A crib from Monty Python, I know, just to let you know I'm going to England and it's not just to buy antiques and collectibles. I'm going to pursue another interest of mine: gardens, specifically the great gardens of the Arts and Crafts era by taking a course at Oxford. We'll be studying some of the design geniuses including one of my favorites, William Morris. I'll be in residence at Merton College for three weeks, no doubt trying to keep up with younger classmates and recollecting my own younger self. I had that experience once in London, mentally recreating myself at 20 on my junior year abroad - until I caught sight of the grey-haired lady that was my reflection. But it should be grand: time off from my job, time away from the grueling hot summers in Maryland, a mental challenge to remember Latin plant names (I Google) - and some free time to hunt for treasures. This might take my collecting in a whole new direction: garden accessories. I've always wanted better ones.
I write up descriptions of wonderful American gardens for the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens, and the photographs are extremely important to the story. I'm considering what to do about taking the pictures myself. Gardens are not easy to photograph as there's always something beyond the frame that would provide context, but if you go too wide angle the plants lose their identities. Well I hope to be in a world of beauty and fragrance at least some of the time - and not too many grueling hours of academics.
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