An Absentee Blogger Returns...Momentarily!

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it! Notice the bumble bee, the small child, the smiling faces. Smell the rain and feel the wind. Live your life fully."  ~Ashley Smith~

All of you (and you know who you are!) who have endearingly professed to have missed me (thank you for that!) during my extended leave-of-absence, please don't get too carried away by my sudden reappearance. Save those bottles of bubbly and cheers of welcome for some more deserving cause. This is just a brief appearance, occasioned by all of the lovely messages I've been receiving expressing concern at my lengthy silence and absence.

Allow me to reassure you that I am in good health (hale and hearty!) and happy with life. It's just that priorities have required my attention to be focussed elsewhere for the time being. I am not sure how long that will be, but I'm guessing for as long as my current circumstances dictate. And, no, there is nothing untoward happening in my life. On the contrary, I am in a very good place right now. I still have my wonderful, loving family and the robust antics of our five, lively dogs to keep me busy, centered and most definitely grounded.

"In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time."  ~Leonardo da Vinci~

Do I miss blogging? Absolutely! Do I miss all of the special bloggers who I have been privileged to come to know on a more personal level? Of course! Do I think of you all? Frequently! Then...why have I not been visiting? Well, that's part of the reason I've needed to take an extended hiatus. There are so many of you and I found myself spending ages trying to keep up with all of you, especially those of you who post several times a week! You had me on the hop! When I started blogging in November 2010, I had no idea that blogging could become such a time-consuming activity, or that it lent itself to establishing so many connections with others for whom I'd begin to develop a real sense of kinship and, in some instances, even affection. The vast physical distances that separate us all and the fact that we only know each other in virtual space and time seemed no reason to temper these emerging friendships. In fact, I found myself becoming increasingly wrapped up in everyone's blogging lives and personas, even though I did occasionally find myself wondering whether all those lives/personas were real. After all, nothing prevents any of us from becoming whoever we wish to project.

When family members begin to comment more frequently on the amount of time you're sitting at your computer, visiting blogs and leaving comments, and suggest this has the potential of becoming an unhealthy addiction, it generates good reason to pause and reevaluate priorities.

After all, I suspect most of us can benefit from being periodically reminded that the life we lay claim to is the only real one we're going to have, so we'd best appreciate every fleeting moment...even if that means temporarily refraining from the pleasurable past-time of blogging!

"If the essence of my being has caused a smile to have appeared on your face or a touch of joy within your heart, then in living I have made my mark."  ~Thomas Odem~

Until such time as I resume my seat in front of my computer's keyboard and once more take up my position as a blogger, I wish each and every one of you everything of the best. And, yes, I miss you too!

Are You Ready To Be Beguiled Again?

One of many displays in the nursery, Aspidistra.

All aboard! Jump on the Aspidistra Bus to continue our excursion to this quirkiest of quirky Western Cape (South Africa) nursery!

Sue Langley, author of the addictive blog, Sierra Foothill Garden and her latest and very exciting additional blog, Flea Market Gardening, tweeted about my last post on Aspidistra and mentioned it on her Facebook page, on Wednesday. As of this evening (Friday), that post has attracted in excess of 900 page views, skyrocketing itself right off the charts in terms of total page views, to date, of any other single post on Driftwood Ramblings.  The majority of these views can only be accounted for directly as a result of Sue having 'put the word out' on it. Thank you, Sue!

Visiting my Favourite Nursery...Aspidistra!

Willie Schmidt is the mastermind behind this beautiful nursery and every single time I visit, there are new things to experience, frequently changes that make me gasp from sheer enjoyment of this exceedingly creative landscape designer's talent. 

Who are our real friends?

Melynda Fleury, blogger extraordinaire and debut author of Just Nonsense

We all know the cliche that, in prosperity, our friends know who we are, but in adversity, we know who our friends are.

This rings no truer than for Melynda and three of her wonderfully supportive friends who, in her time of need, have rallied together to really make a difference.

A lovely morning in Greyton

Gorgeous climber rose in The Post House's delightful garden

Today was one of my favourite kind of days. A day when I had the freedom and time to explore a little of one of my favourite South African villages, namely Greyton. This quaint settlement, so reminiscent of an English country village, is situated in the beautiful mountainous region of the Western Cape. While Greyton gives the impression of being thousands of kilometres away, it takes a mere hour and a half to drive there from Cape Town.

In No Particular Sequence!

I woke up this morning, fully intending 'to get my house in order'. That was until the temptation to venture out into the garden became far too insistent to resist. 

Show and Tell

I told you I 'd be back.

It has just taken a little longer than I'd planned. After all, the job of playing is serious business. Anyway, now that I'm finally seated at the computer keyboard, I want to spotlight what we got up to this past weekend.

The Prettiest Tiny Garden!

Such a pretty bowl of welcoming flowers!

Some of my 'faithful followers' know of my daughter Linda, either through 'Romeo's Wish', or through reading her blog, The Squashed Tomato. As her exceedingly proud mother (don't get me started, else I fear I won't be able to stop myself) I know I am not just biased in her favor. She really is that special and I regularly wish I could sing her praises from the rooftops (she will not allow me to do so and that is why I am so reticent).

Now, before you grab your things and rush away, thinking I'm just another blogger nauseatingly puffed up with maternal pride, please let me reassure you right here and now. This post is not about Linda. It is about her little garden. I was there yesterday and, although I had not taken my camera along, I just could not resist snapping away using my mobile's camera. I do hope that all of you who are 'novice gardeners' or who have teeny tiny plots of your own will be able to glean some lovely ideas from Linda's delightfully pretty, little garden. I am so proud of what she has achieved in her own teeny tiny garden.

See for yourselves...

Bonny 29/3/2001 – 21/01/2012

Bonny in the garden

Right now, my human companions are hurting, so I have taken it upon myself to share our sad news. Bonny, our much loved, irreplaceable family member has gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

Summer Days drifting away...to those Summer Nights!

The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand

~ Frederick L. Knowles ~

"Christmas is a time when you get homesick, even when you're home" ~ Carol Nelson

"He who has not Christmas in his heart, will never find it under a tree." ~ Roy Smith

The Last Three Gardens [Franschhoek 2011 Open Gardens weekend]

Jackie Loubser's 5 year old garden as seen from the back of the house where a most impressive potager garden has been established.

With 2011 almost at an end and the holiday season right upon us, I really do want to finish showing you the last three gardens we visited during our Franschhoek Open Gardens weekend tour. I am combining them into a single post, since they were all fairly compact in size and all young gardens. Each is evidently much loved by its owner and well thought out and each had its own unique look and feel.

Henk Scholtz's Franschhoek Garden

The Franschhoek garden of landscaper and artist, Henk Scholtz.

Those of you who have joined me from the start of this series of posts, featuring the ten private gardens open to public viewing during the 2011 Franschhoek Open Gardens tour, may recall my having mentioned that we'd had the special privilege of being invited to view a private garden that was NOT on the list of open gardens. I am delighted to be sharing it with you, today!


To see more of this unique garden that was featured on the BBC Documentary series, "Around the World in 80 Gardens", continue reading.

La Providence [Franschhoek Open Garden 2011]

La Providence's Manor House

The owner of this extensive property is clearly not only an enthusiastic rose collector, on a scale few are lucky enough to achieve, but an avid sportsman as well. Apart from a fully dedicated gym facility and tennis courts, there was a cricket net for practice purposes. It therefore seems appropriate to quote Ben Hogan as we walk across the perfectly manicured lawns admiring roses every whichway we turn our heads: "As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round."


If you want to be assailed by the beautiful treasures this astounding garden has to offer, continue reading...

La Brie [Franschhoek Open Garden 2011]

The Lake at La Brie

I cannot believe how quickly time is passing. Our wonderful trip to view the open gardens in Franschhoek seems a distant memory apart from the reminder we have by way of the hundreds of photographs we took.

Heathcliff Back At The Keyboard

Hi Everybody! It has been quite some time since I last nudged Desiree off her blogging seat.

I thought you might like to know that Bonny, Toby, Coco, Milo, Noodle and I are all doing very well. With the warmer weather, we have been spending some time at the pool. Continue reading to see all of us having fun in the sun!

Vue de Ciele [Franschhoek Open Garden 2011]

View from the steeply winding driveway up to the manor house at Vue de Ciel

Here I am, back again, to proceed with you on our visit to Vue de Ciele, another of the wonderful, private gardens in Franschhoek that were opened to the public for viewing, in order to raise much needed funding for the Fleur de Lis home for the aged.

Klein Champagne [Franschhoek Open Garden 2011]

The entrance to Klein Champagne Estate, Franschhoek. Vineyards lined with magnificent roses.

Klein Champagne is a privately owned wine estate set in the exquisitely beautiful Franschhoek Valley. Described on our programme as a "park-like garden, with spectacular roses, a large and shaded river frontage, meandering paths and a lily covered lake", this very large garden was an absolute joy to behold.

Only Seven Pictures Today...

Witels River area - day trip - October 2011

My new theme song is, "It's been another busy week!" If it hasn't already been written, it ought to be, since I have it repeat playing indefinitely. For now, I see little chance of any change.

Fay Bentley's Garden [Franschhoek Open Garden 2011]

Hello. I'm one of the seven Persians whose function it is to add beauty and grace to Fay's garden.

This altogether delightful, small garden of complimentary mixed plantings, has been featured in several magazines. That Fay is truly passionate about her garden is evident in every step one takes.