What a mega day this is Scott – witnessing a real first! From the cosy vantage point of the doghouse, we’re not just looking out at the fresh ground broken – but feeling the warm welcome that’s been extended where once there was a (even if politely, Chelsea-style communicated) ‘not for you thank you very much’.
Because today the world’s greatest gardening event is giving one giant woof of approval to dogs and their people. And that’s us! Scott, Jo and triumphant pick-of-the-pups winner, Gary. (That ‘Chilli to Chelsea’ campaign really was pawsitively off the charts.)
There’s nothing that lifts my spirits or soothes my soul quite like time in a sunny garden with those I treasure – and the wagging tail and Claudia-esque vision-obscuring fringe of our little dog Custard give that final fluffy flourish. What a perfect union then - gardens fit to share with mankind’s most sacred non-human companions.
I’ve lapped-up all the hype in the run-up to today and there’s been a bunch of words used to convey the vibe of this garden, that’ve stood out to me: unmanicured, sturdy, hard-wearing, perfectly imperfect, real. Words that speak to the essence of what matters most in life, from our surroundings to our relationships.
This is a garden that barks to our age; inclusive and creative. James, the horticulturalist who worked with Monty on the design, calls it “the most exciting and joyful garden” he’s ever been involved with.
Its leading design cue? “Resilient not pristine.” It might just embody what writer Richard Rohr means when he says, “divine perfection is precisely the ability to include what seems like imperfection.”
We’ve seen the magic of putting dogs in places you don’t expect. Our family’s favourite bedtime read, The Hospital Dog, tells of Dot the Dalmatian lending a paw to children recovering on the Wallaby Ward. Inspired by it, I recently took Custard to work as a therapy dog – joining a group that champions the healing power of dogs for people and pups alike.
So today we celebrate more than just a garden. This is an oasis where dogs aren’t just guests but woven into the very fabric of the landscape, a space proud to wear its doggy-heart on its doggy-sleeve.