This June...

It’s been a tad warm hasn’t it?

We started the month in France, in a-much-cooler-than-it-had-been-the-week-before outskirt of Angers, which we were pleased about. The temperatures prior to our arrival were in the high thirties, and even on holiday, that’s not good. And then when we got back we had another heatwave, with another forecast for the start of July, so yes it’s been quite warm overall.

We made it to France travelling by train which turned out to be a complete breeze, and more importantly no airports! I don’t dislike airports as such, but travelling by train is much more preferable.

Anyway from Newark we travelled to Kings Cross before popping over the road to St Pancras International and the Eurostar to Paris. We stayed in Paris overnight, then headed to Angers on the train for the next five nights staying in a fabulous chateau, before getting the train to Tours for a couple of nights making time for some wine tasting and our second visit to the Chateau de Villandry (so much more on this to come!) before heading back to Paris for our last night before jumping on the Eurostar, and then another train back home.

THE VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW AT THE CHATEAU DES FORGES, ANGERS

I’d intended to travel light, as I would be the one manhandling the case, and even though we took stuff out as we were packing, it turned out that it wasn’t that light at all - in fact the case was actually rather heavy. Moving it up and down stairs at stations both here in Newark and in Paris was hard work, though thankfully I was offered help which I was very grateful to accept.

We celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary while we were away in a fantastic restaurant found my MOH, he’s very good at this and he found some brilliant restaurants during our trip. Though we arrived slightly later than intended and a little flustered as we thought we knew where it was, but had misremembered the way there. Oops.

The food here was brilliant though, as was their artwork.

A MEAL WITHOUT WINE, IS LIKE A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE.

Since we’ve been home we’ve been busy too - well apart from in the heatwave when we’ve been like hermits hiding indoors in the hottest parts of the day, then when it’s cool enough to do things not really doing too much as heatwaves are tiring. So we’re glad for some respite from the heat, which you may already have gathered.

I had a press day at Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland, which is relatively local to home, and I was also invited to the Gardeners’ World Live preview event and a day at the show too. Both of which were fantastic events, with plenty of inspiration everywhere you looked. I’ve more to share from both of these visits, but I’ve already shared my highlights from this year’s Gardeners’ World Live.

We were in Birmingham for England’s first World Cup game, and it all went rather well didn’t it? We had a fantastic table, with a view of the match, in our regular haunt of The Button Factory in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. And the game was a good one, and really gave us hope for England setting the tournament alight, but the following two games weren’t quite that and were as fractious as usual to watch. Let’s hope England remember the highs from that first game and show more of that for the remaining of the tournament, so that it can finally come home (for the men, the women’s team have already got that sorted!)

A GLIMPSE OF OUR FANCIER THAN EXPECTED ROOM IN BIRMINGHAM, WHERE WE COULD HAVE WATCHED THE FOOTIE FROM THE BATH IF WE CHOSE TO (WE DIDN’T!)

I’ve also lost some of my gained responsibilities this month, which is great news. Just this week MOH has reclaimed grass cutting, and since we’ve been back from holiday he’s back on his usual daily breakfast making. It’s great, not least because it means I can turn my attention to the rest of the garden, and because I’m still not good at mornings, but also because he’s so much better. We’ve been back to the hospital for his six week check, and they don’t want to see him again until his annual check up next year. Phew.

My car gave me a little scare though, with a warning triangle appearing alongside the ‘I need a service’ spanner. The manual was most alarming saying to stop driving and contact the dealership straightaway. So once home I did call the company, and was reassured that it was related to the service and the spanner, and as that was booked already there was nothing to worry about. And indeed there wasn’t, and until I’d read the manual I wasn’t that worried, but with two longer than usual journeys ahead of me I wanted to be sure I’d get there (and back).

I said last month that I knew exactly what holiday embroidery I was taking with me before I knew what clothes would be in the suitcase, and it was even better to actually do some of this while we were away, either on the train or just in quiet moments. It’s not finished, but I’ve made huge amounts of progress. Though needless to say I’ve not touched it since we’ve been home!

SEWING ON THE EUROSTAR HOME

In two pieces of shock (sewing) news I have almost finished my summer dressing gown - which has taken way less time than I expected, and really is much needed on those warmer days, and I’ve finally started my Flying Geese quilt too. As I said at my sewing group last week, now it’s started it’s a project rather than just a pile of material!

I know, I’m not even sure who I am either. Though of course I do have other projects still to finish, and yet to start as well as some new ones appearing on the horizon, so it’s all ok really! I’ll share more on both of these shock sewing projects here soon I’m sure.

One of the new projects that my head is grappling with arose from a workshop I went to last week, where I picked up many tips and tricks for making a pattern from clothes already in my wardrobe, and if I can make it work for the well worn and much loved dress I have in mind, then my mind will officially be blown. I have the start of the pattern, and I have some material I can test it out with - so hopefully I will have another version of this dress, which looks a lot smarter than the one I have and love sometime soon.

And that’s not all, today I’ve ordered my greenhouse after much (and a couple of years) deliberating. But with a price rise imminent (tomorrow!) I snuck in right at the last minute. I’m not rushing into this at all though, I have opted for the delayed delivery so within the next six months, my greenhouse will arrive.

Hopefully that gives me plenty of time to come up with a plan, that’s more adventurous than ‘sticking it in the garage’!

Gardeners' World Live: Another great show

* I was invited to this year’s Gardeners’ World Live preview and provided with a pair of tickets for the show, therefore all my posts will be marked as 'Ad’ though as usual my views and opinions are very much my own.

It won’t be a surprise to anyone that I’m a fan of Gardeners’ World Live and as I said in my show preview post, there was plenty planned for this year. And I wasn’t disappointed. In fact I could have done with even more time at the show, so it’s true when the organisers said to me on arrival that it was bigger and better than ever before.

But before I share some of my highlights, there’s also some news for next year’s show. For 2027 the show is moving homes, leaving the NEC in Birmingham and moving just down the road to the Packingham Estate. I completely understand why they’re moving - more space, less creating gardens on car parks, and a stunning location, with Capability Brown designed parkland - and so I’m interested to see how it will work, especially as we usually travel to the show by public transport which the NEC is so handy for.

Next year’s show is on from the 18 - 21 June, so get those dates in your diaries now - it’s definitely in mine.

This year I loved…

Spoiler: pretty much everything, but specfically it’s these photos and gardens which keep on drawing me back.

THE MILL RUINS BY 3DG

I’d read about The Mill Ruins ahead of our visit and I was curious to see how it would turn out. That was easy - it was more than pretty good, and as the first garden I saw it set a pretty high benchmark. I loved the corten steel arch which as well as being a great entrance, frames the garden well. The garden explores ‘the quiet moment where industry gives way to nature’ and is inspired by the remains of Lancashire’s historic mills. I loved it on paper beforehand, and loved it when I saw it at the preview.

The Greenhouse Noir garden, which was next on my viewing list, was completely different but I was equally enthralled by it. I love how the greens and darker purple leaves come to life against the black boundaries. It’s a small space that packs a lot of punch.

GREENHOUSE NOIR, LITTLE JARDIN BY MATT BETTISON

Something different again, this time cheery bright umbrellas suspended above the garden that caught my eye, but it was the planting and especially the grasses that I really admired. The planting just seems to be full of movement, and is clearly very skilfully done.

UMBRELLAS, DAVE HODSON

UMBRELLAS, DAVE HODSON

I loved the play on the name of this garden, and its musical additions - though the drum kit at the back (complete with planting) took a little while for me to spot, but as there’s plenty to see and for my eye and mind to explore here, along with the pink and purple planting I was happy to stand and look at this one for a good while.

DARK SIDE OF THE BLOOM, ANTONY MASSIE

There was something calming about this next garden, and I loved the mosaics laid into the path. The garden invites you to experience a story told through soil, stone and sculpture.

THE ARTIST’S GARDEN, DENISE RICE FOR DERBY COLLEGE

But often it’s the little touches too that catch my eye, not just the bigger show gardens. A jar of sweet smelling sweet peas.

RETURN TO GOTHIC, GEORGINA SPENCER & ALICE POTE

ONCE UPON A TIME… A BRUSH BECAME A SPADE, TOM BRETT

Or the painters tools transformed into a unique water feature.

Or even the dragon fly made from an old circuit board. Each of these small additions have no doubt been meticulously planned by the garden’s designer, and I’m so glad they were.

ECHOES OF WATER, CIRCLES OF TIME, SAMANTHA RITOSSA

The theme for the beautiful borders this year was Once upon a time, and this came through loud and clear in many of the gardens, more so than any other year’s theme I think. Perhaps it’s one that our imagination can really grasp, and also that those of us admiring the gardens can also easily relate to, who knows.

THREADS OF LIFE, JAN O’BRIEN

I loved the Threads of Life garden which reflects fifty years of lived experience and is inspired by sewing and textiles but also supports MND awareness. While talking to the garden’s designer my eyes continued to rove the garden in front of me, at one point realising that some of the uprights in the garden were in the shapes of needles, I’ll share these in a future post, but it’s that detail that I love, and it’s that detail that the designers love you notice.

This next garden is stunning for many reasons, but not least because instantly this one exuded a cooler temperature, and just by looking at it. It’s size would most likely surprise you too - it’s only nine square metres, which isn’t very big at all - but it packs a lot in.

COMPOSITION IN THE PARK, JULIA MARKS & DENISE MALLEN

This next garden was the last garden we saw on the preview evening ahead of the judge’s awards and once again it was great to speak with the people that had put this together, who were incredibly generous with their time and knowledge. I loved the lushness of the planting here, but also because I was able to show MOH how something similar (but on a much less grand scale!) could work in our own garden, using more exotic plants alongside those that we are more familiar with.

And the lime trees could be going on my plant list too!

THE HEART OF THE JUNGLE, JONATHAN & BRIONY DAKIC

THE HEART OF THE JUNGLE, JONATHAN & BRIONY DAKIC

The headline garden this year was something special, it was entitled The Garden of Evolution and it was a spectacular landscape and educational piece. I got some photos before we left the night before the show opened, but we didn’t get a chance to walk around it until the next day. It was at the top of my list of gardens to see, and I knew it’d be popular so when we arrived at the show on Thursday morning we joined the queue banking on the logic that it would only get busier, and the queue get longer, as the day went on. It was a good move!

THE GARDEN OF EVOLUTION, PROF ALICE ROBERTS & PROF DAVID STEVENS

THE GARDEN OF EVOLUTION, PROF ALICE ROBERTS & PROF DAVID STEVENS

We wandered through the Folklorians garden admiring the planting, the bench and so much more - it really is a garden that offers sanctuary, and this is another one I’ll come back to soon in another post.

THE FOLKLORIANS GARDEN, KATE PATRICK

Back at the show on the Thursday the crowds were thick, and then we realised why - Frances and Monty were getting ready to film a segment for the TV show and despite the producers trying to keep people moving, their efforts were pretty futile - it seems though I’ve managed to perfect the walk along and take photos, with apologies to Frances who I’ve caught with her eyes shut.

FRANCES TOPHILL AND MONTY DON

Let’s get back to some more of those details - how about these eggs with googly eyes growing cress in the Make a Metre matter border.

MAKE A METRE MATTER, DE GRAFT MENSAH & LUCY CHAMBERLAIN

HOT OFF THE POTTING BENCH

Or the begonia with the spiralled leaf, one of the new plants as part of the Hot off the Potting Bench stand which showcases new plants, which are still a way away from being available in our garden centres.

There was one garden that MOH was keen to see, as he keeps telling me we’re going to have trains going around our garden (we’re not!) - and it was a great space, though I did tell him that I thought the best part about the garden was the posters!

TRAINS IN THE GARDEN, SUPPORTING GREENFINGERS CHARITY, ANDREW CHRISTIE

TRAINS IN THE GARDEN, SUPPORTING GREENFINGERS CHARITY, ANDREW CHRISTIE

I’ve mentioned the story telling theme already, but there were many playful elements in the borders this year. I was loathed to point out the cars in this garden, in case MOH thought that was a green light for cars instead of trains!

RELEASE YOUR INNER CHILD, ISH KAMRAN

RETURNING TO MY ROOTS, STEVE WALTON

At least the digger truck would be useful in harvesting the vegetables…

I was pleased to see another sewing machine at the show, and with this border making use of the most obvious sewing to sowing title. But it wasn’t just the sewing machine, it was the planting too especially the mix of edibles and flowers, which I am a big fan of.

FROM SEWING TO SOWING, ANNABEL DAVIES

FROM SEWING TO SOWING, ANNABEL DAVIES

The Stories of Memory garden had an Anderson shelter at its heart, and the garden was shaped by conversations with people living with Alzheimer’s with the shelter recalling the ‘Dig for Victory Britain and wartime resilience.

STORIES OF MEMORY, ADRIAN BURROWS & LUCY MORTON

And after all those gardens, I could definitely have done with a cuppa - thankfully I’d spotted one along the way!

RETURNING TO MY ROOTS, STEVE WALTON

* With thanks to Gardeners’ World for once again inviting me to Gardeners’ World Live, it was another great show! I’ll be sharing more from my visit to this year’s show throughout the year - I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Post Comment Love 26 - 28 June

Hello there, welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a relaxed, friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any blog post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked, comment and share some of that love.

Please don’t link up posts which are older as they will be removed, and if you see older posts are linked then please don’t feel that it’s necessary to comment on those. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here we’re pleased you’ve joined us.

This week I’ve finally finished sorting through and editing my photos from last year’s Festival of Quilts show, it’s been a great thing to do while I’ve been inside sheltering from the high temperatures. Through this heatwave I’ve realised that my craft room, which gets the morning sun, can be quite quickly cooled in the afternoons to a bearable temperature with the help of the skylight, a semi open window and the open skylight on the back of the house - it creates quite a nice blow through even when it doesn’t look as if there’s too much movement outside. And of course being in my craft room is absolutely no hardship, though the irony on just finishing editing these photos, as I look forward to visiting the show again at the end of next month is not lost on me.

My photo this week is from that editing session - and I haven’t left myself the usual clues I would as I regularly leave it longer than my memory serves me to edit photos, so please enjoy a random sewn ‘front door, complete with snippets of white net curtains and I can’t decide if that’s a floral pattern or disrepair working it’s way across the door diagonally. Either way it’s quite random and just perfect to sit with and let your imagination do its thing - something I think we should all probably do more of.

Have a great week

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