I’m feeling really rather lucky to be living in such a very special part of the world this week. Not only am I about two minutes walk from a certain flower show, but the streets all around me are ‘paved’ with flowers right now. Continue reading
Category: London
Courtfield Gardens West, London
English gardens are a lot like buses. Especially the number 10–from Hammersmith to King’s Cross–during the current roadworks in Knightsbridge. Continue reading
Autumn in London’s parks
It’s been a big week. Big politically, big earthquake-ly and big back-to-square-one-with-our-house-hunting-ly. But it’s amazing what a stroll in a park (or three) can do to clear the mind and lift the spirits and it’s a particularly special time in our parks. Continue reading
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Gardens
I’ve been to the Olympics! Admittedly, four years late.
We seem to have made a habit of missing them, arriving in Beijing – from our then home of Kuala Lumpur – to miss the 2008 Olympics by a matter of days, living on completely the wrong side of the world in 2012 and then leaving the Southern Hemisphere just as the Olympics arrived there this year.
And having not yet bought a TV in London it’s even a challenge to follow from afar, so instead, Paul and I ventured over to Stratford to try and find some Olympic-magic there. Continue reading
Hatfield House Garden
It was a pretty murky day when we, raincoats donned, set off for Hatfield House. But not to worry, Hatfield was all about the house, the history and the heritage. I’d seen photos of its formal garden but decided that a glimpse out of the window would probably suffice: I didn’t particularly need to see lots of hedges close up. Continue reading
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2016: Gold-medal gardens
The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show opens today in London, exhibiting an amazing 47 show gardens and over 500 horticultural stands. You’d be right in guessing that this is the largest garden show in the world. Although also run by the Royal Horticultural Society, unlike Chelsea, it has a very relaxed feel to it and visitors are actively encouraged to get in amongst the plants in many of the gardens. Continue reading
Kensington Roof Gardens Design
As I squeezed into the lift to the sixth floor, elbow to elbow with other visitors, I wasn’t overly excited about this one. I’d seen photos of the gimmicky flamingos and palm trees in this popular corporate events venue and the appeal of a local community coming together around a square of ancient plane trees and newly planted perennials was somewhat lacking. But having walked past the building many times over the last few months, there was something urging me on. Continue reading
Open garden squares weekend: Top 10
It would be fair to say it was a good garden-visiting weekend. I think twenty gardens over two days may well be a record, even for me. It’s certainly got me well and truly re-immersed in the possibilities and opportunities of English gardening.
I’ve managed to filter down to my top ten. Here, in the order that I visited. Continue reading
Favourite plantings from The Chelsea Flower Show, 2016
To round off this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, I thought I’d share a few final ‘happy snaps’ of plantings that brought a particularly big smile to my face, as I dreamily wandered around the Royal Hospital grounds. Continue reading
Nick Bailey: The Winton Beauty of Mathematics Garden, Chelsea 2016
A dry climate is something Australians are more than familiar with, and whilst London has a lower annual rainfall than either Sydney or Melbourne (yes, really!), we don’t exactly associate it with England. Continue reading
Janna Schreier Garden Design 