Visiting The Chelsea Flower Show

I had the privilege and joy of visiting the Chelsea Flower Show this week and meeting some inspirational and passionate gardeners, plant lovers, artists, and designers. In particular, I was drawn to a garden that had been designed by a beautiful lady who had brought to life her seaside recreational Finnish soul garden to bring people together to enjoy nature in a city setting. There were two paths to enter into this space; one that went through a wooded area and the other, a more direct route, that brought people immediately to the waterside where she’d positioned the most enormous granite rock surrounded by plants that thrived next to water. There was even a working sauna, and the smell of burning logs brought an enhanced sense of well-being and warmth to our meeting. In a brief but deeply touching conversation, she shared her passion for nature with me, and I treasure this meeting and the time we spent together.

“There are many ways of enjoying nature, and connecting with her through her space reminded me to slow down and appreciate the gift I was being given.”

Rachel Podger

I italicise the word meeting as our conversation reminded me of a dear deceased friend who spoke of meetings between people, a sense of coming together, a soulful connection. The sense of coming together through nature, however, brief our meeting, inspired me to breathe and take in the joy that was being offered to me. There are many ways of enjoying nature, and connecting with her through her space reminded me to slow down and appreciate the gift I was being given. It was beautiful, and I hope that by sharing this, I encourage you to go out into nature, wherever you live, either with someone or alone, and take in and admire its endless capacity to share its beauty and power; who knows what might emerge from that meeting...