A billion dreams at Chelsea

We’re heading back to this year’s Chelsea Flower Show and one of the artisan gardens for today’s post. The garden was commissioned by The British Council and designed by Sarah Eberle and  “was sparked by the hopes and dreams of young people in India, and also drew on the UK and India’s shared love of cricket. It was a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the British Council in India.”

Timely then that I’m posting this as England play India, cricket must have reached into my psyche, and when it is a garden as pretty as this, that’s ok with me.

A billion dreams - the artisan garden by the British Council at the Chelsea Flower show

The inlay work on the low height walls was stunning and reminded me of our trip to India for our honeymoon back in 2007.  We brought home a coaster which uses this effect, and is stunning, but I’d forgotten how much more spectacular larger pieces were, totally breath-taking-away. 

giant cricket stumps in this Chelsea Flower show artisan garden

Much of the press coverage for this garden during the show focused on the pair of rather large cricket stumps, and large cricket balls that matched and given the purpose of the garden that’s probably fair, but there was so much more to it for me.  The intricate jewelled walls and bright, jewel like planting too. 

howzat for a garden design

With such oversized stumps, a normal sized cricket ball just wouldn’t do, would it?  Although I’m not sure I’d want to be on the receiving end of this one, or have it land amongst my borders. 

And with cricket stumps usually there's a cricket ball

The colours of the planting picked up the bright colours in the wall, and are a riot of colour, shape and texture and not all “exotic” plants either - at the forefront of the photo beow you can spot some French marigolds.  The attention grabber in this photo is the yellow “filament” flower head.

yellow red and orange planting in the British Council garden at Chelsea

There was also the iconic blue Himalayan poppies, or mecanopsis, stunning aren’t they?  One of the true blue flowers I’ve seen, and much bluer than bluebells, which in comparison don’t seem that blue after all.  

blue Mecanopsis or Himalayan poppies in the British Council garden
A side view of the planting and the rear of the garden

Even now, seeing how the light bounces of the blue petals, it’s clear that these are something special.  The garden was awarded a Silver-Gilt medal - I still don’t know how the judges can separate any of the gardens, when they’re all so lovely, but...

Even if cricket’s not your thing, I suspect this garden might hold your interest - what do you think?

Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard

Browsing through my photos from Yorkshire I couldn't get past the blueness of the skies on the day we visited Castle Howard, which was one of the places that went straight onto my "to visit" list, and I wasn't disappointed.   Today I'm sharing blue-skied pictures of the Temple of the Four Winds, which is at the eastern edge of the estate, at the end of the appropriately named Temple Terrace - I wonder which came first, the temple or the terrace?!

Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard in Yorkshire

It had great symmetrical shape (apart from the statues) and great stonework too.  As we walked around the outside of the temple (sadly you can't go inside) I noticed the stonework had great attention to detail too.

Stonework and blue skies in Yorkshire

The temple was originally used as a "place for refreshment and reading" so quite a grand place to take tea or read a book, but one that you can imagine would be quite inspiring.  There is apparently a cellar underneath the temple which the servants could prepare food for the family upstairs. 

Sounds a grand life, doesn't it - unless you were below stairs I'm sure.  

Looking over the Yorkshire countryside

What amazes me about these places is the grandeur which is often at the edge of the estate and seemingly goes nowhere, just like the grand set of stairs in the photo above, which have been carefully fenced off.

The stonework too is always something that catches my eye with its lichen patterns and growths. I've several very similar photos and could have quite happily taken more until I was chivvied along by MOH, who it seems can't take as much lichen as me.

lichen - you know how much I liken them

But just be pleased I'm only sharing two of the photos here, there could be many more, you're welcome!

Steps and lichen at Castle Howard

I've much more to share from Castle Howard, including the walled garden which, well apart from being a favourite kind of garden, was my favourite space from our visit. There's also a spot of Brideshead Revisited to look forward to too, and between you and me, that might just have been my inspiration for visiting, not that I think I ever watched the programme avidly when it was on in 1981  (yes 1981!)

I need to go and lie down now, that's a super long time ago!

PoCoLo

Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 17-19 August

Hello there and welcome to this week's #PoCoLo - how's your week been?

If you were here last week, it was great to see you and thanks for sharing some great posts.  If you're new here this week, you're very welcome I'm sure you're going to find some great posts to read, and perhaps some new to you blogs too.  Once again I'm joined by Suzanne from Chicken Ruby who's co-hosting with me while Morgan is on her holidays, so do please also pop over there to say hello.

Last week was just a short post as it was also the day of my FIL's funeral, everything went as well as these things do and the weather certainly made itself known.  People were arriving in the pub completely soaked and we had a lovely afternoon sharing memories, and learning some new ones too.  There is of course, still much to do but this milestone has now taken place, and it was quite a task to get that to happen all told.

white rose

We'd planned to go for a boozy picnic in Greenwich Park on Sunday but it seemed the weather had other ideas (again) and so I dragged MOH cushion shopping instead, with some success.  MOH couldn't believe we needed that many cushions, but as we have three sofas to fill we definitely did and we left with six cushions from a couple of shops.  And a shopping list for two more, one to collect from my mum and another that I want to make from the samples I collected during our sofa shopping.  

It must be said that MOH is gobsmacked by all the soft furnishings - I'm sure he thought the one we bought in Yorkshire was plenty.  I've linked the cushions we browsed on our trip, so you can see the one that MOH chose!  I'll share our purchases soon, as I'm on a bit of a cushion roll.  And that boozy picnic has been rescheduled for Bank Holiday Monday when I'm sure the weather will be no better, or maybe it will...

Blogger Showcase: Kirsten from Obtaining Bliss

1. Who are you?

My name is Kirsten and I have a blog called ObtainingBliss.com. I write about personal development through depression and anxiety, domestic violence, and everything that helps a person find more bliss in their life.

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I found blogging as a business through a site called MakingSenseofCents.com. She had a few posts on starting a blog as a business and I got interested.

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a business because I really wanted to be an entrepreneur. That has since expanded to helping other women who also suffer from depression and anxiety and who may have experienced an abusive relationship find peace and bliss. Hence the name of my blog.

4. What do you find most challenging?

Juggling a full-time job with a full-time business and making sure to keep time for myself and my family.

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

I have a few, but I love talking about self-care and personal development specifically for those suffering from depression.

6. Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

Oh, I have BIG goals. But I do also write for fun - I think that's the best part of being a blogger is that I get to do what I love (write) and help others in the process. 

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

The connections. Meeting other bloggers and readers. Getting feedback from others about my content.

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference and if so, what did you think?

Yes, I attended the EBA Live conference. It was the very first conference by Ruth Soukup of Living Well Spending Less. When I first started blogging this was the course I got. This course put me on the right path to setting up my blog and being successful. The conference was awesome! I met so many people and got so much great feedback and learned so very very much. I would definitely recommend going to a blogging conference if you get the chance because it can be so beneficial for your blogging business.

9. What are your 3 best posts?

10. Describe yourself in 3 words.

Empath, tenacious, resilient.

11. Are you a tea and biscuits or coffee and cake person?

Totally a coffee and cake person!

12. What's your idea of a perfect night out?

Dancing and singing with my favourite people.

13. Your perfect night in?

A good movie cuddled up with my hubby and/or my kiddos.

14. What would your best friend/kids/ say is your best quality?

I actually did a survey with this exact question. They all said the same thing. I'm super loyal, have a huge heart and I'm very giving.

Thanks Kirsten - I love that you did some research for that final question!  Don't forget to connect with Kirsten's social channels:  Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram.  

If you'd like to be featured as a future Blogger Showcase then please do get in touch.