all quiet

[Geranium and begonia house, West Dean]

It's all quiet on the domestic front today. As quiet as a greehhouse, in fact. It's never raucous or hectic in a greenhouse, is it? A greenhouse should always be hushed and full of stillness and silent growth, although I do think Radio 4 in the background would add to the atmosphere.

I visited the spectacular Victorian greenhouses at West Dean at the weekend (does anyone else feel as I do that the plural of greenhouse should be greenhi?). These are quite unbelievably perfect; every plant equidistant from its neighbours, not a hint of muck or mould, not a stray leaf or a rogue colour. It's almost all too perfect; I think I prefer something a little more rackety and makeshift, a greenhouse that has the character of its owner even when he/she is not there. But it did remind me of one of my favourite Eric Ravilious watercolours, The Greenhouse: Cyclamen and Tomatoes (1937), the date of which proves just how anachronistic this pre-war, big house, labour-intensive level of greenhouse growing and maintenance is nowadays.

 

One of the joys of visiting gardens open to the public,whether they are big National Trust type properties, ramshackle allotments or privately owned, is having a look inside any greenhouse that might be there. I like seeing what people grow, how they arrange this private space, whether they create a thing of beauty or simply use the interior as a plant factory (the above has something of the production line, and the one in the painting reminds me of an aircraft hangar). It helps me plan my fantasy greenhouse: warm, inviting, and smelling of damp soil and tomato leaves, with trugs full of seedpackets, labels, secateurs and trowel, morning glories and melons growing up to to roof, and gloriously red and pink geraniums creating a colour storm. There would be a chair, an old crocheted blanket, bulb catalogues, muddy wellies, an old battered hat, a radio (of course), and plenty of hot tea.

Goodness me, it's so quiet here, I was in another world. One day I'll make it happen (the melons might be an ambition too far, though.)

Thank you for all your comments on the posts this week. It has been a huge pleasure to have such a full cyber post-bag, and I very much appreciate everyone's messages about A level results. We are relaxing nicely into the role of parents of soon-to-be university students, and have already had the calculators out to work the financial damage.  

 

Comments

[Sue]

When I saw your photograph I immediately thought of Ravilious' greenhouse.

[Lisa G.]

Now, why do you say the melons might be too ambitious? Do they not grow well over there? But I can see in my mind's eye Judy Parfitt as Lady Catherine De Bourgh, telling the Collinses that she (her servants) gathered melons in February (or whenever it was; can't remember exactly)!

[Heidi]

Ah to be here at Rahn's a delightful Greenhouse where classical music adds to the experience of marvelous plants

[A Trifle Rushed]

I love your plural of greenhouse! Enjoy these few weeks before university, they really fly! Post university my younger son's moving back in with us, London rents are just too high, and there's not usually a laundry service and resident cook!

[Dee/reddirtramblings]

I also dream of greenhouses. I am saving up for one. Sent my first child off to college a couple of weeks ago. It is strange not having here, but also freeing. Less work to do, but fewer hands to hold.~~Dee

[Claire]

Nothing compares to the lovely smell of tomato leaves - it takes me straight back to the greenhouse of my childhood.

[catherine]

Commenting late, but congratulations to Tom and Alice and to the whole family - what great news, what a relief. The next exciting phase begins!

[charlotte]

I'm glad I'm not the only one whose greenhouse fantasy involves more than plants! I'd add a cake tin (full) to the list. Sadly our garden is far to small.

[Toni]

My parents used to grow melons in their greenhouse and they were great. They were easy to grow according to my father. Give it a go. I would if we had a greenhouse.

Love your books and blog. The blog always makes me happier as I look at it before I start work.