London Open Garden Squares Weekend

I was delighted to find myself in London during the OGSW and managed to visit three gardens with resident poets. Diane Mulholland was nearby in Fulham and by fluke I arrived just as she was giving a reading. She had written some lovely poems based on her time in All Saints Fulham Vicarage Garden and on the history of the garden. 

I then jumped on a bus to Nevern Square, and again things were on my side as John Grant was due to give a reading in 15 minutes which gave me time to look around and read poems he had pinned to the trees. He had a small but appreciative audience who loved his poems and his humour.

John in his POET's T shirt

I wanted to meet Julia Bird as I think I must have clocked up more hours with The Poetry School online courses than most people. She was resident poet at Arundel & Elgin Garden in W11 near where I once lived, so I went there on Sunday afternoon. She was in a suitably

poetic bower, so camouflaged by greenery that I nearly missed her. Poems hanging from trees like wind chimes held the clue to her whereabouts.

I love the whole idea of gardens with resident poets and will certainly apply next year as I think it would be a fascinating experience.

Sissinghurst Castle

Last Friday I went to Sissinghurst Castle along with other poets included in Paper Swans Press beautiful pamphlet The Poetry of Roses. We read in the rose garden where the colours and scents were stunning. It was a privilege to be in Vita's gardens after the crowds had left. We were able to wander around and take it all in. Unfortunately the tower was shut, but I will definitely be back. I'd been wanting to visit Sissinghurst for years but never imagined it would be a poetry reading that would lead me there.

I went on up to Aldeburgh for a few days of the music festival and saw the amazing Illuminations, staged to Britten's song cycle Les Illuminations, inspired by Rimbaud's poetry. It was a wonderful spectacle, part circus part opera, and Britten's music was truly fabulous. I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

I do wonder what will happen in Aldeburgh for the weekend of the poetry festival. I'm keeping the date pencilled into my diary as I think it would be great to keep it going in some form or other and can see on Twitter that there is a movement in that direction.