Home with a view

They must surely draw a great deal of pleasure from their hobby, but the ultimate bounty is bestowed on us — in the first floor. We are now being treated to a beautiful, tree-top vista of flowering plants and verdant creepers.

Consequently, all the windows of our house open to a feast for the eyes. Although it is largely green, we are also blessed with a riot of colours — depending on the weather, the time of the day and, of course, the season.

From our perch up on the first floor, it appears as if a tray, full of pithy and juicy things in yellow, green, purple, orange, brown, red, blue and all shades of these hues, is laid out for us.

At night, as the moonlight casts its pearly hue on the garden, the colours wear a special mystique and the fragrance of the flowers imbues the night air with a special magic. It’s an aroma that can lull you to sleep and fill your nights with sweet dreams.

During the day, a passing breeze makes even the smallest leaf swing in gay abandon. Even the desiccated ends of the pines seem to whistle in the wind. At such moments it appears as if civilisation itself is coming alive before our very eyes.

Meanwhile a variety of birds fly in and rest awhile in the garden. They seem to know the weight each branch can take and choose their perches with great care. The branches, in turn, sway gently under the weight of their avian guests, as if they enjoy offering them a free ride!

How intoxicating is this experience! The ground floor owner grows the greenery; my window sucks it all in and prevents me from turning green with envy. I am reminded of Walt Whitman’s inspirational ‘Leaves Of Grass’ and recall the wisdom of his work, …thus every element belonging to you as good belongs to me/I am large/I contain multitudes!