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Steadfast planters with a century of seasons in their sights!

In one way or another I've been around plants and indeed plant pots and planters all my life. Experience tells me that a harmony of plant, pot and placement can be pure poetry! All too often this golden union can be prematurely undone for want of a planter able to stay the distance. Nature itself provides peerless beauty and wonder. We must remember to pause and take a closer look. Beyond this, where I find interest and worth is in simple work that provides contrast or complement, in that which begs a question or is just plain whimsical -  a bit of fun that makes you smile.

So it is with bold welds and brushstrokes, to a backdrop of birdsong and bumble bees that I bring you 'Pots of Mettle'.

Steadfast planters with a century of seasons in their sights!

Pots of Mettle  -  Chequer'd Shades of Milton

A small collection of planters, eminently suited to placement in shade or light shade.

A toast to the poet John Milton.

Working in the cool of the dappled shade beneath a tree on a hot summers day, is for me, one of life's simple pleasures. This sanctuary from the Sun, a timeless gift of nature, puts me in mind of Milton some 400 years earlier.

"And the jocund rebecks sound

To many a youth, and many a maid,

Dancing in the chequer'd shade;

And young and old come forth to play

On a sunshine holiday," 

                                                  -  L'Allegro, John MIlton, c. 1631

It would seem somewhat fitting to salute the poet with a small collection of planters, eminently suited to placement in shade or light shade.

"Hide me from Day's garish eye,

While the bee with honied thigh,

That at her flow'ry work doth sing,

And the waters murmuring"

                                                - Il Penseroso, John Milton, c. 1631

Simple. Conspicuous aides-mémoire.

To be able to bring to mind key information or sound advice with a clarity of thought right when it counts, can be priceless.

Many years ago as a boy I was intrigued how my Father and Grandfather would use a sizeable nut (the and bolt kind, not the hazel kind), washer or other large, weighty item as a conspicuous key fob. Its size and weight made the important keys difficult to lose or overlook. Rarely were we unable to 'open up and get on with the day' for want of a lost key. Likewise 'key' information relating to day-to-day work would adorn whitewashed walls, doors or other convenient surfaces. Again, it was nothing fancy, often just scribbled notes. However, it was always to hand, difficult to lose or overlook and soon became etched into the subconscious. Crude it may have been, but for pure function it was hard to beat and has most certainly stood the test of time. To this day, to my mind, it holds true that if you don't want to misplace or forget anything of importance, then you should attach it to something large, weighty and difficult to overlook!

On Your Mettle - Words With Worth

Whether from the pen of a literary genius, the thoughts of a great philosopher, a given word of oath or what may appear to be nothing more than a throw away line, no matter.  Some words are worthy of perhaps a little thought. There can be much merit in even the simplest of words, or the briefest phrase or quote.  

It is often the case however that these words of wisdom escape us when we need them most, when it's quite literally a case of 'A horse!, a horse! my kingdom for a horse!' To this end, I bring you 'On Your Mettle - Words With Worth'. Nothing more than a simple offering of aides-mémoire, any one of which may prove to be invaluable.