Composition 10

Another glimpse into the gardener’s Wunderkammer
A different time of year, a different palette of pinks, lilacs, and pale, pale purples
The doors are thrown wide open, this time and a brighter light reveals the scene’s secrets.

Snakehead fritillaries with their enchanting spots and wide-eyed hellebores
A trompe l’oeil tulip, strapped by a piece of red velvet: a nod to the Dutch – is it worth a fortune?
Peonies, lilac and violets for modesty sitting among berries, lush bunches of blood red currants and little raspberries.
Cabbage leaves, delicate sprigs of lime-green euphorbia and black-purple figs for fertility dot the shelves.
Right in the middle, a plump one has split open, and a caterpillar is feasting.

The gardener’s tools are there too
Secateurs to snip and forks to turn
Small glass vessels for small cutting that’s gone astray.
And papers: contracts, bills perhaps, or letters of thanks for a beautiful creation.