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| Derek Jarman's garden Yesterday I picked up his book, and the page fell open at something he said. He did not like the bright yellow of daffodils in his garden in this windswept corner of the East coast in Dungeness. He likes the paler types of daffodils, yet I wondered what he thought of the bright yellow of the honey smelling flower of the gorse that surrounds that small black house by the sea, the windows and doors brightly painted in yellow. But I do agree about the daffodil, from the time when as a child we drew it on homemade Easter cards, the daffodil had a somewhat ugly appeal with its trumpet in the centre and the harsh of the yellow.  Gardens are flourishing, slightly late of course because of the cold and rain which has plagued this country, since Xmas I think and is still with us in June. The following short video, will bring back vivid memories of the sound of the sea and wind and most nostalgic of all the call of the seagulls. |
A magpie's miscellany
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Gardens
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There's a blast from the past and my memory of Jarman has faded. I knew rather a lot about him the 1980s. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI have never liked his short films, he did a trip to Avebury, and the film was more red than green, I am not sure what he was trying to achieve Andrew. But he mellowed into this lovely gardener.
DeleteI am with D.J. on the topic of what I call municipal daffodils. Living in Bath, I do not suffer nostalgia when I hear seagulls...
ReplyDeleteThe trouble with the municipal daffodils is they spread, and people have the unfortunate habit of planting them in woods and on farmland Tom.
DeleteI wish I had been to Dungness- I have his books and I love his garden. Also I was surprised by a photo of inside his 'shed' at how homely and palatial it was.
ReplyDeleteI think I would have liked to have gone in summer to Pat, but with the enormous Dungeness nuclear power plant in the background there is something sinister about the setting.
DeleteI could not view the video. but I was able to find him and his house after a google search. It is a strikingly beautiful place, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteThat is rather unsettling Debby, it is a rather a good small video. I suppose it has something to do with you being in America.
DeleteThat was exactly it, but I was able to see some videos when I looked him up. I think that I got a good gist of him and his gardens.
DeleteMy shingle garden is much smaller and surrounded by herbaceous borders but I am trying to capture something of Jarman's wild garden with grey foliage and grasses blowing in the wind.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruta, what I have read of gardens by the sea, is that the plants do not like the salt on the sea breezes. I love gray foliage, Jarman uses the blue/gray of Rue as well. I was never allowed it in my garden by my daughter because of the milky sap, which if you got it on your hands would start to burn and sting once the sun caught it.
DeleteI have just read your comment Thelma. Agree absolutely. Perhaps it is better left to pictures and the imaginstion.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, yes, although it would be hard living there with that monster behind you ;)
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