FLORALS? FOR SPRING?..
..Groundbreaking!
This week I really need an escape from Winter. It is deathly cold outside, the rain has been relentless for the past three days, and being stuck indoors because of the lockdown, life is becoming a little lacklustre. To help combat this, I thought it would be nice to talk about flowers.
I got lost down a Pinterest rabbit-hole whilst doing some research for my upcoming video for my YouTube channel and when I was thinking how I could lift spirits this week, it occurred to me that flowers cheer everyone. So even though Spring is just a little more than around the corner here in the Northern Hemisphere, we can all dream for a while until she makes her debut.
I thought I would share some floral inspiration today - from my favourite books, to my own photographs of gardens I have visited and loved. I hope you will enjoy x x
Cathy B Graham and I became friends after finding each other on Instagram. She had just released her brand new book ‘Second Bloom’ and was in London taking a break, so we decided to meet for Tea at Claridges, where she was staying. Cathy is such a fun lady, full of charm and completely hilarious - we hit it off immediately.
If you have not seen ‘Second Bloom’ I highly recommend getting a copy as it is really the most heavenly book. Cathy’s incredible illustrations are on the cover and throughout the book, as well as her stunning floral arrangements. It is a book that you will treasure for years to come.
Cathy at home in New York City
Cathy’s arrangements are always informal, delicate, and breathtakingly beautiful
A dressing table filled with bud vases which Cathy buys from eBay
A dinner party at Cathy’s is always a treasured occasion
One of the things I enjoy doing when I have free time in the Spring and Summer is visiting beautiful Gardens. Before moving to Edinburgh, my home was the Cotswolds - an incredibly pretty part of England which has some of the most beautiful gardens in the country. I loved nothing more than visiting a new garden every time I could, here are some of my favourites.
The Garden at Bourton Hill House in the Cotswolds is a small garden, but one of my absolute favourites
The House - a Georgian pile of golden Cotswold stone is often visible as you walk around the garden
Beautiful borders filled with Alliums
The basketweave pond is so charming
Enjoying the moment!
Another of my favourites - The Garden at Hidcote. It is now owned and managed by the National Trust. The garden is laid out as a series of rooms and there is something to delight around every corner.
Amongst the roses at Hidcote
It really is heavenly
The final garden I want to share is the walled garden at Buscot Park
The herbaceous borders packed with blooms
Peonies are probably my all-time favourite flower
The fountain is so handsome and the eye travels far into the distance
Finally, I would like to share a book that I have had for many years which always inspires me when I am in the mood for flowers and gardening - ‘Garden Inspirations’ by Charlotte Moss. Charlotte is a designer and style-queen who has released over ten books on design, entertaining, and gardens. This book is centred around her country home in the US, and how she uses the garden to influence all aspects of her decorating ethos.
I hope you have enjoyed this little escape to some beautiful gardens. I will see you on Friday for my latest episode on YouTube. If you didn’t yet catch my most recent upload -How to make tea sandwiches - you can watch it by clicking the link below.
