Weekly Photo Challenge … Background

We bought this Buddha statue not only to bring a little alternative culture to our little English cottage garden in the centre of Reading but to hide a an ugly 6ft fence post.  Disguising the ‘background’ was our aim and has been for the last 25 years.  The garden is a tiny space (4mtrs x12 mtrs) at the back of a row of Victorian terraced houses beyond is another row of identical homes.  Although for almost a century these houses were family homes for the workers in the town; it has become mostly student’s rented accommodation and first time buyer land so there  is a continual flux of ownership and [dis]-repair.  Those of who remain here; ones who are averse to the modern nearby housing estate or unable to afford semi- detached suburbia; have chosen to block out the less desirable aspects of living in a dense population.

So the background can take many forms; like a rambling roses, ivy and some native hedge that serve as a very pleasant perfumed barrier. We are lucky that the garden over the years has become a perfect background to the house in particular the kitchen and this time of year when the tulips are behaving like tarts and then it takes centre stage.

Some plants are not background more ground cover like this very lovely perennial looking like a forget me not but its name I have conveniently forgotten.  

This little motif demonstrates well that even Buddha is being overcome by the groundcover who fancies herself as a star!