Our irresistible summertime tradition of heading outdoors after breakfast to stroll about the back and front gardens draws us into a micro-landscape reflecting our poetic aesthetic. We like things colourful, textured and crowded. Not for us the sight of an orderly garden, with everything in its place, specific plants assigned specific areas and no tolerance for one plant claiming priority over the space of others.

A cluttered garden, one might venture to say. One that has scant respect for boundaries. Just like, for example, nature. A garden where we are confronted by surprises, the presence of valued plants that we are certain we hadn't planted where they suddenly pop up. They've minds of their own. And we see no reason not to respect that.

Yes, we don't appreciate the presence of weeds and deal with them summarily. That's another benefit of a crowded garden; not much space left for weeds to intrude. Surprisingly often when they do, we find they're inordinately clever, with a tendency to appear adjacent to a cultivated plant that they appear at first glance to resemble. Easily passed over, until one takes a second look and recognizes the clever deception.

So we wander in the garden while our two little dogs disport themselves, one challenging the other to a duel in the guise of a wrestling match, temporarily distracting us from contemplating the garden as we turn our attention instead to witnessing their antics.

But then our attention returns to the reason for the stroll-about and we notice that the Asiatic lilies are beginning their bloom alongside the day lilies.  That the juxtaposition of the cranesbill geraniums among the carpet roses and the brilliantly-blooming Monarda provide quite the contrast.

And that the proliferation of Harlequin vines apart from flowering are also turning colour, their foliage transforming to bright red streaks to make their impressive late-summer appearance. The annuals, New Guinea impatiens, begonias, petunias and Morning Glories are all thriving nicely adding colour amongst the roses and the lilies.

A most satisfying stroll to start yet another pleasant early summer day.