Wisteria at Wisley

One of the advantages of visiting RHS Wisley at this time of year is to see some wisteria close up. I hadn’t realised before we went, but of course it makes perfect sense for Wisley to have wonderful wisteria. On this visit we tried many new paths, and after a wander through a garden full of box and ivy and leaving through this grand gateway we were about to head straight into the flowering wisteria.

And unusually straight past the peonies both in flower and in bud, well for the time being anyway.

Wisteria really is a wonderful plant, and I’m sure you can understand the pull to see it much closer up.

Wisteria is plentiful in our local area, it’s even in our neighbouring gardens - but I’ve not been able to get up this close to any of them. Isn’t it magnificient?

I have contemplated our own plant, and growing it against the cottage wall at the bottom of our garden would work well for us. I’m less sure if it would work quite so well for our neighbours living in the cottage though, so it’s never happened. I just have to admire from afar, or up close if I get the chance.

The wisteria had fairly grand surroundings.

And happy bed fellows.

With a final backward glance we headed off to explore more of what the gardens had to offer, and spoiler, there was plenty more to see.

Love this #93 Majeda Clarke's modern traditionals

It was hard not to fall in love with this Caernarfon Candy Pop Blanket when I walked past it and then quickly backtracked at the 2019 Grand Designs Live. The colours are very modern, but the patterns so traditional. But they work so well together.

Orange and pinks are my colours so it’s not really as surprise that this colour combo caught my eye, is it? And that interest only grew as I learnt more about Majeda Clarke and her textile creations. If your interest is also piqued then you should know they’re not cheap, but they marry Majeda’s Bangladesh heritage with modern Bauhaus, woven in a Welsh mill using a Yorkshire yarn.

The result is simply stunning, and definitely one for my maybe one day wish list. What do you think?

A stylish snug

I thought it about time I shared the main living room from the holiday cottage from our trip to Norfolk last October. Staying there was a bit of a treat to ourselves after 2020, and it was the type of place that looked just as good as the photos online, and drew an intake of breath as we walked in and explored.

From the pictures here, and those I’ve shared before, I don’t think you’d know this was quite a tiny cottage. And from the inside you had everything you needed. A couple of armchairs, a cosy fire and plenty of decor to look at and soften the space. And did I mention the fire?

And the bottle of Norfolk gin on the side. And what a side. Talk about a statement piece.

If that wasn’t enough, then the feather wreath above it was just as stunning, and bold.

Green was a theme that reappeared throughout the room, and there was no better place to sit in the chilly October evenings in front of the fire.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to explore further than our ‘local area’ when the restrictions are lifted.