The Fontana Garden

* I was invited to the press preview for and provided with a pair of tickets to Gardeners’ World Live so I’m marking posts from the show as 'Ad’ - as usual my views and opinions are very much my own. Be sure to check out all of my posts from the show.

This garden is pretty special, and for a number of reasons. Firstly it’s incredibly striking - though I think the blue skies and warm temperatures helped, but also because it was sponsored by 92 year old Derek Bishop whose lifetime ambition has been to be park of a show garden, but mostly because after the show this garden will live on and was gifted to Cornwall Hospice Care. It was designed by Kim Parish with that in mind, and I’m sure it will be a fantastic space for patients, their families and the hospice staff.

The garden uses clever design to incorporate seating and dining areas, making use of the shaded area beneath its main focus, as well as a water feature which I’m sure will be calming both while it was at the show and in its future location. The planting features alliums heavily, along with tree ferns - there’s something about how they sway in the breeze that’s also calming isn’t there.

purple headed alliums among greenery in one of the beds behind the seating area
A closer look at the space under the raised garden building which holds a dining table for eight, in the foreground there are ferns and to the left a water feature

It’s funny though looking at these pictures a year on and the structures are not that dissimilar to our new garden - well, except that our garden structures are the garage and trellis around the heat pump, but the ribbed cladding and dark colour is similar-ish!

A bark mulched path with alliums either side leads the way to the black stairs of the fontana's main feature, tree ferns add height and softness either side of the stairs

We clearly don’t have the planting, but again this post is a good reminder to be bold and to use plants we love - that’ll be ferns and alliums on my plant wish list then!

The Fontana Garden is a gorgeous garden though isn’t it?

* With thanks to Gardeners’ World for inviting me to Gardeners’ World Live, it was as fabulous as ever!

The sputnik in the loos at the Nevile Arms

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a post in the Loo Series, and as you’d expect often I don’t know when I’ll find a loo worthy of sharing. So when it happens, who knows, but here I am sharing a loo from after our circular walk from Kinoulton to Hickling.

At first I didn’t notice what you’ll come to see dominates my pictures, but once I’d spotted the light fitting I was mesmerised. I mean it’s a great light fitting, and it totally gives the small space (they’re mostly a small space aren’t they?!) it’s character.

Looking up at the light fitting which has multiple silver balls (maybe 50+) in a sphere shape

I told you it was a great light fitting, didn’t I?

Simple but classic - stone coloured brick tiles and a gold oblong mirror - which shows a reflection of that light fitting again

The rest of the decor was pretty classic and smart, but the sputnik light fitting added the character. Though while it caught my attention, it wasn’t the only design feature.

A selfie in a mirror adorned with a pink and white flower garland

Both the cherry blossom-like garland around the mirror and the floor tiles would usually have captured all the attention - and the floor tiles especially are just fab (shame I don’t need any new tile inspiration for my new house!). But the three together - garland, tiles and light - made a small space pretty special.

bluey/grey and white patchwork effect floor tiles - and my trainered feet!

Here’s to the renewed energy to this series of this posts, who knows when I’ll share one next!

You will never want to leaf

* I was invited to the press preview for and provided with a pair of tickets to Gardeners’ World Live so I’m marking posts from the show as 'Ad’ - as usual my views and opinions are very much my own. Be sure to check out all of my posts from the show.

The banana plant we saw recently at the Newark Garden Show reminded me of this beautiful border at last year’s Gardeners’ World Live, and once I dug the photos out I had another mixed smile and groan at the garden’s cheesy title. The theme for the Beautiful Borders at the show was ‘My Garden Escape’ and I think I’d quite happily escape to this garden, despite the cheese, and who knows maybe I wouldn’t want to leave…

This garden, designed by Kiran Vaidya, invites us to escape to our very own slice of tropical paradise. By just using foliage the garden shows the versatility and variety of leafy plants ‘whilst highlighting the important role of greenery in relieving stress and promoting positive mental health, especially in urban communities where access to green spaces is limited.’

And I don’t know about you, but just looking at these photos makes me want to breathe more deeply and breathe in the fresh air. In my mind’s eye that breath is cool, but not cold and warm enough to be comfortable.

variegated tropical leaves under a tree's canopy

I love the textures and colours that you can get through foliage, along with the drama. Though of course having these plants in your garden is likely to come with the need for additional care and attention over the cooler months, but I can’t help but think it’d be worth it.

* With thanks to Gardeners’ World for inviting me to Gardeners’ World Live, it was as fabulous as ever!