Wild Flowers



One of the most gorgeous aspects of this time of year, in my opinion, is the spontaneous and sporadic displays of wild flowers bursting forth. I adore the way they riot together, poppies and wild grasses especially and I spent a careful hour yesterday in the garden only taking out the real rogues such as tough old dandelions. I made those into a hearty nourishing soup (obviously) but I'm completely passionate about keeping gardens natural for nature. I hate prissy and fussy well ordered manicured spaces. I deplore controlled neatness, and laurel hedges ? burn them all.

Which brings me onto the lone soul who spent the best part of the day last weekend strimming the tree lined avenue into the village, razing all the wild flowers which I had photographed. Their pretty heads were severed in a split second. Why ? Is there something about strimming that I'm missing the point completely. Is it the monotonous action from side to side, is it the thick leather strap that holds the high pitched whining instrument to you ? please please tell me what the point is when all you are doing is destroying the natural fauna of the countryside.

To top it all the water bill has just landed, plop, onto my lap. Except its more a ruddy big whoosh, a tidal wave even. His Lordship has calculated that it is the equivalent to the swimming pool being refilled 15 times. It can't have been the highly complex sprinkling system he set up for me which snaked its way lovingly around my wild poppies and varied grasses at the front of the house which I don't need anymore since my lovely neighbour took it upon himself to 'weed' for me. No, I'm consoling myself with the fact that there must be some terrible mistake.

I'm beginning to understand why people strim for hours on end or put their Chateau's up for Sale.

'Everythings for sale' as His Lordship would sniff. He has to have the final word.

Obviously.

Comments

Un Peu Loufoque said…
Too much making ice for gin I suspect dear!! Water rates are a pain arent they? But as you say strimmers are far far worse....
Elizabethd said…
I get so cross when the beautiful verges here, full of wild orchids and ladysmock, are strimmed. Soulless men, why cant they wait a bit?
Sally's Chateau said…
It was just some busybody tidying up elizabethd, perhaps I should post up the after picture too !!
I think people who strim are obsessed with tidiness - you know the sort - everything in it's place and a place for everything. They also lack the capacity to see the beauty in a verge of wild flowers . . .

At Cesspit cottages we do indeed have a cesspit - well two actually - now how posh is that - and we don't pay water rates . . . just emptying and maintenance costs.
Milla said…
must be the side to side bit, and the straps. That's boys and their toys for you. doesn't make sense, naturally, maddening, foolish, unnecessary, selfish, stupid. Water bill deeply scary, check those pipes for leaks.
Faith said…
Those lovely wild flowers, what a shame. Can't you find out who was responsible and put in a request for them not to do it next year?
Grouse said…
Oh! I say Sally, I did suggest that 3 langourous baths whilst sipping and admiring the view were a little excessive.
Well- for people on meters at least. having a ram pump and springwater mine are free......
Pipany said…
I have heard how beautiful the French verges are and it never occured to me that someone may be mad enough to strim them; that photo is so gorgeous too. xx
Pondside said…
I can't wait until the poppies unfold over here! I'd be so upset if someone mowed them down. That photos was lovely, Sally. I've just caught up with your last two posts - like a beautiful travelogue!
Frances said…
Sally, those flowers are gorgeous in that sunlight. It's great that you got to take that photo before ... well, just before.

xo
muddyboots said…
all those lovely wild flowers, a botanist delight, seem to remember there were load of orchids around as well last year?
KittyB said…
nooooo, don't sell... not until after June next year anyway. Pa has friend wants to come with his family so I'm printing out the details for him...
Gorgeous flowers, just as I'm planting my seeds (thanks to Cait) yours are being chopped off, very unfair. May his strimmer seize and his cord snaggle.
ChrisH said…
I hope that things have settled by now and that the water bill WAS a mistake - we can't have you leaving the chateau or we would have no one to be jealous of!
CAMILLA said…
Bonjour Sally,

What a truly lovely picture, I cannot believe that hedges have been strimmed, such a shame.

Camilla.xx
Miriam Conway said…
Sally you are fantastic. having stayed in your chateau, we can't believe you are selling your wonderful home. You are such a generous host. Such a great family home. All who have had the privalage to spend time in Le Chateau have had a wonderful experience. Love Mims

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