h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Walk through the large old oak gate, into a beautiful walled garden. Along one wall climbing roses in shades of pinpink and white, thier sweet scent fill the air and thier blooms nod gently in the warm breeze. In front of the roses, a huge herbacious flower bed in full bloom. Tall spikes of blue delphiniums compete with the custard yellow spikes of verbascum. Further along purple lupins stand proud above the shorter perrenials. Facing south-west is a summer house. On the veranda are 2 reclining chairs and a table with a parasol in the centre.
Inside the summer house are 2 more folded recliners, a small fridge and a kettle. Growing up the side of the summer house is a clematis, lilac in colour, the bell shaped flowers dance in the breeze.
At the bottom of the garden is the potting shed. Full of pots and tools for keeping the garden looking lovely.
Along the North facing wall ivy's scramble up and over the top of the wall. All types of ferns send up delicate fronds looking like green feathers. Periwinkles grow round the ferns covering the ground. Helibores with thier tough leathery leaves wait for winter to burst into flower. An arbour is placed against the wall, to give a shaded seating area.
In the centre of the garden is a lush green lawn, with an area cut into it full of shrubs.
Just in front of the shrub bed is a bird bath, made out of white alabaster and filled with water. Birds come each day to bathe, sometimes squabbling for space.
A sanctuary to escape from troubles and pains. A quiet place with only the sounds of nature to be heard.

*standing within the arch of the gateway, raps knuckles on the aged wood. waits, admiring the vista of beauty beyond*

Would you like to come in and look around? Stay for some and ?

Thank you, fine lady. I'd love to look about. And as it IS your domain, perhaps make that a cup of ? Just the smallest splash of milk.

'Goes into the summer house to make a pot of .' Using the finest bone china as it tastes better.
Feel free to stroll around while i'm making

*strolls lazily about, admiring the explosions of colour, the mixed fragrances. and then merely watches the birds at play and bath. having always enjoyed a taste-ful and functional bird-bath.....*

'Appears on the veranda carrying a tray with & . Sits in a recliner and watches a small grey squirrel running along the wall, before it drops down the other side to scurry off looking for food.

*settles into the other recliner, raises a cup of in salute to the lady, and sips, ... watching the birds and an occassional frolicking squirrel.*

'Clears away the things, closes up the summer house and leaves through the oak gate'

*waves from just down the road, going back to a lazing hammock after a restful time with a friend ....*

'Waves back, hoping the friend will return sometime'

*thinking, ....she can be sure he'll return *

'strolls around the garden, looking at all the beautiful flowers. Goes to the potting shed to get some pruners, then sets about dead heading the roses.'

*quietly watches the garden-lady from over the trellised fencing ... smiling*

'Looks around, Feels eyes watching her'

'Picks up the dead flower heads and puts them in the composter next to the potting shed. Places the pruners back on the shelf in the shed. Locks the door. Has one last look round the garden before leaving through the oak gate'

'opens the gate and looks around. Walks over to the summerhouse, unfolds a recliner and sits.
Ponders life and its diffculties, wonders why sometimes it just does'nt go the way you would like it to. Watches the birds splashing in the bird bath.....

*enters through the rear gate, and just sits quietly in the shaded corner of the surrounding walls, ... thinking, .....*

'Walks over to the arbour, sits down and slips my arm through nicks. Rests a head on his shoulders and looks at the garden'

*sighs and relaxes in the close company of a true friend, and just enjoys the various beauties of nature, ... silently*