Nautical loos in the Sail Loft at Greenwich, what else?

It's been a little while since my last visit to the Sail Loft in Greenwich, remember the one that wowed me with the floor and its furnishings? Well this time I popped to the loo, and remembered to take my phone, and they didn't disappoint.

I suspected that it was going to be a good loo when I spotted this door. I mean it'd have to be something to live up to the boldness, wouldn't it?

And on the other side of the door, there was a large and interesting space. The often seen rectangular tiles, and spotlights, industrial nautical lighting but also a black ceiling and some gorgeous oak woodwork, and not forgetting the terracotta floor tiles. They all work fantastically well together, but at first thought probably not something you'd automatically think of.

The lights were very similar to those at El Pastor in Borough Market, so I'm spotting a loo light trend...

The double - or should that be a double double or quadruple sink - was framed with ironwork and exposed pipework, with a handy shelf above it, so there was actually somewhere to put your bag while make up or hair running repairs are undertaken. All too often there's nowhere is there and then it all becomes a bit of a juggling act.

And flowers too. A bold arrangement which looks striking against the decor.

Mirrors too, weren't in short supply.

So that's another great looking loo, and this pub keeps getting better and better in my eyes. Now all I need is another visit on a sunny(ish) day so I can check out the outside space...  Maybe, just maybe it won't be too long away!

What do you think of these loos? Are they your style, or are there elements you can use at home?

Behind the ornate gate in Greenwich Park

It was back in January that I first spotted the ornate gate of the Queen's Orchard, and it's taken me a while to step inside. But finally, some several months later I've managed it, and I wasn't disappointed. We were out in Greenwich this Saturday for a lazy brunch, treating ourselves after the events of last week, and generally having a mooch around. 

The main entrance to Greenwich Park was shut and so as we headed home we aimed for the Park Row gate, and then I remembered that the Queen's Orchard might be open. So off we went to check. And it was. 

And I wasn't disappointed.  The first section of the long thin space is the most bountiful vegetable growing space.

Much more plentiful than my allotment. And don't even mention the onions.

Yes indeed.

After the raised beds we reached a pond, with this stripey pond grass screening it off nicely. 

It wasn't until we were at its side that we were able to appreciate it fully. And it really was as tranquil as it looked, despite the children's playground being just behind us. What a view those houses must get though...

I suspect there's also a micro-climate within those walls, as not only is the veg better than my allotment, their agapanthus are already in flower too. Mine are just starting to flower.  My sunflowers are a long way behind these, 

AGAPANTHUS

SUNFLOWERS TOO

 My sunflowers are a long way behind these, but even so they're still a plant which make me smile.  I picked up some tips for securing my hoops - cable ties - I think that might just work, and make our tunnels sturdier than we've managed before. 

CABBAGES

A LADDER FIT FOR AN ORCHARD

The ladders along the walls intrigued me to start with, mainly for their shape. Until I remembered that this was an orchard and so a ladder shaped this way would be much easier to use, and less likely to damage any fruit. Clever hey? 

After the pond the area was much different - it actually looks more like my allotment that the vegetable growing section did - and the path gently encouraged us around the orchard. Just by the entrance there was a plan detailing all of the trees, something we checked on our way out and were pleased to learn that we'd correctly spotted a mulberry tree. 

LED AROUND THE GARDEN BY THE WINDING PATH

A MULBERRY TREE

I was quite taken with the wild flowers finding them particularly photogenic. 

And then in a fenced area we saw three bee hives, and its residents were evident throughout the garden, especially as we discovered in the lavender.

And if you were a bee, wouldn't this just be heaven?

I've photos with bees throughout the lavender, and with the sweet peas flanking the other side of the path I bet the honey from these bees is great.  We have the everlasting kind of sweet peas in our garden and they are great - easy too - but always pink. Seeing the jewel like colours always makes me stop and wonder.

Just one last photo, because I couldn't resist. Lavender, gravel and allium heads - gorgeous isn't it?  And a very special place, and one that now I've discovered is likely to become a favourite.  

Peonies, borrowed flowers and a blooming yucca

Along with an influx of bird houses that sums up June in our garden. I think it's probably one of the best months in our garden, it's full of colour and everything seems in harmony. It's no coincidence that we got married at this time of year, and our garden made a great backdrop for our celebrations. Just as it did a couple of weeks ago for our 110th party.

Our peonies though, while fantastic, didn't hang around long enough for the party, one of those heavy downpours put paid to that. Peonies always look as if they're struggling to stay upright at the best of times, and while they're pretty with raindrops on them it can't help the weight. I think this year has been our best peony year so far though, and of course I've big hopes for next year now.

OUR BEST PEONY YEAR SO FAR

It was also the year of the yucca, it needed some love earlier on, but repaid the TLC with two sets of flowers. It was interesting to see them develop as the month went on. They're all done now, but notice how upright they started off.

STARTING TO FLOWER

CHERRIES!

It's been a great year for cherries too, must be something to do with the weather I reckon. The pigeons too have behaved leaving plenty of the cherries on the lower branches for us. The squirrels were slightly less well behaved, but there were so many cherries this year there was still enough for us both, and for the children at our 110th party who were fascinated by the cherries on the tree, and made short work of an impromptu pudding. And who can blame them?

We've a couple of plants that have popped over from next door, which is always nice as quite often ours go the other way. Elderflower I'm looking at you. In return though we've enjoyed this pink rambling rose with its densely packed flower heads. It's arrived in a part of our garden that doesn't have much colour, so it's arrival has been doubly welcome.

ONE OF OUR BORROWED PLANTS: ROSES FROM NEXT DOOR

A VISITING CLEMATIS AGAINST THE SUN

At the rear of our garden another neighbour's clematis is making use of our trellis and climbing over our jasmine. And looking as good as this, then it'd be hard not to welcome it, wouldn't it?

RIPENING CHERRIES

Our mock orange hasn't really had a good year though, it's the one plant (it's actually more tree-like) that makes MOH sneeze so he's not missed it so much. This was about as good as the flowers got and given that it's almost 8-9 ft tall, you can see why I'm saying it's not been a good year.

OUR MOCK ORANGE WASN'T SO HAPPY THIS YEAR THOUGH

By now the yucca was flowering, and it really is gorgeous. It developed quite a bit of a lean (as you can see with the stem in the background) but it was no less pretty for it.

AND SUDDENLY THE YUCCA WAS IN FULL FLOWER

I told you those roses were happy didn't I? Along with the jasmine it became one of the most scented areas of our garden. Placing our gazebo in this spot was a stroke of genius, and clearly all planned... ahem.

THE ROSES FROM NEXT DOOR WERE THRIVING

Now just look at those cherries. These were I think out of the reach of the visiting six year olds, but I suspect they may have had help. I've never seen as many cherries in a single bunch like this on our tree.

CHERRIES ON OUR TREE LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE

Yes, look it's all getting too much for the yucca, it's now almost horizontal and when the flowers die back completely it's going to leave me with a dilemma. Do I try and crank it back upright, slowly, bit by bit - or do I go for some severe pruning. I think I need to read up on this - if you've experience of righting yuccas, please let me know what you'd do. 

OUR YUCCA ON THE LEAN

These bird houses are from HomeSense and I loved their colours. I'd planned to put them in a row on a fence but when I looked at the hanging part I realised it was in the middle of the roof, and that didn't really fit in with my plans. And so, the dormant cherry tree seemed the perfect place to host them - it's unbelievable how different our cherry trees are, isn't it?

A BIRDHOUSE ESTATE?

A HIGH-RISE INSECT HOUSE

I carried this insect house around Grand Designs earlier this year, and finally it has been installed amongst the wild strawberries, which have come through the fence from yet another neighbour.  

It's been a month where we've enjoyed our garden, and we've had the weather to do so - for most of the time. I've noticed a trend though which you might spot in the photo below. 

Yes, it seems there's a steady influx of pink in our garden, and highlighted by the two flowering plants that have popped by too. Ah well, I guess there's worse things!