Meet Shakespeare in our garden today

Rosa 'William Shakespeare'

"I suggest that you listen below to Sonnet 54 on YouTube, read by Sir John Gielgud" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQEjl65rXZE

"O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem, 

By that sweet ornament which truth doth give!

The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem 

For that sweet odour which doth in it live. 

The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye 

As the perfumed tincture of the roses, 

Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly 

When summer's breath their masked buds discloses:

But, for their virtue only is their show, 

They live unwoo'd and unrespected fade, 

Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so; 

Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:

And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,

When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth". 

# W.H. Shakespeare #

Drawing by Pablo Picasso

Shakespeare most certainly inspired many to be creative. When you search internet you come across the most inspiring ways of trying to express what he must have looked like. Pictures with him wearing sunglasses, having tattoos, with lace collars, with long hair, with curly hair, with straight hair, school essays - it is both hilarious and serious. Great fun! So interesting to start reading the sonnets and their meanings in preparation of this post. 

Living in London for a while it was a wonderful experience to attend 'A Midsummer's Night Dream' in Green Park at Solstice. It was surrealistic to sit on white folded chairs, seeing the actors appearing from the shrubs, being part of the decor, airplanes flying over and making the actors waiting to continue until the sound was over, and even - how British - sitting underneath an umbrella in the end because of course it started to rain! It is an everlasting memory.

It was an impulse buy in the garden center (as happens with so many plants once you are there). Rosa 'William Shakespeare' ended up in my shopping cart  because of its extraordinary colours and flowers. It is fascinating and rich in colour. Turning the label it showed the name of this David Austin rose. No doubt it was named after him because of the beauty of his oeuvre.

It smiles at us as we sit in the dining room, it thrives in the morning sun. Who would not enjoy having William Shakespeare in his garden and seeing this at breakfast time?!