Metal still makes the headlines for design.
Sculpture is also a must.
Cottage flowers are having a revival.
Lupins are back.As are Iris, peonies and geraniums. Purple is very popular.
Make a statement with a dramatic metal bench.
Do not think that you cannot do this in your own garden.
Take a look at the gardens and think how you can adapt them
Instead of going to the Chelsea Flower Show I visited the Monet Exhibition.
I have looked at his paintings many times before.
However, I now have the added interest of trying to paint myself.
What caught my imagination was the use of colour.
The views of the Thames were alive with colourful skies.
Later ,reflections of cliffs in sea water provided another point of interest.
Landscapes showed areas of light and dark.
We often dismiss the familiar without giving it proper attention.
This was true of my view of Monet.
This exhibition showed me that you can continue to learn from a great artist.
You need to look at their work again and again with renewed interest.
Yesterday I had a wonderful surprise when I visited The Walled Garden at Clumber Park Notts.
This is a gem that I had not visited.
They have recently renovated the Victorian Green house, which must be on of the longest in the country.
Displays of old machinery are mixed with a variety of fruit trees along the walls.
Outside the garden has both plant borders and orchards.
A friend was fascinated by the ‘step over” fruit trees.
When you need a break the Gardener’s house will provide good food in a perfect setting.
We all need special days in our lives.
A visit to The Kitchen Garden at Clumber Park is a must for this.
After a delayed Spring things are growing fast in the garden.
This is matched by my recovery from illness.
It is a case of starting the day out in the garden.
This may be looking at what is happening or getting to work.
Tulips have finished.
They can be removed from pots to make way for summer flowering plants.
I leave them in a place to finish off growth.
Later ~I will store the bulbs for next year.
Meanwhile Stocks, Antirrhinums and Wallflowers make a good display.
This year I bought new Hellebores to bring on.
In the borders I have many colours of Geraniums.
These look super with Aquilegias.
Bluebells add to the display.
The Bird Cherry is full of flowers.
I hope that I have painted a picture of a truly lovely Spring Garden.
The sun is out and it is going to be a good weekend.
Because of the recent bad weather , the jobs in the garden have been piling up.
Now is a chance to get them done.
These include:
Washing down the patio to get rid of grime.
Spraying roses to stop bugs eating them up.
Perhaps renovating patio furniture ready for the good weather.
Bringing in spent tulip plants and replacing them with new plants.
I am going to make a second attempt with Sweet Peas.
Dead heading flowers on the Camillia.
Weeding.
However, as we have waited so long for some sun, do not forget to make time to enjoy it.
