Welcome from... Karen Hargadon-Feeney's Secret Tuscan Garden

Welcome from The Secret Garden....

It’s hard to believe, I am sitting here, in Il Piccolo Giardino Segreto on a little patch of Tuscan soil…writing my first Blog to welcome you all to my new photography website!

I have so wished to produce this website with the intention of having my photographs viewed, to share my simple rural Tuscan lifestyle and perhaps…even sell a print or two~

This could not have been made possible without the collaboration and flair of Liza Brown who built it.

Liza was one of the Brown’s from Victoria Avenue and I was one of the Brown’s from Fairway…we kind of grew up together, each of us one of four siblings who shared the same schools, friends, childhood birthday parties, cinema, theatre with all the other memories of growing up in a small market town.

I hadn’t known that Liza built websites until earlier this year her enthusiasm, ideas and commitment have made my wish a reality…thank you Liza Lou from the bottom of my heart!

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So here I sit, in this secret garden a special place I was inspired to design three years ago

Funny how things happen when you fling yourself into a space you hadn’t considered previously, with brushes and watercolour and the best company!

Sam was staying…we just wanted to paint~ it was February or maybe March~

We moved a table into the area, that had previously been used to store the manure for the vegetable garden, but Fabrizio hadn’t yet made our delivery~

That’s when I felt the wonderful energy and it occurred to me that this little area could be made into a… Secret Garden!

I have come to realise that when ideas are slowly put into action…not rushed, something rather more magical happens.

This little haven has gradually evolved~ the stone archway was built…to resemble something more ancient.

A stone entrance laid… followed some time later with a path constructed in a herringbone pattern using reclaimed red bricks, built to follow the natural contour of the land.

Plants were selected for their height, and ability to partially screen, to create little hidden areas ~ Agapanthus, Verbena, Waxyleaf Privet, Christmas Holly and a much wanted Lemon Tree.

The Oleander blooms all summer long and provides great coverage

Lavender feeds the bees, butterflies and other important insects.

It creates a calm healing environment…filling the air with a fragrance sublime~

Roots of trees with gnarled logs have been incorporated in the borders, creating interesting areas for smaller plants, a lovely contrast between the natural wood and brighter greens mauves and pink flowers.

I have chosen mainly plants I know will thrive here with one or two exceptions thrown in…fingers crossed!

I love surprises…self-seeding plants that just appear or ones the birds have planted!

Occasionally I might even discover the odd vegetable and in my opinion, that’s where the fun lies!

This definitely isn’t a manicured garden!

Oh and my guilty secret is to ‘aquire’ tiny succulents, a pleasure I probably enjoy rather too much!

This is now the perfect quiet place to sit and read, paint write or to contemplate the meaning of life~

Here I sit, two seasons passed… since scratching the original ideas out with Liza. Surrounded by the humming of bees, butterflies~ the throng of beautiful birdsong, the brightest blue canopy above me in a haven lit with sunshine…how thankful I am~

I WELCOME you all to step inside…to share my passion…PHOTOGRAPHY!

Follow my Blog, peruse my Shop and enjoy looking at my website and photographs~

Your thoughts and presence are most Welcome~

www.karenhardadon-Feeney.com