Citylife in Lichfield May 2021

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Bloom and Grow By Jo Howell ............................................................ Iam sure the more seasoned gardeners have been pottering, planting and planning their patch of green for many months now; after all a garden always needs something doing in it – even in the cold, damp and short winter days. But as a self-proclaimed amateur gardener, I feel I am only enjoying the great outdoors in the last month or so. Of course, the warmer days and lighter nights certainly do help in keeping me busy each weekend and wondering whether I should pull something that looks like a weed out or what shade of grey I should paint the fence. You see, as keen as I am to learn about gardening and the joy it brings, I am also a visual gardener. As I sit writing, I am in my conservatory overlooking the garden and I have lost many an hour on a snowy January afternoon, drawing plans, shading in spaces, neatly writing in names of plants and imagining what my little green oasis is going to look like. And slowly but surely, the garden – or extra ‘room’ of the house – is coming to life. Bursts of white and purple pepper the raised beds and the two yellow rose bushes are looking healthy and vibrant before the buds start to bloom in another few months. The patio planters have shoots of green popping up and the sweet peas are growing fast, desperate to be re-potted outside… soon. I am certainly no Alan Titchmarsh or Monty Don, but there is a huge amount of joy in taking what was a fairly uninspiring garden a few years ago and turning it into a space that offers so much. The patio is the reading zone; the late afternoon and evening sun dancing across the stones and the chairs angled just perfectly to feel the warmth on your face. Walking through the arch, with its thick foliage and hidden fairy lights, the garden is a hub of pretty colours, delightful smells, busy bees and expectation. I’m never quite sure what’s going to burst into life next, so each day and week is a delight and usually a question of ‘what is that exactly?’ And then nestled at the back, on a small concrete patio, is the entertaining zone. The comfy settee, the swing chair and the BBQ lie ready for those (much) warmer evenings when friends can chat the night away under the glow of the multi-coloured garden lightbulbs. And in the absence of friends, it makes the perfect sun trap first thing in the morning to enjoy a brew al fresco and listen to the world waking up. My garden isn’t big by any means, but I have used the space to its full advantage and whatever size garden you have, you can also do the same. Ask yourself, what do you want from the area? Is it to offer a splash of colour and smells or is it to relax in with a G&T? Do you have hours to commit or, like me, are you happy snatching a few hours each weekend? Gardening can bring so much joy, whether you know what you’re doing or not, and there is surely nothing more satisfying than seeing a tiny seed bloom and grow into a beautiful flower. And of course, never ever underestimate the healing power of a quiet moment in the garden. Read more of Jo’s work at www.justanaveragejo.blog. 34
Library Auctions Return to Bishton By Charles Hanson ................................................................ The pandemic has been a testing time for everyone. The auction industry, like many others, has had to adapt to doing things differently. At Bishton Hall in Staffordshire, online-only book sales have been buoyant with bidding all over the globe - and some eyewatering prices paid for real rarities. Jim Spencer, Associate Director and Head of Books & Works on Paper at Hansons Auctioneers, has been keeping up the momentum with virtual valuations and specialist online sales - but he's excited to welcome the public back to the historic building and its grounds from May, when he will be offering free valuations by appointment every Monday. "I've been answering countless emails and calls during the pandemic," Mr Spencer said. "Parcels have been arriving at the hall almost every single day. A first issue hardback of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was posted to me by a client in Luxembourg, it arrived wrapped in a tea towel and sold for £60,000 to a collector in California. It truly is a global service." "Many people have struggled throughout these challenging times, but collectors with deep pockets - and stuck at home - have clearly been very eager to acquire rare items at auction. We've seen some fierce bidding battles. "It will be lovely to welcome people back to our historic setting. I'm really looking forward to sharing my passion with the public in this wonderful location, perhaps even hosting some of the valuations in the fresh country air!" Mr Spencer manages the regular Library Auctions at Bishton Hall, which have been going from strength to strength. Some of the highlights during the last six months include a first edition in English of Isaac Newton's Principia, published in 1729, which sold for £24,000; a second edition of Moses Harris's Natural System of Colours, published in 1811, which sold for £12,000; a first edition of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, published in 1937, which, despite lacking its dustjacket, sold for more than £4,000, and countless Harry Potter books, the most important of which fetched £68,000 in the Christmas Library Auction. These specialist sales include rare books, manuscripts, maps, prints, autographs and ephemera. Hansons Auctioneers are now inviting entries for the next specialist Library Auction in June. For more information, or to arrange a free valuation, please contact Jim Spencer, Associate Director and Head of Books & Works on Paper: jspencer@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk. Hansons Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd, Bishton Hall, Bellamour Lane, Wolseley Bridge Staffordshire ST17 0XN. 35
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Citylife in Lichfield May 2021

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