Visiting Merlin’s Hollow English flower garden never fails me. No matter how many times I visit the Tomlinson’s garden, I always stumble upon something new. My latest easy find, a Yellow Crab Spider crawling over a purple Iris. No camouflage here. Perhaps it was an accidental landing as these yellow crab spiders according to Wiki like to hangout mostly on yellow flowers.
Peonies and Irises were in full bloom on display during this month’s visit at Merlin’s Hollow. They are beautiful and colour rich. The June visit also featured a fragrant garden and thyme lawn. People are constantly coming and going, at least the times I am there. Some just looking and some conversing and asking questions.
In fact, it’s also a place to pick up one or two useful garden tips. “I have not watered these flowers in over 25 years,” David Tomlinson told us. “It’s simple,” he told us. Yes it is. Every fall flower beds in the garden are covered with the fall leaves. They hold moisture in the soil from winter, through spring and summer, until the next cycle. It really works and it has worked for this beautiful healthy garden for over 25 years.
Most of all it is always a pleasure to reconnect each visit with Dierdre Tomlinson. She guarantees laughs and smiles regardless of whether you are coming or going from the garden. It happens to me every time.
My mother early on taught us to respect all animals, and I mean all animals – not just cats and dogs but rats and snakes and spiders and fish and wildlife, so I really grew up believing they are just like us and just as deserving of consideration.
Joanna Lumley
Anna Lozyk Romeo
Aurora, ON
