THE GAFFER'S GARDEN IN THE SUMMER

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

A gentle voice with an almost feminine intensity greets and welcomes me at their doorstep with the delightful phrase, 'You look so fantastic, Darling!'. The person behind the voice is a man whom I called, The Gaffer.

In 2008 on my first visit to England, the first person I met in the flesh who really made me very comfortable is a good friend named, The Gaffer. A big man with bulky muscles like Arnold Schwarzenegger that he has developed over the years by spending time at his exclusive gym. Though he has huge biceps, he has a soft spot too! That is shown when it comes to raising plants and yielding healthy new growth from his garden.

I have been visiting his home for years and every time I was there, I was fascinated by his collections of healthy plants. Honestly, when I plan to go there I always look forward to seeing his varieties of plants. They are more than enough to warm me and gratify the nature side in me too.

The front garden is what I prefer more as it has bundles of scarlet red geraniums which appear like a red carpet. Enough to compare it to the red carpet at the Academy Awards, trodden on by famous celebrities in the showbiz world. On the other hand, the rear garden has more to offer because this is where you can see more of his creations.

One of the structures that he erected is a Victorian glass house. This provides a home for his wide range of cacti and delicate plants that usually won't survive the cold weather in England. The glass house itself could be used as a spare room as it has roof ventilator, shelving brackets, single sliding door including door catch and many more accessories.

I can still remember in the summer, his rear garden was ornamented with freshly blooming flowers. All were growing robustly with vivid colours which were very engrossing to my eyes. When I visited him one day in the summer, I was wearing a colourful maxi dress and surprisingly, one of his small flowers matched the design of my garment. And because of that he took a picture of me while standing above those flowers. In the end, they resembled an extension of my floral maxi dress in the picture.

I appreciate the beautiful transformation of their gardens and admire the effort he has made to make their gardens so very enticing.

KINGLEY VALE IN CHICHESTER

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Two hours on the road and when I arrived at the car park, I was surprised how full it was. I waited for awhile and wished for someone to leave but had no single luck at all.

On the way to Kingley Vale, I imagined a big car park with a few vehicles and maybe, a steel entrance gate that would guide me into the heart of the forest. But my expectations were all wrong! There were only private fields, stinging nettle plants and a narrow pathway. Which was quite a disappointment!

I was shocked and thought the trip to one of the National Nature Reserve (NNR) sites, Kingley Vale, was a complete mess. No, it wasn’t as there was a gem awaiting for myself!

It's true that there was a wooden gate and handsome fields of barleys, wheat and corn. But those were just twists to what really was in the abyss of the forest. When I reached the main portal of the forest, I was in deep shock to see beautifully grown huge trees like those in fairyland. They were all robust and their long branches bent onto the ground like the tentacles of an octopus. The dense canopy almost blotted out the sun and there was a mysterious effect from the shining shafts of sunlight. The fallen golden brown leaves covered the dry and dusty earth and it protected our feet from getting dirty while I stood in wonder.

I didn’t stay for too long but I really appreciated that part of the forest. Weaving my way through the maze of fallen branches I could see ahead bright sunshine and green grass. It was a large area of grass downland with shrubs and trees. I saw myriads of small colourful flowers and old, tall yew trees which had formed like a palisade.

I was so hungry when I reached the field and my feet were weary too. So, I laid the blanket and unpacked the food placed inside my sling bag. The delicious food and liniment drinks saved my stomach and recharged me too. I stayed and enjoyed the glory of sunshine on my face while listening to the sounds coming from the trees and birds. After an hour of relaxation, I walked again and climbed-up the hillside at the edge of the field. The incline was so steep, I felt giddy looking down. When I reached the plain summit, I rested again to catch my breath and could feel the strong winds on my body. The clouds seemed closer to me and also, I was stunned at how spectacular the view of Chichester Harbour was from up so high.

It was a very challenging journey that tested the resistance of my body. A day after, my body was aching and it took me two days before I recovered fully!

*CLICK photos to enlarge

SP's HEAVENLY GARDEN

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

His hands can grow varieties of flowers and plants. His determination as a nature lover has been proven and can be seen through his masterpieces. His garden is one, a creation to which he combined determination and passion. I can say that Sokphal (SP) Din is a man with efficiency and optimism.

Every visit made to SP's mansion was worth the 1 hour driving. Aside from the fact that he is an incredibly charming and attentive person. His good character pleased me and his ability/ gift to grow colourful flowers and strong plants amazed me. The ambiance I felt in his heavenly garden was like experiencing wilderness again. What I mean is, a personalised garden where I saw wild bees and small birds basking around. Every time I visited his garden I was always in deep thoughts, on how he preserved the colourful condition and also, on how he maintained the healthy growth in his garden.

I  have observed that SP didn’t just sow the seeds and leave it to grow afterwards. His wonderful creation caught my eyes and also, he had given me inspiration to make my own. The care and affection he gave to the needs of his flowers and plants are truly exceptional!

*PHOTOS Courtesy of SP