Spring Bouquets

I always love to have flowers around the house at all times of year - they can brighten up those gloomy days and dismal corners whatever the weather is doing. Spring time is always a lovely time of year to have some flowers dotted around the house - they can compliment and echo the early spring flowers that are blooming outside and bring the two together. Indoor flowers in spring are always a reminder of all that's to bloom and grow outside very soon. 

It's been especially busy in our household as I've recently launched my very first book, 'Life is for the Living' and then my book launch was closely followed by Mother's Day and Easter, so there's been lots of celebrating and I seem to have been thoroughly spoiled by friends and family during March with some very beautiful bouquets of flowers. 

The colours, mix of flowers and scents have been really be stunning: pale pink roses, carnations and lilies; deep blue hyacinths and brilliant golds; mixes of greens and pale peach roses and deep purples of verbena, bright pink gerberas and carnations offset with whites. 

My book 'Life is for the Living' is available on Amazon - £8.99 for a paperback and £3.99 for a Kindle version - all proceeds are for charities that have supported me through my heart and double lung transplant. The link is below: 

Amazon - Life is for the Living

Bournemouth Upper, Central and Lower Gardens

The gardens at Bournemouth run from the pier to the border of Poole, they are about 3km long and form part of the Bourne Valley Greenway. They are grade 2 listed by English Heritage. There are many year round activities in the garden including mini golf, art exhibitions and the Bournemouth Eye - a tethered balloon. 

There are ornamental ponds and streams, rockeries, pergolas and many beautiful flower displays. It was mid September when we visited, but the garden was still full of interesting and vibrant colour. 

Banks of golden rod flanked the stream and there were gorgeous displays of pink lilies in full bloom. Large arrays of pale and deep pink cosmos brightened up and filled the borders and beds and two of my late summer and autumn favourites - rudbeckia and anemones - made fabulous displays.

Walking from the upper gardens through to the lower gardens and then down to the pier and promenade made for a very pleasant stroll. I've included a picture of the lovely Cath Kidsten beach huts I came across on the promenade - well they did look cute and one is covered in flowers! 

 

Take a Look at Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland

Barnsdale Gardens are situated in the county of Rutland, Britain's smallest county. They are made up of a series of 39 individual gardens in an 8 acre site. They were used for the filming of Gardeners World, when Geoff Hamilton used to present the series. July is a lovely time to visit when many of the gardens are full of bloom and looking colourful. Here are just a few of the highlights we saw during our visit.

The Lands' End Garden. A vivid beach hut, gravel and vibrant crocosia in bloom, representing the seaside. 

Daisies making a cool display of colour. 

Terracotta pots and geraniums in the greenhouse - always a favourite!

Sit down and relax for a while!

Astilbes in a shady, cool pond area.

Flowering hosta in the hosta beds.

Beautiful lily opening out in the formal pool and knot garden. Can you see the tiny hoverfly?

Unusual little statue statue in the lily pool - trickling with water and weed.

Beautiful honeysuckle weaving over a trellised walkway. 

Raindrops on the lily!

The entrance to the Artisan's Cottage garden, my favourite garden!

There is always something about a terracotta pot in my eyes...

Quiet little reading area enclosed in roses.

Now I would love a water butt like this one!

Fragrant lilies and delphiniums giving some vivid colour in the borders.