Thank you .. ‘Dirt du Jour’

for the glowing review! "Go ask Alice ... where all the best vineyard gardens are. She's an erudite charmer; you'll have fun!"
England

The Australian Garden: Chelsea 2011

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Show Garden: Chelsea Flower Show 2011

Design developed by Melbourne-based Jim Fogarty.

Australian Garden: Sand Dune Wall © Alice Joyce

Inspired by the celebrated Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbroune, the design illustrated the importance of water traveling from the parched outback region on a journey through rivers and gorges to Australia’s East Coast. An evocative wall element effectively conjures up images of burnt ochre sand dunes.

Australian Callistemon c. ‘White Anzac’ © Alice Joyce

A highlight of the garden’s fascinating plant palette: Callistemon c. ‘White Anzac.’

Chelsea 2011: Australian Garden © Alice Joyce

A sky-blue pond echoes the culturally significant shape of a boomerang, set amidst paths suggesting dry river beds. The pavilion, providing shade, is surrounded by a wealth of plants native to Australia.

Australian Garden plantings & walkway © Alice Joyce

There were many species familiar to a Northern California gardener, if not to most show visitors: Hybrid Kangaroo Paws (Anigozanthos hybrids); Westringia fruticosa – coastal Rosemary; woolybush; ‘Kalibarri Carpet’ Emu Bush; and Grevillea ‘Forinda.’

Sand Dune Wall © Alice Joyce

Other lovely specimens: Eucalyptus ‘Little Boy Blue;’  Prostanthera cuneata – Alpine Mint-bush; and the early-blooming vine draped across the blue wall of my front patio – outside the window of my office, Hardenbergia violacea or purple Coral-pea vine. Two gndangered plants were on display: Rhagodia parabolica and Swainsona greyana – Saltbush and Darling Swainson’s pea.

Sand Dune Wall Sculpture design by Valissa Butterworth.

Australian Garden Pool  © Alice Joyce

The bright blue of the Boomerang River symbolized the sky over the Outback, in contrast to the landscape’s iron-rich red sands.

4 comments - (Comments are closed)   England, Garden Touring, Horticulture, London   , , , ,  
England

Chelsea Flower Show: Horticulture Heaven

Horticulture Highlights in The Great Pavilion: Chelsea Flower Show 2011

Based upon The Temple of the Dawn – Wat Arun – located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River – the Fantastic Thailand display had the WOW-factor one comes to expect from arguably the world’s greatest flower show:

Fantastic Thailand Pagodas © Alice Joyce

RHS Chelsea. The creation of Nong Nooch Tropical Botanic Garden, the exhibit won Gold.

Fantastic Thailand elephants © Alice Joyce

A sacred site and iconic Bangkok landmark, the temple complex on-view revealed the cultural iconography of a vivid Thai landscape in the boldest hues;

Fantastic Thailand Dragon © Alice Joyce

dragons, elephants and shadow puppets demonstrating a floral arranging style that turned heads with a wondrous attention to detail. Petals and leaves from more than 100,000 blooms were used in this extravagantly exotic highlight, emerging at Chelsea in The Great Pavilion.

David Austin’s Rosa ‘Munstead Wood’  © Alice Joyce

David Austin Roses introduced 5 new varieties, but an earlier introduction caught my eye! My notes are incomplete, however, it’s  likely ‘Munstead Wood.’ Love the old rose form and heavenly fragrance I expect from Austin’s English Roses.

Chelsea 2011: Zandra Rhodes & Friends © Alice Joyce

Enlivening the David Austin exhibit, fashion designer Zandra Rhodes and friends brought their energy to the lavish formal rose garden display. A new David Austin Roses 2011 introduction: ‘Lady Salisbury’ is pictured below.

Lady Salisbury Photo: Austin Roses

If you’re drawn to color in the gardenscape – and I wonder if a gardener exists who is not to some degree obsessed with the shades and hues making up the garden scheme at home, then surely Chelsea dazzles with the very best in horticulture on exhibit; plant selections of every sort.

Allium nectarscordum – 2011 Pavilion        © Alice Joyce

Along with the sublime Meconopsis punicea in the Kevock Garden Plants exhibit, an allium stole my heart, and took pride of place in a variety of major show gardens: Allium nectarscordum.

The show sets the stage for dreams of plantings one might be able to bring together at home, be it in balcony containers or on a suburban plot. The skillfully balanced, atmospheric combinations of forms, textures and subtle to brilliant hues on view have a powerful effect. Although, design ideas might not be equally inspiring.  The Urban Gardens certainly present aspects to ponder, if the scale and fantasy aspects of show gardens are beyond the reach of most of us.

Waitrose Display  © Alice Joyce

Fruits, Veggies & Blooms In Color Coordinated Sections of the Waitrose display.

Chelsea 2011 Waitrose Display © Alice Joyce

Sharing only a few of the exhibits celebrating color, along with grow-your-own produce. And if now, you might be inclined to purchase from a Waitrose store.

Waitrose Display: Chelsea 2011 © Alice Joyce

Raymond Evison’s exhbit, as you’d expect, featured head-turning Clematis cultivars.

Chelsea Clematis Josephine Raymond Evison Photo © Alice Joyce

Evison Clematis and Interflora FTDA received Gold.

Interflora ‘A Sense of Perspective’ Display Photo © Alice Joyce

Interflora’s ‘A Sense of Perspective‘ exhibit designed by David Denyer called upon a gorgeous palette of plant material to create a contemporary composition in a gradation of hues.

‘A Sense of Perspective’ designed by David Denyer Photo © Alice Joyce

Click & Scroll to see more on Chelsea 2011

One comment - (Comments are closed)   England, Horticulture, London   , , , , ,  
England

Fab Food: London to Lewes

Travel always presents adventures in dining; hopefully locating a restaurant that satisfies on every level, from the overall ambiance and interior design, to the satisfaction of an excellently prepared meal.

After dealing with the crowds on opening day at the Chelsea Flower Show, I chose a nearby restaurant –   The Ebury – on chic Pimlico Road where I met T. for lunch and a carafe of Rosé, ready to relax and unwind.

The Ebury ~  Chelsea 

My favorite selection appeared on the A La Carte menu: Duck Confit, succulent and tasty. Tom sampled a three-course Set Menu for lunch: an enticing soup of the day followed by a main – he chose a delectable fish dish, and chocolate confection for dessert that I would have photographed, had I not been fully occupied with my meal.

There’s also a bar menu. And as I always seem to be looking for small plates at odd times of the afternoon or evening when traveling, I’ll return to The Ebury next time I’m in London to enjoy a cocktail along with light bites in the bar, such as haddock & prawn brandade fritters, or to share a wooden board of Farmhouse cheeses.

The Ebury    Photo: The Ebury

Attentive, unrushed service allowed us to savor our food and wine.

Traveling from London to Sussex for a countryside idyll in the area of the South Downs, the town of Lewes offered informal, tasty meals at Bill’s Cafe, Restaurant and Store.

Bill’s Cafe, Lewes (Photo: Alice Joyce)

Little did I realize that Bill’s has a London eatery in Covent Garden, as well as locations in Brighton, Reading, and Cambridge. You can see from the array in the cafe/store, the ‘decor’ is full of temptation. It’s a great place for a hearty breakfast, light lunch or lively atmosphere for dinner. Cream teas, of course.

Bill’s Cafe .. Lewes, England

2 comments - (Comments are closed)   England, Foodie Havens, London, Restaurants   , , , , , , ,  
Newer Entries  
HOME
  Older Entries