MSH Backup

As we inch towards the winter, I'm finding myself rather bereft at the prospect of not being able to spend as much time in the garden as I'd like to, especially after having such a successful summer in terms of how many new planting projects came to fruition. Whilst I'm already mulling over which blooms I can get ready for growing next spring, over the weekend I was lucky enough to happen upon the perfect autumn stopgap for keeping my green fingers busy- the RHS' Flowers & Flea Market, held at Flat Iron Square in Southwark: Marrying lots of vintage treasures for breathing fresh life into your interiors with plenty of inspiration for autumn and winter planting, the Flowers & Flea Weekend really was a one-stop-shop for the new season, whether you were on the hunt for some stunning archive prints, classic crockery or heavenly houseplants to inject a splash of colour now that the darker evenings are upon us. There was a bounty of beautiful secondhand goodies to have...

One of the highlights in my calendar each year is, without doubt, making an annual pilgrimage to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Since I first visited back in 2014, it's been a place which has become semi-sacred in a way- a plant lover's paradise, and one which is really worth seeking out- even in sweltering hot temperatures. This year the show was, as ever, full to the brim with beautiful blooms, inspiring installations and an abundance of glorious gardens- and visiting on a weekday gave us lots of opportunity to explore with a bit more time, avoiding the crowds of the weekend to take it all in at a more leisurely pace: Starting off with our now customary jaunt across the river from Hampton Court Station to the showground, it was lovely to see (even from a distance), so many exhibits- most notably, The Butterfly Dome, making a welcome return to the show after debuting last year. It's a wonderful space, and one which I think is really well positioned near the begi...

Last weekend, I made the most of a leisurely (and surprisingly sunny!) Saturday by paying a visit to the beautiful RHS Wisley. Surprisingly (especially given that it's not too far away from where I live), it was my first visit to the gardens, in search of some botanical inspiration, as well as to visit the beautiful Butterflies in the Glasshouse exhibit- the perfect tropical antidote to the winter blues, and a wonderfully relaxing way to wile away a couple of hours: Housed in a specifically constructed Tropical Zone, this rainforest-inspired habitat is dominated by soaring palms and beautiful blooms including orchids and hibiscus- a real treat given that they're extremely tricky to grow in the garden! There's something really magical about being immersed in a living, breathing environment, especially when it gives you the opportunity to encounter so many rarely seen species from all over the world, in a wonderfully curated space which really is the perfect antidote to the w...