From a different perspective.

Before the extension hook ladder was taken down from the roof of the barn, I took the opportunity to climb to the top and perch on the ridge to take some aerial views of the garden while it was still in its infancy. The photographs are interesting reminders of the early stages of the garden, since the height and foliage of the mature trees in Summer would now obscure any such delineation.

To my eye, looking at these pictures from fourteen years ago, everything looks so formal and pristine with fresh clean lines and no weeds on the paths around the beds. Nowadays, however, insects, bees and birds bring life to the garden by visiting the flowers which are allowed to spill onto the paths, creating an air of complete informality. Tall trees and shrubs add their own architectural beauty, and the bustling life in and around the ponds brings its own special magic, giving the mature garden a sense of harmony and romance, and, above all, calling for a gentle plea for chaos.