Losing an hour (or two) to pottering

* I was invited to the Garden Press Event, a one day show which connects garden product suppliers with garden media, therefore I’m marking my blog posts from the event as 'Ad’ though as usual my views and opinions are very much my own.

One of the most enjoyable parts of gardening for me is a good potter. The ability to lose an hour (or two) to doing just that and to be productive (mainly) at the same time is a great feeling. Don’t get me wrong, seeing the results of your hard work, eating anything you’ve grown and enjoying the flowers is good, but a good potter is priceless - and good for your soul.

So whether you want to potter in the greenhouse, sowing seeds, weeding, tending or watering your plants, filling the bird feeders or however you potter, it’s time well spent, and it can be even better - and easier - with the right tools, and all the better for ones which look good too.

There were a number of brands at the show - all household names - that were displaying some gorgeous items, and I’ll share a selection of those by Burgon & Ball, Crocus and Dobbies in this post which you can expect to see in garden centres and online this season.

A colourful display of planters, pots, watering cans, gardening gloves & a green house caddy

BURGON & BALL

I loved the bold stripes of the planters from Burgon & Ball, and I’ve got my eye on some of these more decorative items for my ‘front of house’ greenhouse when I get around to it. But also the hand tools look great and the wooden handles are always a favourite, as they feel so good in your hands (obviously without the functional gardening gloves!).

BURGON & BALL

The Crocus stand had a lot of items that caught my eye - and it’s also likely to be a dangerous place for my purse at some point. I loved the fat ball feeders and the tea light holders, which will bring immediate height and impact to any part of your garden. I’d be tempted to use these in pots around the patio so that we get to see them as much as possible.

CROCUS

CROCUS

But there was so much else - mini Victorian Greenhouses, wire cloches and the tiniest terracotta plant pots, along with the pretty yet entirely functional sieve and dibbers. It’s just as well these things weren’t for sale on the day, as otherwise I’d have been turning up to meet MOH for dinner fully laden!

CROCUS

I was also pleased to see the mushroom kits, which MOH has toyed with previously. So far we’ve resisted, but I think there is some mushroom growing in our future at some point. Though I can’t help but remember that Clarkson’s Farm episode where he is inundated with mushrooms, as of course he never does anything by halves does he?

CROCUS

And finally to the Dobbies stand which had cleverly included bird song as part of their stand - and indoors in February, before any hint of spring showing itself, that was very welcome.

DOBBIES

It’s a big year for Dobbies as they are celebrating their 160th year of helping British gardens to grow - they have released a heritage range to celebrate this which takes its inspiration from the roots of their business as a seed merchant. The print was chosen by customers from a selection of designs from an original Dobbie & Co seed catalogue dating from 1906.

They have also partnered with Alzheimer’s Research UK and are working together to protect memories for the future by promoting brain health and funding research that will lead to a cure for dementia.

Gardening is a great way to show our brains some love, and this can help reduce the risk of dementia and together Dobbies and Alzheimer’s Research UK will inspire people to keep their brain healthy through gardening and garden living.

DOBBIES

While there is no sure fire way to stop anyone from getting dementia, there are things we can do that may make it less likely that we will:

  • Ask your doctor to check your heart health, including blood pressure and cholesterol and follow their advice if they are too high.

  • If you have diabetes, keep to your doctor’s advice.

  • Don’t smoke.

  • Keep your weight healthy.

  • Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.

  • Keep using your brain - through activities or social groups you enjoy.

  • Stay active and try not to spend too long sitting down.

  • Drink less than 14 units of alcohol per week.

Source: Alzheimer’s Research UK

DOBBIES

You’ll see the heritage print on their limited edition collection including tote bags, cushions, candles, throws and more - and given that the design is over a hundred years old, I think it still looks quite modern - and it’s a good sized tote bag, which I used on the day and have used since too.

As I said, you really can’t beat spending an hour (or two) pottering, trust me.

Love this #74: Made in Uganda

You'll know that I'm a recent convert to Homesense following the gloriously fake bouquet of peonies I shared earlier in the year, well today I'm sharing something completely different from their sister store TK Maxx.  I've shopped there occasionally and have had great success with Christmas decorations and notebooks, but until now their homewares haven't tempted me into the store. 

But this "Made in Uganda" range could be doing just that, and I'll tell you why. When I read the press release my eye was taken by the vibrant and colourful designs, you'll know I'm a fan of colour, but it wasn't just that there seemed to be something more to these items - and I wasn't wrong.  

I discovered that TK Maxx has been working with the Rwenzori Trading Company since 2008 and since then have enabled more than 10,000 children to go to school, and every purchase made in the UK goes towards providing skills and employment so parents can support their families and send children to school. There's much more about the work they do, and the products on sale in the stores on the TK Maxx website - and there's plenty more gorgeous items there too.
Image credit: TK Maxx

Image credit: TK Maxx

So if you're looking for some colourful and relatively inexpensive homewares, then these are definitely worth a look. And what's more you'll be helping to make the world a better place too.

Image credit: TK Maxx

Image credit: TK Maxx

I've already spotted some large horn bowls in the press release, which sadly I haven't been able to find a picture of, nor have I been able to find them in my local store either. I've seen though that another store that's not *too* far away is a stockist for these items, so I've a feeling I may be heading their way to take a closer look.

And hopefully I'll leave with the bowls that caught my eye. Or maybe a basket or two, because I'm sure they're like notebooks in once you have them, their use becomes apparent.

What do you think of the range?

* This is a collaborative post, but all views are my own