"The word paradise is derived from the ancient Persian - 'a green place'. Paradise haunts gardens, and some gardens are paradises. Mine is one of them. Others are like bad children - spoilt by their parents, over-watered and covered with noxious chemicals." - Derek Jarman's Garden, page 40
One of my all time favorite books about gardening is not really a book about gardening, although it is a book about gardening, but it's not. And it's beautiful. It's Derek Jarman's Garden. I bought it many years ago and re-read it occasionally to find inspiration for my own garden, and for life.
I've read it and re-read it so many times, now I just keep it on top of my bookshelf and look at the cover. His use of found objects in the garden reminds me of my grandmother who lived in Ballard. She could grow anything anywhere and would plant things in buckets and old boots and even broken down toilets. God knows what the neighbors thought.
The first time I encountered the film director Derek Jarman was when I saw the film Carravaggio at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle. It was also the first time I encountered Sean Bean, Dexter Fletcher, and Tilda Swinton. Captivating actors.
The death of Derek Jarman was one of the many reasons I joined the fight against HIV/AIDS. Maybe after reading this book you will, too.
WHAT A HUNK.
Original material © 2011 betsylolafalanadowling.blogspot.com, Brain Fuzz & Betsy Dowling, All Rights Reserved
Image of Sean Bean in Caravaggio directed by Derek Jarman from the vastness of the Worldwide Internet.
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