Spring inspiration

What a busy few weeks it has been, with scant time for making but lots of time for reflecting and being inspired.

It began with the former whilst house and cat-sitting in North Devon, where much time was spent reading in the sunshine (mostly) with long gazes out to sea. It was a perfect few days spent relaxing and appreciating nature. Plenty of beach, gorse and even a beautiful walk by a stream through the woods surrounded by bluebells, wild garlic and primroses. My favourite place? Probably this blue bench but can you blame me?

Next stop was the Cheltenham Jazz festival. I'm not sure if that was inspiring or reflecting. Perhaps in reflection, I can now say that I'm not a fan of 'avant-jazz' but it was fun, even if the Indian inspired street food stall was my favourite bit (aside from the company of course!).

Following that there was the May gathering of Craft Club where I chatted so much I only managed to half make a pair of trousers. You'll have to wait a few weeks to see them I fear. They are now in the sewing room along with the grey duvet set which is still awaiting its appliqué adornment.

However, the icing on the cake was the RHS Malvern Spring Festival - a true feast for the eyes. The show gardens were jaw droppingly beautiful and the flower tent (or should that be tents since it looked to be three giant marquees joined together) had some fabulous displays. I'm sure the following photos won't do it justice but I feel that I have to at least try to share what inspired me so much.

The Festival 'best in show' garden - a competition for new designers

Spot the Cheshire Cat in this 'Alice' Garden 

And the fun water feature

The Bees Knees! 

The Gift of Life - Organ Donation Garden

The path of life - if you say Yes to donation

The 'No' Path

The Journey Garden for St Michael's Hospice

A 'tapestry lawn' able to be mowed twice a year 

Cornerstone - with a great idea for storage in small garden

An Andalusian Moment - an incredible recreation 

The white houses are really just painted chipboard - amazing!

I certainly came away inspired but not quite empty handed. Well, who could resist a plant called 'Bunny Tails'?!

My first purchase

Planted at home (with room to grow of course!)

I also picked up some Ajuga Reptans 'Catlins Giant', featured in one of the show gardens, but it took us a while to track down one (or two!) to buy. These were the final plants to go into my much planned new trough for the front garden, which I'm proud to say got planted up this evening.

For gardeners out there (or more appropriately 'non-gardeners' like me). The Ajuga is the blue flowering plant at the front.  The climber is a Passionflower, which I'm hoping will cover the railings, eventually.  The bright green shoots are Crocosmia, dug up from my friend's garden when she was having new paving laid and handed over to me last Autumn in a plastic bag. Not quite a show garden but a welcome splash of colour, with hopefully more to come as Spring moves into Summer. Now I need to go an clean the soil from beneath my finger nails - strangely satisfying, probably because its evidence of having done something a tiny bit creative.