Birthday Garden Mural
Some years ago I dug and planted a Birthday Rose Garden for Daughter of Moosey. Then, rather than worry about posting birthday presents overseas, I simply bought her new roses each year. Then time zoomed past in my garden, faster than the speediest sparrow, busier than the buzziest bumble bee.
No room for more roses...
By 2009 there simply wasn't any room for more roses. So I thought of something completely different - Daughter of Moosey would be 'given' a Birthday Mural, with mountains, swirling smoke, korus, and flax leaves, artistically created on the back of the Stables building by Younger Son of Moosey. His vision and my wallet, combined in a most unique birthday present from the two of us.
Corner of the Birthday Mural
I did wonder if I'd got away with this, though. I remember the following conversation :
Phone Conversation Between Moosey and Daughter
Moosey: (excited) 'Happy Birthday!'
Daughter: 'My birthday was last month, Mum.'
Moosey: (undaunted) 'No, no - your birthday present! I've sent you your present!'
Daughter: 'Do you mean you've finally posted my present?'
Moosey: 'No, no - I've e-mailed you some photographs. The video is a bit big to send.'
Moosey: 'You'll love it! It's at the back of your garden!'
Daughter is oddly silent
Moosey (grovelling):'You see there wasn't enough room for any more roses, and I didn't want to weed out the self-sown Cornflowers because they fill up the gaps so nicely, and so I thought you might like a mural...'
A profound silence. Hmm...
The Birthday Mural
I planted the tiny border in front with special pink and white Camellias, with spiky foliage plants to echo the design of the mural. In these early photographs all the shrubs are small. Nice and small!
Camellias Behind the Stables