The Poem of Stand and Stare

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.


I know it is an over quoted poem but I do love it and think the sentiment is very true.  Interestingly with the hot dry weather we have been having I have found myself unable to dig my new border and actually spending a lot of time standing and staring at the garden – often with a hose or watering can in my hand!  I have had time to really look at what is in flower instead of, as is usual at this time of year, barely registering and certainly not examining blooms.  Today I noticed that the Irises were well ahead of last year with some of them already going over in the heat.  Irises are up there amongst my favourite flowers and seem to do really well in my garden so I am planning on acquiring another one or two at next weeks Malvern Spring Show.  So I will leave you with some Iris pictures – at the top is an Iris sibirica – I have no idea which as had it so long.

I have had this Iris since I was about 12 and it has moved house with me so many times.  When I was 12 we moved to a house that had been quite neglected and had a large 3/4 acre garden which was overgrown.  My parents cleared the central areas but much of the side areas were left while they did the house and where like a secret garden to me.  I think this is where my interest in plants started.  I spent a lot of time clearing brambles to reveal old fashioned roses and irises which I carefully transplanted to the cultivated part of the garden.  I would love to know what this iris is – I have left a trail of them in my wake since that house!!

This is a new Iris to the garden.  I bought it from Clare Austin’s stand at last year’s Spring Show.  It is a dwarf Iris and called Sweet Kate.  I hope it bulks up like some of my other irises as it is wonderful along the front of the border.

Another favourite  Iris which has just come out in the front garden is Langport Wren.  There is something about the colour of this Iris that is just so rich and sumptuous and to be honest I have found myself  drawn to these sort of rich colours more and more.

I am really looking forward to seeing what Irises are on display at Malvern and hopefully coming away with one or two new treats!