THE GARDEN MUSEUM, the U.K.

A Q&A with garden designer Sean Pritchard Ahead of his talk with fellow gardeners Jo Thompson and Steve Lannin on 14 March, we spoke with Somerset-based Sean Pritchard to find out how he got started in garden design, where he finds inspiration and his favourite garden to visit:When did you realise you wanted to pursue a career in garden design? I suppose, quite organically, I grew into a garden design career off the back of a love of plants and how they are displayed. What drives me is a sense of telling stories with plants and creating little moments of tension that elevate outdoor spaces into dramatic performances – almost like a set designer might, only I’m working with nature. I consider myself to have the best job in the world and I wake up every day feeling very lucky to be doing what I do. You’re now an RHS medal winning garden designer. What did that career journey look like to get from studying to where you are now? I studied at the Garden Design School in Bristol under the brilliant Robin Templar-Williams, which gave me a solid foundation in design principles and the construction of gardens. Of course, nothing quite compares to getting out into the world and trying it for yourself, so since then I’ve been developing my style and ways of working with clients – it’s constant learning and exploration, every day… Keep reading Talk | Instagarden: Social Media’s Impact on Gardens and Gardening Thanks to social media we can visit beautiful gardens all over the world and learn from gardening experts all from the comfort of our phones. The ways we find inspiration have changed, but is the experience of visiting a garden in-person irreplaceable? What can some of our favourite garden-insta follows tell us about social media’s power and influence? We’re exploring the online garden world in this talk with garden designer Jo Thompson, garden designer and writer Sean Pritchard, and Iford Manor Head Gardener Steve Lannin. Tues 14 March, 7pm – join us in person, or fittingly, watch online! £15 Standard, £10 Friends / Young Fronds £10 Livestream Book tickets The Wild Escape: Easter Holidays Family Workshops There’s a worm at the bottom of the garden… what else can we find outside? Join us to create paper garden flowers, plants and creatures inspired by the wildlife we find in our gardens. These will be displayed as part of a collaborative artwork for Earth Day on 22 April, and the display will be up until the end of May. Using paper, collage, paint and glue, we will explore and create flowers and animals for our collaborative artwork. What plants and flowers might grow at the bottom of the garden? Daisies, dandelions, tulips, daffodils? And from wildlife to pets, what animals live at the bottom of the garden? Foxes, squirrels, tortoises, cats? £2 per child, suitable for ages 3-10 Mon 3 April: What’s growing in the garden? (plants and flowers) Book tickets Weds 5 April: Who lives at the bottom of the garden? (animals) Book tickets These workshops are part of Art Fund’s The Wild Escape project uniting museums with schools and families in a celebration of UK wildlife and creativity. More about The Wild Escape Plant of the Week: “Ming fern” (Asparagus retrofractus) By Matt Collins, Head Gardener Without question, asparagus ferns are among the big hitters of the houseplant resurgence of this last decade — South African members of the Asparagusgenus, whose bold yet delicate fern-like foliage stretches, twines and creeps through living-rooms the country over. Chief among them is Asparagus setaceus, the common asparagus fern, which, despite its ubiquitousness remains popular for more than a few good reasons: unfussy and super easy to grow (or, hard to kill, depending on your take); excellent figure, effortlessly chic etc. A close second is probably the foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus) with its stouter, more compact bushy plumes. But the real gem, for me, is A. retrofractus — the ‘Ming fern’ — a less compliant yet totally captivating species with the star quality of silver-white stems and a springtime flush of acid-green foliage. I acquired our retrofractus at one of the early houseplant festivals held at the Museum, advised by the seller that the seasonal contrast between its new and old needle-like leaves is something quite spectacular, which it is. This might have been about four years ago, and since then the plant has been bumped up and up pot sizes until at last filling the largest terracotta we have to offer it. Repotting just before Christmas, I tied the stronger of its attractive though viciously thorn-clad stems to a discrete stake, and folded in the other stems to form a kind of lifted bird’s nest structure. Under the pressure of continued rapid growth, the ‘nest’ is already falling over itself, but the effect is just lovely: a tumbledown, feathery creature with a bright skeleton of questing branches.

About our gardens Object of the Week: Suttons Seeds Photographic Slides (1910) These photos showing flowers including marigolds, arctotis, begonias and snapdragons were taken to illustrate a Suttons Seeds catalogue in 1910. Suttons Seeds was founded in 1806 in Reading, and these items were one of many ‘rescued’ from disposal by an employee when the company was sold and relocated in the 1970s. They were gifted to the Garden Museum Collection in his memory. Explore our collection Images: “Ming Fern” Asparagus retrofractus (c) Matt Collins; School poster of children gardening (c.1955), Garden Museum Collection

Garden Museum 5 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB gardenmuseum.org.uk

Monday…. Lenten Contemplation and prayerful preparation

Yesterdays Sabbath Day reminds us that the holy season of Lent begins this week on Wednesday. Our Sunday post of reflection and prayer actually is a precursor to bring our head and our heart to the forty-day Holy Lenten journey.

Lent is a time of “spiritual” journey.  In spiritual rest yesterday we actually were preparing our mind and heart for a new state of being. The state of our Lent. We have put aside troubling thoughts, anxiousness, and centered our mind and our heart in Christ. We seek Lenten peace. We can read the psalms, read new prayers, and plan a time of day for a close reunion with God.  We can prepare a small Lenten Altar where we can light a candle and mentally settle in to a reverent and very close time of confession and prayer, and with our own special intention of being more sensitive to the sin in our own lives. 

These ritual preparations for Lent can become a tradition that helps us to rest our weary soul,  and it helps us to prepare for the joys of Easter.

On Wednesday we will traditionally receive “ashes” on our forehead as a symbol of our special day of reflection. The ashes symbolize our mortality – “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

We trust and we hope you might take time out of your day to find a local house of worship where you too can receive holy “ashes.” And as you receive them, we pray that you can seek and choose to do the good Lords will for your life, at home and at your work. Think about the true good of others, above your own….during this traditional Lenten “ashes” reception ceremony. It is indeed a holy moment

Lenten blessings to all……

”Contessa”

Advent….a Study…Day 28

FELIZ  NAVIDAD

A folk tradition of days gone by was to bring the baby Jesus from the nativity at home to Christmas Eve communion and liturgy services. The baby Jesus is supposed to hear and take part in the rituals of Christmas, so families in days gone by took the baby out of his nativity and brought him to church with them. 

1 Peter 2:2-3

INNOCENCE OF INFANTS

Like newborn infants, we long for your pure spiritual milk, so that by it, we may grow into salvation – if indeed we have tasted that the Lord is good. 

 

PRAYER

….my Lord, please give me a taste of your spiritual milk, some of your bread and wine, your own body and blood, that I may have a hunger, and be satisfied with your taste of salvation. Refurbish and restore me…..and all of us, as new Adams and new Eves. 

 

A M E N 

May Peace, Hope, Joy and Love light our way as we illuminate our candles on this Holy Advent Wreath this Christmas Eve.

Advent…a Study….Day 27

A SACRED CENTER

Can I make a place of innocence my home? In that place, I will be loved. I know that I am called to live at this place of innocence. Jesus chose to live there and he asks me to make it my home too. There I do not have to be afraid. Can I chose to make my innocence my home; think from there, and speak from there?

I know that whenever I choose from my innocence I don’t have to worry about the next ten years. I can just be where I am……always sure that I am not alone, but with him who called me to live as God’s child.

John 17:15-17

I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask  you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

PRAYER

Lord God…help me to ground myself in a sure place where I will be safe. Away from the Herods of this world. During these days of rejoicing….as I await the babe in the stable, wrapped in the swaddling clothes, keep me safe and wrap your embrace around me in your love, just like the babe. 

… in peace, hope, joy and love

we now light the candles of this Advent Wreath….

•A M E N •

Advent…a Study…Day 26

FROM MORALS TO MYSTICISM

Our baptism calls us to a mystical life and communion with our God, and so mysticism is a calling for all, not just a few people. We need to claim it, to taste it, to feel it, and to trust that living deeply in communion with God, the more our behavior will be a witness to truth. For many people of faith beliefs, religion and our life is about what we are allowed to do, and not allowed to do. Truly, this does not bear fruit. We are challenged to discover that we, and all, are invited to participate in the divine life of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.

PRAYER

My Lord…. Come down into my heart and help me grow into your likeness, until I find eternal love and salvation in your presence here, and forevermore. 

….and the candles of peace, hope, joy and love are illuminated now….

A M E N

The Birth of Jesus

CHRISTMAS TOUCHES THE WHOLE OF CREATION

Sometimes we think a good Christmas is songs, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and many sweet words.

Christmas is saying “yes” to something way beyond emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying yes to a “hope”which has nothing to do with what I think or feel. Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is Gods work and not mine. And into this broken world “a child is born” who is called son of the Most High, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:1-8

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered….All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you Lord that you came independently of my  feelings and thoughts. Your heart is greater than mine. I welcome you.  

• A M E N •

….tonight we illuminate the candles representing peace, hope, joy and love…..

Advent..a Study….Day 24

AN INVITATION

Why did God come to us?

HE came because he wanted to join with us on the road, to listen to our story, and to help and encourage us, that this journey we are on…is for a reason. We may often feel like we are walking in circles, but not so. We are moving towards his house of true peace and joy. So we are not alone on our journey at all. This is the mystery of Christmas,  that brings us comfort and consoles our souls.  God is the God of light and love, and he sent us his son to be with us at all times and in all places, so that we never have to feel lost during our struggles. He wants us to feel that we can trust that he walks with us always.

Christmas is a time to renew his invitation to us, not to be afraid, and to let Him be our companion. Gods love is greater than our hearts and minds can comprehend.  He is with us every step of the way on our journey home.

Luke 12:32-33

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”

PRAYER

Dear Lord I seek your grace. I am only “one” in your flock of people. You have told your disciples, “Be not afraid.” I pray for your message to sink deep into my heart.  I seek your assurance

…. let us celebrate peace, hope, joy and love by lighting the candles on our Advent wreath……

A M E N 

Advent…a Study…Day 23

BEING FORGIVEN

In forgiving we are still in control. “I forgive you.”….but to be forgiven by you, first of all I have to say, “I’m sorry. There is something that I didn’t do for you.” 

This is hard and puts me in a vulnerable position…in a dependent position. I have handed you over to suffering….somehow I have failed you. I am sorry I failed you. I am sorry I wasn’t the kind of mother, or father, or friend, or brother, or sister, or neighbor, whatever that I wanted to be. Can you forgive me?

It is not just asking the individual. It is having the ability to say, “God can you forgive me?” Can I be open to forgiveness? Then your heart can move from the hardened heart….to a heart of new flesh.

Luke 17:3-4

Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”

PRAYER

Lord….. you are the God of mercy. You are in each and every one of us. You are in all of us. Help us to understand and admit that this is why we must forgive….and we must also ask for forgiveness. Let us see your face shine once again on the sin and the sinner. 

• AMEN •

…. I now light the candles of peace, hope, joy and Love…..

Advent/Sabbath Sunday..a Study..Day 22

BETRAYAL

Parker Palmer a spiritual writer of the Quaker tradition, says that community is the place where the person you least want to live with….always lives.

Community is not a place where you love each other warmly, freely and affectionately. Community is actually where you are cleansed, where your love is tested. It is a place where your “Child of God” is put through the real challenge of human relationships. So….in reality community is a place where Judas sometimes lives….and sometimes it is you also. 

Matthew 10:1-4

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles; first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddarus; Simon the  Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. 

PRAYER

Lord I accept your journey of living, loving and serving in community as a necessary membership in humanity. I understand that my church, my family and my neighborhood  is my path, where I will find You in humanness along with imperfections, especially my own.

 

*AMEN *

…..this Sabbath Day I light the candles of peace, hope, joy and Love….

Advent…a Study…Day 19

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

Advent is our time before Christmas to pray and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. We must take the time to be really ready to receive him. He wants to be born in us. So we need to open our hearts, and focus our minds to be welcoming. So during Advent be receptive…. especially the last days before Christmas.

Our days can pass so quickly in this season, with many things to do to prepare for the Christmas in our homes. A day can pass and before you know it, evening can come and you have yet to pray and invite preparation into our heart. It’s often the difference between urgent and important. So make time to talk to God.

1 Peter1:22-23

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth,  so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from your heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring world of God.

PRAYER

Lord lead me. Lead me out of my sin into your saving love. Lead me out of my darkest corners into the light of your grace. Lead me out of the shadow of death….. into your promise of eternal life.

•• A M E N ••

….and now I illuminate the candles of peace, hope and joy…