Tuesday, January 05, 2010

What Bowers Are For

But on a lighter note...

The current audiobook I'm plugged into as I go about my household tasks or taking my wintry walks is The Pickwick Papers and I'm finding it very amusing. In fact I often laugh aloud which must seem odd if I'm out in public. I liked this part where the amorous Mr Tupman and the Spinster Aunt were heading in the direction of that most romantic and delightful of garden features, the bower, which Dickens describes thus,

There was a bower at the farther end, with honeysuckle, jessamine, and creeping plants--one of those sweet retreats which humane men erect for the accommodation of spiders.


A droll description!

3 comments:

Grannymar said...

Now if there is mention of spiders. you'll not be finding one in my Elly's garden.

Nelly said...

I don't mind spiders at all but I've a great dislike of slimey slugs.

Anna said...

I prefer slugs. I can outrun them and, besides, they like beer even if it is their undoing. Spiders suck. :-)