"The tall privet hedge that marked our boundary with Marianne's garden started to die, highlighting the contrast between her neatness and our overgrown yard."
"Marianne and I had a difficult conversation about the hedge's decline, which had now become impossible to ignore as it was no longer bouncing back."
"Removing the hedge revealed a shocking openness between our two gardens, prompting reflections on how now there was so much more light and space."
"We contemplated the need for a new boundary, as we stood in the open space of our combined front gardens, unsure of what to do next."
The article reflects on the symbolism of a dying privet hedge that separates two gardens, one well-maintained by neighbor Marianne and one overgrown by the narrator. Initially dismissing the hedge's deterioration, a confrontation ensues, catalyzing its eventual removal. This action opens the space between their gardens, allowing for a reflective moment on privacy and maintenance. As the gardens merge, the narrator and his wife are left contemplating their next steps, unsure of how to establish a new boundary that acknowledges their shared space.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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