Again I pored over seed and plant catalogues, worked out colour schemes and drew and photographed the plants I particularly loved. I joined the local horticultural society, got an allotment and formed the Bungay Allotments and Gardens Society (still going strong, although the horticultural society, alas, is not). Here was a whole new world of colour and texture and it wasn't long before I became hooked. Luckily I had the bare bones of the garden sorted because from then on it had to take care of itself. I'm still grateful that my former self had the foresight to plant shrubs and perennials that continue to delight me. My husband takes care of the grass and weeds. In the intervening years I've learned so much about gemstones, semiprecious gemstones, the history of beads, precious metals... I'm largely self-taught but I did take a silver-smithing course and watch the occasional YouTube video. But I prefer to play; sketching ideas then working out how I can make them come to life.
