Overview - BISWEILEN

Nobody seemed to understand my fascination with road verges as remarkably resilient ecosystems.

The crammed grid of houses in the middle of Kyoto left no space for gardens. But there were plants – in pots.

With the added intrigue of the unexpectedly tall meadow, my garden seemed otherworldly.

There are no prescribed routes to follow, no obviously engineered views.

“There must be some reason why we think a real flower is more positive than a plastic flower.”

It is very quiet. Nothing moves. The precision of this highly fragile arrangement is breathtaking.

I decided this grass mono-culture was where I would try to make a difference as a gardener.

All foliage looks like it has been meticulously painted with a very fine brush.

I had been fascinated – and mystified – by Japanese gardens for as long as I could remember.

In front of me was a meadow surrounded by old brick walls – in the middle of the city.

The otherness of Japanese gardens has something to do with the way they are tended.

Their small outdoor space does not limit their passion for plants – on the contrary.

The perfect place to contemplate the beauty of nature.

My Englishman’s garden, and mine [part 1]

For the past seven years the magnolia has been our borrowed landscape, a generous gift from neighbours.

Could gardens be testing sites for rethinking our relationship with nature and with each other?