Liam enjoying our summer place
There's a summer place
Where it may rain or storm
Yet I'm safe and warm........
Theme from A Summer Place 1959
I played the record of that song, the instrumental version by Percy Faith http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/heartsinatlantis/themefromasummerplace.htm
before school each morning in grammar school. Always made the start of the day dreamy and hopeful, an anxiety reducer way before paxil. Of course, in the early1960's, when I was playing this song there were no IPods, no way to have a private, in your own ear experience, so the entire family was included in my listening. Why? The phonograph (newbies might have to go to Merriam Webster online) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonograph was in the living room, we had no den. Seems the ritual playing of A Summer Place each school morning was tolerated, as I do not remember grumbling from the family.
We now have our "Summer Place" behind our house. It is Liam and me, a mere 50 years later.
Our backyard cannot be classified as a garden, much as I would like. it to be. I have created little spaces
that may be characterized broadly as mini gardens, or maybe termed garden-like indentations, populated with whimsical plants, statues, mosaic stepping stones, birdhouses, 
wind chimes-all artsy and culturally diverse. Many are gifts and give the pleasure of connection as seeing them evokes the person who gifted us and the knowledge that these items were selected with precision and an awareness of what would make us smile. I have some rocks from places I should not, and they are safely ensconced in my sacred nooks, only to be revealed on a guided tour with a pre-signed confidentiality clause.You all know of Ruth's Garden -next pic shows Liam to the right of it.
We have the Buddha Garden 
with an angel watching Buddha. birdbaths, wind chimes and plaques
and birdhouses and cages
Some inhabited by real birds.The backyard is totally enclosed on all sides by tall trees, bushes, plants.
I love its seclusion. We have been here 21 years and over that time I have planted various bushes that have grown unexpectedly tall. Our gardener has landscaped the back with what look like Christmas trees.
The result is that when we sit outside we are not in view from any sea level point. 
Maybe neighbors can see from their second or third floors. That is okay-I would not mind being observed from above-that is non participatory. Just don't want the sideways views which are too personal for me. I grew up in city housing and having an outdoor space is magical after sharing my playgrounds with hundreds of kids. I want one private place now.So Liam and I sit outside;
he explores, sniffs, digs, rolls over, walks, 
waits for latte licks, 
just displays his joy for me. 
I read, drink. think, write, text, email, access Facebook, Tweet- all that from my blackberry. I can hear birds, smell barbecues, enjoy laughter, appreciate barking dogs, yet they are all muffled, like being in the world but not. I look up and see plane after plane soaring above, 4 minutes apart in the late afternoon. 
All is okay as we are in our summer place.When I leave the back, I reenter the everyday routine of passersby, cars, mail carriers, bike riders, garbage trucks, all the "front" of the house stuff. I have been at peace with the high garden greenery for many years. However, today I am reading the NY Times, one of the many items I pile next to me while out back and an article catches my eye-all about being neighborly. The issue is planting your borders and what it says about you as a neighbor. Seems like my towering perimeter might be offensive to my neighbors.
A quote: "There's a lot of symbolism attached to what you do on your property line. The message seems to match how high a plant stands against the human body. The minute that you put something higher than people can step over, you say, 'I don't want you coming over here.' "
Oh no!
So much I did not know going from apartment living to house living. Thought I was up to speed by now. Am I perceived as a bad neighbor? Yikes-see link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/garden/03hedge.html?ref=garden
The article makes sense, perceptions can be created visually by borders and labels can stick. However, I think my neighbors are okay with my high borders. I still say "Hi " and all that and they wave back. Our dogs like each other.
Liam plays in security, he only rolls over in the backyard, because of its high borders.
If anyone wants to see me, just text, I'll come out if I hear my blackberry beep over all those sounds of our Summer Place.
Woof, Woof
