Inspiration

Over the course of the week I want to share my top pickings of this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

One of my favourite show gardens was the Vital Earth The Night Sky Garden designed and built by David and Harry Rich and sponsored by Bord Na Mona UK.

I loved the informality of this garden with the naturalistic planting, designed to echo the feel of the spiralling Milky Way.

The serpentine stone walls outline simple constellations and the boundary hedge reveals copper discs against a dark background, resembling stars.

Two dark pools of water symbolise black holes.

A spiral staircase leads up to a roof top space for relaxing and viewing the night sky.

The garden was inspired by the Brecon Beacons, one of the best places in the UK to view the stars because there’s little or no light pollution.

Years ago I lived on a small Greek island and the sky there was always amazing.  If we ever went to the beach at night and gazed up at the sky the mass of stars was simply amazing. We even witnessed a shower of shooting stars on one occasion which was absolutely mesmerising!

(Images: Lisa Cox for The Room Outside)

I’ve been at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show today so it was a very early start for me so that I could be there as soon after 7am as possible. Read more

I had a client meeting at RHS Garden Wisley last week and we were very lucky to be able to sit outside in the warm sunshine…we definitely picked the right day! Read more

It’s official, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show buzz has started and the big build up has commenced.  Yesterday was a hideous day of torrential rain so I have no doubt that everyone’s wading up to their knees in mud now. Read more

I had a frivolous day off yesterday to go walking with a good friend of mine.  We chose a route that would take in some bluebells and we weren’t disappointed.  The walk went from Milford to Godalming in Surrey and took in Winkworth Arboretum as well as many other bluebells woods along the way. I didn’t fancy carrying my SLR around with me, but did take some images with my pocket camera and they’ve come out reasonably well considering. Read more

Last Saturday we went for a walk in the Sussex countryside.  It took in the South Downs and also some of the rolling hills and farmland in the valley beneath. Read more

I hope you had a lovely Easter!?  We made the most of the good weather and went in search of bluebells.  They’re out early this year and, although they need a bit more time to be fully at their best, they still looked pretty spectacular. Read more

I’m excited to show you the finished article I’ve written for M&S Bank which went live on their website this week. Read more

On Tuesday I shared some images of RHS Garden Wisley, which is feeling very spring like now.  I took so many images of the spring flowers that I thought I’d share them with you in a separate blog post. Read more

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