a fabulous article by a Katherine Ormerod called Choose Your Hard. She writes this - The truth is that we should all be in pursuit of the hard we can bear. It resonated with me as I’m a firm believer in needing the hard to appreciate the joy. She talks about all the choices we face in life and that most choices will have a hard element to them. For instance- working for a boss is hard, being self employed is hard. Being married is hard, being single is hard. Which hard are you prepared to work on? Is it making the leap to start your own business? I can tell you it will be so hard, yet nearly thirty years on in my creative business adventures I can honestly tell you I love the hard!

Lastly I wanted to leave you with a really easy recipe I did for lunch yesterday. I chopped up a squash and roasted it in the oven with sea salt and cumin seeds till it was caramelised. Then I simply topped it with pistachio nuts, crumbled feta and a handful of rocket dressed with some olive oil and lemon juice. It was warming and hit all the flavour and texture notes, and it was ridiculously easy.

I also have a little advice for if you’re feeling like you’ve stalled on the new year goal front. Move forward with feeling- I ask myself how do I want to feel right now or how do I not want to feel and then I work on that. It sounds simple and it is. I like to feel like I’m learning nearly all the time, so I’m forever seeking out things that interest or inspire me. I also want to feel joy and contentment, this comes in the form of a trip to Cambridge for a coffee, to soak up the architecture and visit my favourite art shop. It also comes in the form of a bubble bath and a roast dinner. The idea is to choose what you need to feel right now. Give it a go, let me know if it works for you.

Wishing you all a good week. Don’t forget you can see more of my day-to-day over on instagram.

Emma x