Chelsea

Back from a few days in London, and an excellent day in the sun at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on Wednesday. The show gardens were mostly subtle, subdued even, this year: Yellows and soft greens from the euphorbia; blues and purples predominating, with accents of pure white from the lace-cap hydrangeas

Favourite garden? The People’s Choice Award winning “Yorkshire Garden” had a real sense of place. Amongst all of the hubbub of the show, I was transported for a brief while back to the calm and peace of the North Country. Magical: A garden with real soul

The Great Pavillion was, as always, a total sensory overload: Colours, scents and sounds all turned up to eleven… The Empire Windrush and Grenada stands overwhelmed with their vivid caribbean colour; the David Austin and Peter Beales stands with the scent of their roses; the sounds of enthusiasts enthusing about their enthusiasms always warms the heart, especially when it comes to plants

So, back to a damp Cotswold morning. No chance of getting the grass cut today so we’re off up to Hidcote Manor Garden with the sister-in-law, visiting from Belfast, for another hit of horticultural heaven