Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

It’s been a while since I’ve ventured out with my camera, and indeed had the time to write a blog post, but yesterday we decided to venture over to Purton Hulks in Gloucestershire to visit the Ships’ graveyard.

I read about it sometime ago when Clare Balding wrote a feature in one of the Sunday supplements about a walk she did along the banks of the Severn and I’ve been meaning to go over there ever since.

Although the cold wind was rather bracing, it was a bright, clear and sunny day and great for some photos.

The Ships’ Graveyard is located along the bank of the Severn.  Between 1909 and 1965, over 80 barges, trows and schooners were deliberately beached in order to shore up the bank and save the neighbouring Gloucester & Sharpness Canal from erosion.

The Canal itself was created in 1827 to allow boats to bypass a treacherous stretch of the River Severn.

Now, I know this doesn’t really have anything to do with gardens but you’ll also know by now that I do get inspired by the landscape around me.  I became rather obsessed with the timber of one of the ships.

I love the colour and texture of the timber and old rusted metal.

Quite sad that the ships have been laid to rest here, but great that they continue to work for the good of the landscape.

I imagine it was much more spectacular 50 years ago before the silt and sand had been washed up by the tide.  If you’re ever in the area, it’s worth a detour, really interesting.

(Images: Lisa Cox)

Two months ago we were in Spain and I really don’t know how we’ve got to the end of November quite so quickly.  I’ve been rather remiss at writing anything here but, despite the delay, I still wanted to share some of the photos I took whilst we were away. Read more

I was supposed to be planting last week at one of my local projects but the ground is so hard and dry, and the weather so hot, that we have postponed it until we’ve had some rain.  Amazingly we haven’t had a drop here for over 3 weeks.  Even the promised thunder storm seemed to miss us last weekend. Read more

I’ve just returned from a week in Ireland where we had the most fabulous weather and were properly able to enjoy the amazing rugged landscape. Read more

It’s been feeling quite autumnal in South Wales over the past couple of weeks and we’ve had some gorgeous dewy mornings where the light has been catching the water droplets and lighting up the landscape. Read more

I can’t really believe that it’s two years since I built my show garden at the RHS Cardiff Flower Show.  This year’s show took place over the weekend and, as if by magic, the Amelanchier that took pride of place on my garden, came into full bloom. Read more

I don’t know about you, but I love being by the sea in the winter.  Somehow the rugged landscape is much more invigorating and the beaches are often deserted. Read more

I watched the first episode of The House That 100k Built last night.  I don’t know about you, but I think it’s one of the most inspiring programmes of its type on TV.  I especially love the way Piers Taylor inspires the use of alternative, sometimes waste, materials to create something really individual and inexpensive that elevates the design to another level. Read more

The run up to Christmas always seems to go so fast and I never really know why.  But I’ve been baking a lot this week too which probably hasn’t helped too much with getting my task list done! Read more

I was very fortunate to be introduced to Kate Patel this year who, as it happens, lives just up the road on the other side of The Wye Valley. Read more