That connection happened today as people walked the streets of our village community and heritage and knowledge was shared in the gardens of local residents where everyone was filled with spring joy and community spirit.
Carefully tended gardens with chooks, vegetables and spring blossoms were the stars of the day punctuated by our beautiful children selling flowers, herbs and old-fashioned lemonade straight from a CWA cook book.
'Down the garden path' was an initiative of Ainslie School and the hard work and enthusiasm of organisers Libby and Robyn who had an entire community behind them.
The deputy principal of Ainslie School stood on the steps of that beautiful Art Deco building and shared with me how proud she was to teach at a school that really is a showcase of the kind of living heritage that some historians say is what really counts. Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters walked through those doors today then began their pilgrimage around a few small but special streets where children, love, friendship and laughter were abundant.
It is wonderful to know that we are transforming our gardens into productive beautiful spaces that are not just about lawn or specimen trees. Like those who first planted the gardens in our suburb of Ainslie we are nurturing heritage plants and reclaiming productive space to grow food for our families and friends. Our large garden blocks are a rarity and we are endeavouring to use this space as it was always intended.
Today I remember my great friend Daphne an original Ainslie resident who passed away several years ago whose garden kept alive her mind and body until the end. She reared baby chickens during the war and grew vegetables to support her family in between working at Parliament House while her husband was away at war. Even frail and crippled in her 90s against doctors' orders she would get out every day propped up on a pair of old tomato stakes and tend to that garden which has been producing vegetables since the 1930s. I miss her annual show of sweet peas and the friendship we had that transcended our age differences.
Here are some highlights of the day.
Many thanks, loved the article, I wish I had been there.
ReplyDeleteIt really was a sensation! I thoroughly enjoyed the gardens and the treats,and look forward to doing it all again next year. robin and Libby you should be very proud.
ReplyDeleteRobyn asked me to post this note!
ReplyDeleteThankyou Jemima for documenting our wonderful community event with your glorious photos and eloquent prose. I had a great time researching the historic aspects of Ainslie and working with Libby. I am so pleased that the community shared our idea with so much gusto. It was wonderful that people put so much time and energy into making lemonade and the HUNDREDS of delicious cakes and sweets that we had for sale...... all homemade. A huge thankyou to the gardeners and home-owners who opened their properties to the public, without them we would not have had an event! Robyn