No alas I have not discovered some magic serum to stave off wrinkles but serendipity has pointed me in the direction of a photo of what our immediate neighbourhood looked like in 1913. The old cottages have now been replaced by two bungalows (one of which we live in) and the pond has gone. I wonder what became of the little girl standing at its edge. A small stream now meanders across the area, bordering our garden on one side. There are still some trees on the skyline but not as many. The greenhouses in the background have long gone too but were apparently part of a small nursery. A dear friend who died in her eighties a few years ago used to visit the nursery as a girl to buy tomatoes. So it's reassuring to know that somebody with a love of gardening and plants used to live here almost a century ago.
Anna:
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful piece of visual history to be in possession of. And better yet, that another lover of plants resided there those years ago. I am in the throes of a rambling that deals with gardens that survive their creators - what do they whisper about them, and where are they headed. A lot of historical trudging, so maybe it will be ready for June or thereabouts! A wonderful posting, thank you!
Dear Anna, These kinds of old photographs are absolutely fascinating and need to be kept as they form part of our history and personal archives.
ReplyDeleteIncreasingly I am amazed at how much has changed within a relatively short period of time. This is particularly so of London today in comparison with how it appeared when I was a child.
That photo almost seems like a watercolor, so idyllic, right down to the child and water fowl. The clouds, the water, it seems surreal. What magic resides there.
ReplyDeleteFrances
What a neat picture! It really looks like a piece of art to frame and hang on your wall. It must be nice to see what it looked like almost 100 years ago where you live now.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure! How lucky for you to have this lovely photo to link you to the past. The setting is idyllic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet and idyllic scene. Nice to know your little piece of earth has such gentle memories :)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have a photo of your immediate area from years long gone. It looks like something Constable would have painted.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo, I do like that pond... to bad it’s gone...
ReplyDeleteIt really touches our heart to know what's the place used to be hundred years ago... ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteIt's really cool to find a photo of your immediate area from over 100 years ago! It's also cool to have some connection through people who liked to grow things! I've lived in a lot of houses, and in each one I've sold, I know the new owners weren't interested in my gardens, in one instance, replacing them with lawn. ARG!
ReplyDeleteThis scene looks so idyllic! Though it has changed over the years, from your description I would say it hasn't changed that much. The best part is that someone who loves gardening and maintaining the land is still living here. We live on a farm that has been in my husband's family for 100 years or more, so I understand the connection you feel when you know something about the history of your home.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your well wishes on my father, Anna. He is doing a little better each day. I miss visiting everyone on ABC Wednesdays!
Anna that is such a dear photograph... looks like a painting too. So classical with the white of the little girls dress matching that of the ducks. It is great to see the place we call home in earlier years. How lucky for you to have a historical visual and to know that there were gardeners before you. Now about holding back the years and wrinkles! There's wishful thinking! ;>))
ReplyDeleteOh, such a lovely image to have, and such a delightful post.
ReplyDeleteK
Wow, it's really wonderful to have that to see so clearly what the very place you live in looked like 100 yrs ago. Makes you really think about the people who went before you. In my home, and neighborhood, was nothing but trees...so we are inhabiting some animals homes, I'm afraid;-( They've long ago moved to other areas, though, so I don't need to feel guilty about that, it's just how it is in suburbia. It would be nice to live in an area that's less busy, though.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that you have not find any good serum yet, Well, I think I know where to find good serums. If you are interested you have to let me know.
ReplyDeleteAll the best/
Ulla
Hi Anna
ReplyDeleteConstable-esque.
Often images like these raise more questions than answers.
Looks a picture of tranquility but it's easy to forget that life was a good bit harder then.
On first glance I thought this was a painting and yes, it could almost be a Constable. It must be so interesting to see how your area looked a century ago ... it looks idylic.
ReplyDeleteJeanne x