Booktalk on a Sunday - 14

These days I spend most of my spare time in the garden... Which means that there is little time left for reading. I do have a basket of garden magazines at hand though, and a pile of garden books on the diningroom table are there to be looked through for inspiration and pleasure.

I have always been an "anglofil" and some years ago I was hooked on British gardenbooks. Among my favorites are An Englishwoman's Garden by Helen Penn, Traditional English Gardens by Arabella Lennox-Boyd, Clay Perry and Graham Stuart Thomas, and Victorian Flower Gardens by Andrew Clayton-Payne.

I have never wanted a formal garden. Colours, charm and never afraid of weeds is more my style, and I find reflections of all this in the English Gardens. Not that they are without style or are filled with weeds, but they have a colourful charm in their style which fascinates me. The garden I am trying to create here in The Woods is a garden of pleasure. A garden where you can walk around finding unexpected and often hidden surprises and pleasures. A garden where you can meet life growing and praising The Creator.

Living almost at the edge of the Arctic circle, as we do here in The Woods, means that the growing season is short, and often cold. But our summers have alot of daylight and creation is creative and sustainable, and has a strong will to survive and adapt. A few weeks ago I started a garden diary where you can follow the life in The Blue Garden.

Caring Bloggers Rose Day-

Don't forget the Caring Bloggers Rose Day the 10th of May. If you know that you will post a rose on that day, send me the link to your page and I will post the link in my blog.

Venezia

My forth Sunday of book blogging, and it's finally time to write about Donna Leon and Commisario Brunetti. I am not actually a mystery reader, but Leon's books, set in Venice, following Commisario Brunetti solving mysteries around the city is an exception. The books show such a love for the city, and I can't avoid being charmed by this policeman. For me the books belong to the city, and there is always at least one in my suitcase when I travel to Venezia. This time Blood from a Stone was my choice.

It is a sunny day in The Woods today. I will take my gardenbooks, together with The Song of Bernadette out in the garden. The garden furniture is out and there is room for you as well. Welcome over.