Post Comment Love 6-8 April

Hello there, welcome back to our post-Easter #PoCoLo - while it was lovely to have a break, it's nice to be back isn't it?  And the sun's making an appearance too, way better than the colder and snowy weather that had been around in some parts of the UK last week.

It's finally starting to feel as if we may be done with winter, doesn't it?  Let's just hope spring is kind to us.  The weather has played all sorts of havoc with my gardening, or rather that should be my lack of gardening so far this year.  I'm behind where I usually am at this time of year - and often that's behind in any case - so this year I'm seriously contemplating buying some seedlings to help catch me up.  It's a more expensive way of growing edibles, but with some careful choosing it could mean we have produce to pick.  It also means I get to pore over a different section of the catalogues and websites, all in the name of research.

I've taken few photos since the weekend - the post I've linked this week is from a trip into town over Easter - so I've delved into my photo archives again, and this bookshelf in the National Trust's Mottisfont called out to me.  I think it's my subconscious telling me I need to read more books - and I do - and I've a pile of "to be reads" stacking up on my kindle, but not necessarily all of these!  

Blogger Showcase: Katelynn from Hampers and Hiccups

Katelynn is a new(ish) blogger who regular linkers may already be familiar with as she's also joined us a few times already.  Morgan is hosting all of Katelynn's answers on her blog this week, but before you go let me tell you that her perfect night in involves popcorn and her perfect night out includes getting up to no good if she's with her best friend.  I think we can all relate, can't we? 

If you're not connected with Katelynn on her social channels, then pop over to Pinterest and Twitter and say hello!

If you'd like to be featured in the Blogger Showcase spot, then please get in touch with either Morgan or I.  We've currently got a waiting list until the end of May, but we're always looking to add people to our list.

An InLinkz Link-up

The Blue Garden

One of the small gardens within the Walled Gardens of Cannington is the Blue Garden and that's a challenging choice, as 'true blue' is a relatively rare colour among flowers.  You might immediately think of cornflowers, irises and periwinkles, and maybe even the more purple blues of lavenders and pansies.  And I'm sure there's more, but they don't roll of the tongue easily, do they?

WHAT OTHER COLOUR BENCH WOULD YOU EXPECT?

The cobalt blue benches were striking on the wet and grey day we visited.  With more blue flowers in the garden I'm sure it would be a fantastic space.

You forget that rosemary has small blue flowers, but it does, and they were starting to make themselves known.  I bet the garden is also one of most fragrant spots what with the rosemary and lavender.

BLUE FLOWERS STARTING TO SHOW ON THE ROSEMARY

The water feature, which somehow I've cut the top off in my photo, was designed by a student and creates a modern interpretation of a conifer tree.  It's been modified though as it seems that the design also soaked visitors.  As you'd expect the stone wall that it sits around it matches the theme of the garden - blue lias stone - and was quarried in Somerset.

THE BLUE GARDEN WATER FEATURE

THE SILVER BLUE LEAVES OF LAVENDER

There's a lot of rosemary in the central part of the garden, and it was a good reminder of how it can be used sculpturally, adding shape and height.  It also gives me hope for my future rosemary hedges over on the plot.

ROSEMARY USED IN SWATHES OF BEDS

Given that our visit was the middle of March we did well to see the blue flowers we did, especially given the cold weather.  The irises were starting to make themselves known and yet again reminded me that I need to add some to my garden.

DWARF IRISES ADDING A PURPLE BLUE TO THE GARDEN

The board in the garden says it's been designed for year round interest, and it'd be great to see it throughout the year, wouldn't it?

Hello April!

My Papergang box for April is very pink!  And a few days later than usual, April seemed to have snuck up on me.

Once again the stationery in the box is something I'm unlikely to have chosen and bought myself, but like last months now that it's here I'm glad that it is. I think the point of these boxes is the surprise and gift element and if that means pushing you away from your norms and comfort zone.  

It's all pretty and functional enough that it will be used, but that may not be immediately.  I'm fine with that as I often have a stash of things that are waiting for the right occasion.  As well as the usual month card, this month's notebook is a bullet journal, the page is full of dots and so with the rule (which does have numbers on and just hasn't shown in the photograph) it can be kept neat.

My current blog planner is loosely based on a bullet journal, but it's quite freeform and not that pretty, but it works for me, especially as I can tick things off lists.  Some stickers and more uniformity would definitely help, so we'll see how that goes.

That card.  How true has that been so far this year.  There's been glimpses of sun, but the only sure way to have sun lately has been to bring your own.  It's not a bad saying in any case is it?

Also in the box were the stickers I mentioned before, a clear pink pouch which will get used and three chubby pencils. And as you can see with it all piled up, it is very pink.  This box is the last of my Christmas present subscription and it's been a great present. It's been a good reminder that to receive some treats every now and then is a good thing.  

Last month I contemplated extending the subscription for myself, so far I haven't, and I think I'll take a look around to look at other kinds of subscription boxes.  I'm not much into a beauty box, but I've seen some gin based boxes and some craft based boxes which could be more my thing.  If you've had subscription boxes that you've been impressed with then I'd be interested to hear about them.