Post Comment Love 14-16 May

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’re here.

This week my resolve on good intentions has been tested. Ironic really in Mental Health Awareness week, but it’s a busy work week so was always going to be a challenge. Deep down I must have known as I also booked tickets for visit to RHS Wisley tomorrow, and I expect that to help restore balance even if it’s wet. And there’s a fair chance it will be - which means our planned picnic might also change!

But it’ll be good to get out and do something more normal.

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My garden in March

March is when our garden starts to come back to life, and that’s great as I think our garden looks best in spring. It starts with the traditional spring colours of yellow and blue - the yellow of the forsythia and the blue of the grape hyacinths. These follow the daffodils, which this year we didn’t make the most of as with what seemed cooler than usual temperatures we weren’t out in the garden as we have been in previous years. This year our daffodil spotting was mostly from our conservatory window, but this month the weather warmed a little - at times! - so there’s more photos, and we started to work in the garden on those warmer days too.

The phormium below looks a little crumpled this year, but that too has its own charm. It seems to have less ‘leaves’ than usual but does break up the ‘green-ness’ with its pink stripes, so it’s always a welcome addition. I’m hoping that the crumpled-ness is a normal thing, though this leaf looks like one of the frosts could have interfered with it.

One of the larger pruning jobs we did last year was to severely reduce the euonymus, this seems to have helped the ornamental quince as it’s full of the prettiest orange flowers. These are intertwined with the yellow pompom flowers of the kerria, a plant which has migrated from our neighbours. I like the boldness of the two colours together, but then again this shouldn’t be a surprise as orange and yellow was one of the hair colourings I experimented on before settling on, what has become, my normal pink and orange. (It looks way better than it sounds, trust me).

Elsewhere in the garden there’s other signs of new life. The cherry tree at the back of the garden - the one that was hosting the vine and the grapes last summer - also has buds ready to burst out. The blossom, which is being blown about the garden as I type this post, is white and pretty, but not as pretty or spectacular as the pink cherry blossom that people flock to Greenwich Park for.

There’s reminders of how hardy plants are. This primrose looks a little nibbled, but is steadfastly growing alongside a geranium which has died back over winter, while nestled in its pot in a sheltered part of the garden.

Just along from the pot nestled at the base of the tree with its burst of burnished yellow is the new growth of the pyracantha. Its thorns sharp and ready to make their presence known, as I teased them back to the supports on the fence, and through the wire trellis to give some privacy.

The ground at least was soft so unusually we were able to get this spiral support in for the rose closest to the house, normally I miss doing this and the rose bends forward for the light and they end up growing more horizontally than vertically, which also puts them in peril of MOH’s lawn mowing skills.

I’ve already shared photos from my garden in April, so head over there to see how things progress.

Scents and memories with Sussex Special Candles

This post contains items gifted from Sussex Special Candles

There’s something special about lighting a candle isn’t there? For me it’s a good way to treat myself, and make the time feel more special than a usual evening, lighting a candle while in the bath is a way of helping me relax more easily. And scent evokes memories, just as taste and visuals do.

Recently I’ve been trying these Sussex-inspired candles from Sussex Special. When I saw them I was struck by the idea of replicating scents of places that I’d been, or as you’ll find out, wanted to visit. These handcrafted candles are made with a blend of natural ingredients inspired by the elements of nature you’ll find in Sussex.

I chose the Borde Hill Gardens and Brighton Essence candles and for quite different reasons, but more of that in a moment. The candles are made from 100% natural soy wax which is non-toxic, plant-based and long-lasting.

And the candles don’t disappoint. They’re good value at £12.95 each and arrived promptly and well packaged. For me that’s always a good start, once I’ve decided to order a product I’m less good waiting for it to arrive, and when it does I want the packaging to not only protect my new item, but look appealing too.

What I didn’t expect was information on candle care to be included to help get the most out of the candles. For example, the first burn of the candle should be long enough for the entire top layer of wax to melt preventing tunnelling - I’ve had candles which just burn down the middle which is disappointing, but these don’t. The website also advises that natural wax candles burn slower and are more temperature sensitive than paraffin candles, and much more.

Memories of childhood trips to Brighton

As kids growing up in South London, Brighton was our nearest seaside town and was frequently our Sunday afternoon trip in good weather. With us all piling into dad’s car for an afternoon by the sea - each of us wanting to be the first to call out that they’d “seen the sea” - something that still happens now, even though my parents live by the sea in Norfolk - it never gets old! Family traditions don’t, do they?

I’m sure our trips were full of the traditional “are we nearly there yet” type questions, and the challenge of finding a parking spot on the seafront and while tricky then I’m sure it’s nothing like trying to find a parking spot today. In fact I suspect cars can’t even park where we used to back then. We’d walk along the stony beach whatever the weather, we’d walk along the pier with me trying not to fall down any of the gaps (in reality there was no chance but I wanted to be sure).

We might wander through the Lanes, window shopping and then we’d head back to the car and back home again, often in traffic - but not like the traffic of today I’m also sure. Such happy trips, such happy memories.

So having a candle that could evoke these memories and more is a great idea - and it smelt great too. There was definitely the fresh, salty smell which gave this the uniqueness that you’d expect. I realised that the majority of my candles are wintery type smells, the smells that evoke warmth and snuggling in front of a fire, but this candle was much lighter and in a sense, more invigorating.

New memories to make

In contrast the second candle I chose is somewhere I’ve not yet visited. Borde Hill Gardens has been on my ‘to visit’ list for a while yet, but somehow we’ve not got there. I mean, I know it’s not just going to happen but I haven’t made it happen either. It’s not actually that far from us, and even closer to where my MIL lives, but isn’t that so often the case? Places nearby are the places we never quite plan well enough to get to.

It’s an independent garden - which I always enjoy - and the gardens planted are as “living garden rooms” which I’m pretty sure will equate to plenty of photos!

As you’d expect this one has a floral scent, who wouldn’t want to smell the roses, but there’s also a mix of sweet and spice too. If the candle smells this good, then I can’t wait to actually visit the gardens. I’m definitely going to make this visit happen.

The candles are in pretty glass jars which are about 8.5 cm high and 6 cm square. This is smaller than candles I’ve had in the past, but with each candle having a 35 hour burn time, their reasonable price and sustainable credentials and with the opportunity to support a family business, I think they’re good value and would make a lovely present for friends, family or yourself.

* With thanks to Sussex Special Candles for providing these candles for me to try for the purposes of this review, all views and opinions are my own.