A pledge to the cycle of a wild, dark garden
by Sinéad Keegan
Turn the compost over
watch and wild sweet darkling earth
fleeting guardian
Realising gardening is a team sport in which you are the spectator
It has been raining again
but a waxing moon slides into sight
the foxes venture from their den.
In the morning, an unseen wren
chirrups high and bright.
It has been raining again.
The orchard has become a fen
the tomatoes lost to blight.
The foxes venture from their den
their paths across the grass well-trodden
delicate blades pressed into the mud each night.
It has been raining again
rotting plants are pulled and thrown atop the midden
perhaps a hedgehog will find shelter there tonight.
The foxes venture from their den.
The gentle joys here are well hidden
in a soil that still holds damp delight.
It has been raining again.
The foxes venture from their den.
Read Sarah Hill’s 26 Habitats gardens centena and essay.
Read Lynda Relph-Knight’s 26 Habitats gardens centena and essay.
Beautiful Sínead – the foxes, hedgehogs, unseen wren – it’s like being allowed peep into the undergrowth and the comings & goings of wildlife as we sleep perhaps. Most of our garden is wild this past year too – I feel so much better about it now!