My hermitage garden ...

Ave Maria Room

Madonna 

View out.

View into Ave Maria 

The enclosure overgrown lilac woods.

Enclosure with lilac woods 

or as I call it,

 St. Joseph's Wood.

I mentioned on FB that I've let part of my garden go natural-wild, although I do conserve it and need to get in there and clean the stone paths.  I decided to leave it a bit wild to recover from rabbit damage - and yet to allow a sanctuary space for critters and the birds  and the bees to thrive.  It works!  Either St. Francis or St. Martin de Porres wanted such spaces in their gardens.  I also let the hedge grow tall to remain hidden from the neighbors - and now I no longer see their buildings or vast array of lawn ornaments and fairy villages.  They don't have to be distracted by mine, either - so it's a good thing.  Next season I hope to tame the hedge just a bit to create a green wall - that is, if the rabbits don't kill it.  In the meantime, it is a wonderful retreat for me.

I originally posted about it after reading an article on 'ungardening' or 'rewilding' yards by people who want to avoid chemical use and be more eco-friendly, while creating space for wildlife, e.g. birds, bees and butterflies, etc..  Story here.

My outer yard remains more cultivated and manicured - although I have some sculpting and trimming to do.