It was so satisfying seeing all the individual components come together to make our splendid books.
Take a look our step by step progress:
Sunday 10 June 2012
Book Binding
In search of a Saturday morning activity, I discovered a craft business called The Make Lounge based in Highbury and Islington. There were only three spaces left on their hardback bookbinding workshop. I booked at 8am and started the course at 10.30am. Our instructor Suzanne was great and took us through the steps which made the three and half hours fly by.
It was so satisfying seeing all the individual components come together to make our splendid books.
Take a look our step by step progress:
It was so satisfying seeing all the individual components come together to make our splendid books.
Take a look our step by step progress:
Wednesday 6 June 2012
Coleton Fishacre, Devon
A most spectacular National Trust Garden first laid out in the 1920's & 30's by Rupert and Dorothy D'Oyly Carte.
The Arts and Crafts style garden close to the house gives a degree of formality to this beautiful valley garden which leads down to a view out to sea. The water in the garden is spring fed, clay lined and dammed to create pools.
The garden contains a diverse collection of large specimens and unusual tree & shrubs.
The Arts and Crafts style garden close to the house gives a degree of formality to this beautiful valley garden which leads down to a view out to sea. The water in the garden is spring fed, clay lined and dammed to create pools.
The garden contains a diverse collection of large specimens and unusual tree & shrubs.
Tuesday 5 June 2012
Friday 25 May 2012
He is all around us!
I have been working a few days at the Chelsea Flower Show as an external adviser for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) assisting visitors with their gardening enquires while also promoting the great work of the RHS.
The RHS stand boasts a wonderful display of Royal Autographs surrounded by decorative botanical borders by eminent botanical artists of the time.
After a day of walking past this display occasional giving a brief overview to visitors. I found myself intrigued by one item in particular, feeling that I had seen it before. As I looked closely at the artist signature, it became clear. I was not familiar with this piece however I am with some of the artist other work. I was instantly excited by the find. Just a few quick images I took on my phone so sorry for the poor quality.
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If you would like to see Mr Bowles work along with other the RHS are displaying them at the RHS Garden Wisley please see below for details and dates.
Royal Connections - Celebrating Two Centuries of Royal Patrons The story of the RHS’s long association with the Royal Family can be traced through the archives, photographs and artworks held by the RHS Lindley Library. These include a unique collection of illuminated Royal Autographs with decorated floral borders, painted by leading botanical artists, as a celebration of this royal connection.
21 May to 19 August 2012,
RHS Lindley Library Wisley, RHS Garden Wisley
The RHS stand boasts a wonderful display of Royal Autographs surrounded by decorative botanical borders by eminent botanical artists of the time.
After a day of walking past this display occasional giving a brief overview to visitors. I found myself intrigued by one item in particular, feeling that I had seen it before. As I looked closely at the artist signature, it became clear. I was not familiar with this piece however I am with some of the artist other work. I was instantly excited by the find. Just a few quick images I took on my phone so sorry for the poor quality.
Reproduction of the Royal Autograph of Queen Mary (1867-1953)
Watercolour and ink on paper by E. A. Bowles (1929)
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If you would like to see Mr Bowles work along with other the RHS are displaying them at the RHS Garden Wisley please see below for details and dates.
Royal Connections - Celebrating Two Centuries of Royal Patrons The story of the RHS’s long association with the Royal Family can be traced through the archives, photographs and artworks held by the RHS Lindley Library. These include a unique collection of illuminated Royal Autographs with decorated floral borders, painted by leading botanical artists, as a celebration of this royal connection.
21 May to 19 August 2012,
RHS Lindley Library Wisley, RHS Garden Wisley
Wednesday 23 May 2012
A Scary Business
The hanging, unloved CDs have become, it would seem, an essential part of any allotment or vegetable garden to scare the unwanted attention of these 'feathered friends' from eating our seeds and cabbages.
What did we do, however, before the invention of these shiny discs?
In search of an alternative to scarecrows, CDs or bird tape, Nicola discovered references to a Victorian bird-scarer made from feathers and a potato which was hung by string from a pole.
After a successful trial last autumn of scaring birds and entertaining foxes with these new bird deterrents we needed to find an alternative this spring to our heritage variety potatoes, which are valuable and short-lived.
A broken brush handle cut down into 150mm (6") lengths and with small holes made by a wood drill bit down either side to allow for the feather to be pushed in.
.JPG)
To allow the bird to be hung, drill one hole halfway along to allow the bird to balance when hung.
What did we do, however, before the invention of these shiny discs?
In search of an alternative to scarecrows, CDs or bird tape, Nicola discovered references to a Victorian bird-scarer made from feathers and a potato which was hung by string from a pole.
After a successful trial last autumn of scaring birds and entertaining foxes with these new bird deterrents we needed to find an alternative this spring to our heritage variety potatoes, which are valuable and short-lived.
A broken brush handle cut down into 150mm (6") lengths and with small holes made by a wood drill bit down either side to allow for the feather to be pushed in.
 |
| James in surgery |
.JPG)
To allow the bird to be hung, drill one hole halfway along to allow the bird to balance when hung.
Thursday 17 May 2012
Tim Smit opens Victorian Glasshouse Range at Myddelton House Gardens
Last Wednesday, a year on from the completion of the two year Heritage Lottery Funded restoration project opened by the Duchess of Cornwall, Tim Smit opened our latest and most impressive Victorian Glasshouse Range. It was constructed by local contractor Cuttle Construction with the powder coated superstructure created by Alitex glasshouses. The launch marked a nine-month project, funded by the current owner of the garden, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
The discovery of the foundations in late 2009 will be a day I remember forever. Tom, our trainee gardener at the time and I started digging along the southern side of the potting shed in the hope of finding evidence of the original structure. We selected a location that we thought we would find the corner of the structure near a path in the hope that the foundations would have been left to help retain the path.
After digging down for nearly three feet we had still not found brick work, it was only with Tom's final throw of the spade that he hit something. It later turned out that we had found the southerly wall of the sunken house. As we chased and uncovered further footings the brick work continued to step up and within eight feet of where we started the foundations were only a few inches under the surface, and to think we very nearly stopped.
Tim Smit and the Lost Gardens of Heligan was the inspiration for my career choice at the age of thirteen when the discovery and restoration of this most magical and captivating Cornish garden was televised. Tim Smit is possibly not the usual hero of a teenager. Sixteen years on, and with the continuation of the restoration and development of E A Bowles' garden, I stood next to my hero. I felt very proud of the achievement we had all made in this garden, in which the spirit and soul of Mr Bowles still lives on.
I wish I could muster the energy right now to describe how wonderful this launch was. I find myself, however, quite exhausted from the day. I will leave you,therefore, to read the wonderful recollection of yesterday's event from Alitex's Laura Bradley on the Alitex blog and to share some of the photos of the big day. More to follow after a few goodnight's sleep.
http://www.alitex.co.uk/newsandevents/post/2012/05/17/A-Tulip-Tea-Party-The-official-opening-of-the-Alitex-Glasshouses-at-Myddelton-Gardens.aspx
The discovery of the foundations in late 2009 will be a day I remember forever. Tom, our trainee gardener at the time and I started digging along the southern side of the potting shed in the hope of finding evidence of the original structure. We selected a location that we thought we would find the corner of the structure near a path in the hope that the foundations would have been left to help retain the path.
After digging down for nearly three feet we had still not found brick work, it was only with Tom's final throw of the spade that he hit something. It later turned out that we had found the southerly wall of the sunken house. As we chased and uncovered further footings the brick work continued to step up and within eight feet of where we started the foundations were only a few inches under the surface, and to think we very nearly stopped.
Tim Smit and the Lost Gardens of Heligan was the inspiration for my career choice at the age of thirteen when the discovery and restoration of this most magical and captivating Cornish garden was televised. Tim Smit is possibly not the usual hero of a teenager. Sixteen years on, and with the continuation of the restoration and development of E A Bowles' garden, I stood next to my hero. I felt very proud of the achievement we had all made in this garden, in which the spirit and soul of Mr Bowles still lives on.
I wish I could muster the energy right now to describe how wonderful this launch was. I find myself, however, quite exhausted from the day. I will leave you,therefore, to read the wonderful recollection of yesterday's event from Alitex's Laura Bradley on the Alitex blog and to share some of the photos of the big day. More to follow after a few goodnight's sleep.
http://www.alitex.co.uk/newsandevents/post/2012/05/17/A-Tulip-Tea-Party-The-official-opening-of-the-Alitex-Glasshouses-at-Myddelton-Gardens.aspx
For the full 'Blue Peter' Tulip Tea episode please visit my blog soon.
Monday 14 May 2012
Chartwell by motorbike
Yesterday I rode the motorcycle down into Kent to see a house and garden I have been meaning to visit for years. Chartwell most well known for its previous owner rather than the splendour of the house or gardens.
Chartwell was purchased by Sir Winston Churchill in 1922, unusually without consulting his wife Clementine, for its magnificent views across the Weald of Kent.
The property and grounds, owned and managed by the National Trust, are made more interesting because of the views it borrows from the surrounding countryside, giving it a feel of a grand estate. Because of this the house, although impressive with some parts dating from the Tudor period, it does not equal the setting.
The interior of the house has 90% of the original furniture and laid out as it was during it hey-day in the 1920-30's. Some of the rooms we were able to look round were Lady Churchill's bedroom, Churchill's study, the library and a lift that was installed during Churchill's old age, paid for by Lord Beaverbrook.
The property and grounds, owned and managed by the National Trust, are made more interesting because of the views it borrows from the surrounding countryside, giving it a feel of a grand estate. Because of this the house, although impressive with some parts dating from the Tudor period, it does not equal the setting.
The interior of the house has 90% of the original furniture and laid out as it was during it hey-day in the 1920-30's. Some of the rooms we were able to look round were Lady Churchill's bedroom, Churchill's study, the library and a lift that was installed during Churchill's old age, paid for by Lord Beaverbrook.
The gardens comprise of a series of water-features leading into a large circular swimming pool before flowing into the lake which is home to Black Swans; terraced gardens which lead straight out onto mown parkland; a walled kitchen garden which elevates on the south-facing end up to a terrace which looks over the garden.
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