Introducing the Shrubbery
That's Shrubbery with an upper-case S! It's an area of my garden which joins up with the end of the Hump Garden, and was originally filled with assorted shrubs. Many, like the yellow Genista, have self-sown, and seedling Pittorporums, Ake Ake, and Pseudopanax have grown unchecked.
Paths through the periwinkle...
Paths in the Shrubbery have come and gone, always pushing through the periwinkle, the ground-cover which has colonised the whole area. Periwinkle, or Vinca Major, carpets the soil, is evergreen, and has the prettiest blue flowers, and I have one of those gardener's love-hate relationship with it. It's one of THE most beautiful weeds in my garden, right?
Courtyard in the Shrubbery
My early Shrubbery plantings were expansive. As well as swathes of tough Agapanthus I planted a Prunus blossom tree, a Cercis, striped Phormiums, and assorted flowery Hebes. And (silly me) some roses - pink Grootendoorsts, Blush Noisettes, Scabrosas. Alas - there wasn't nearly enough sun, and no irrigation, so many of these early treasures either died or were dug out in time and relocated. But guess what? The periwinkle didn't have any growth problems what-so-ever! Funny that...
Many of my original wiggling paths ended up being shut down through lack of use. Others became impassable, their routes invaded by seedling Genistas and - you've guessed it - that tenacious, spreading Periwinkle. As I'm writing this there's only one path left, which stays close to the house lawn. But I'm on a mission (with the help of Non-gardening Partner and his chain-saw) to clear the Shrubbery's air-space. The more opened-up an area gets, the more I'm drawn in to explore. Who knows what shrubs I'll find, surviving in the wilderness? And then some of those old paths might be cleared...
You might like to take your latest book into that secluded courtyard above for a quiet read. It's a magical spot, where no-one will be able to find you.