If I close my eyes when I’m standing at the west-facing sittingroom window and look outside, in my mind’s eye I see an old shed. it’s on a bit of a lean; there are weeds growing all over the roof and not in a good way, they’re weighing it down somewhat, contributing to the lean. There’s a window, cobwebbed with time, frames rotted more than just a little bit. It stands under a grand old Kahikatea, white pine, up which is scrambling the wild and weedy  but sweet smelling jasmine. It’s rampant and great knots of stem root wherever they touch ground, adding to numerous other invaders whose time is up. Inside the shed, out of view, are piles of old junk, those who no longer dwell here chose to leave behind. Kind of them Not.  Doesn’t feel too safe inside, the walls wobble and the roof is low. Nothing to salvage here. The longdrop alongside adds a touch of whimsy, if you like that sort of thing.

I open my eyes, glance out. The Kahikatea stands majestic, old shed, long gone. In its place grow a myriad of plants, some about to relocate to a new home, others just arrived. It’s approaching mid-winter, an optimum time to plant perennials. Where carrot weed, kikuya, onion weed  and twitch once ruled, new plantings of penstemon varieties nod  in the breeze. And to be honest, tonight, in the rain. Their companions, poppies, roses, veronica  and valerian await Spring so they may begin their show of splendour; at their feet evolvulus and cerinthe wait to spread. Roses, Wild Eve and Glamis Castle are neighbours ‘over the way’  not too far from Ballerina; they’re all about to take their rest, though persistent buds abound.

Come Spring and Summer, they will become a garden of jewels. Penstemon will provide garnets, white opals and pink sapphires galore. Amythests will twinkle amongst them and pink onyx will trade places with armeria. Ceylonese sapphires will stand proud and the odd diamond or two will surely be present.

This is the stuff of dreams. And while the wind and rain now persist; with patience, the beauty of these little plants will endure.