RHS Malvern Spring Show

I am blessed where I live as I discover more, (even though I have lived in the Cotswolds for over 30 years) I have never really explored it.

But in the past couple of months I have wanted to do things outside either my comfort zone or just trying something new and I have began researching places a lot closer to home.

I have been twice before to the Malvern Flower show and I knew it would be great day out and I was definitely not disappointed.

So I made a picnic, I had my trusty knitting with me and off I went.  It is always a beautiful drive heading towards the Malvern Hills which to me look like a theatre set of hills that have just been painted on the otherwise pretty flat landscape that surrounds me.

The Three Counties showground is literally at the base of the hill range where you can see from one end to the other, one day as my fitness progresses, I would love to try and walk it.

For the whole four days the show is on it will be blessed with beautiful weather.

Once I got my bearings I headed for the Floral Marque to start with.

Now to follow a whole lot of beautiful floral images taken from within this tent.

There was also an amazing selection of cacti and indoor plants.

I loved this one as it is the shape of my first name!

I also love these planters.

Once I had wondered around the area for a while I decided fresh air was called for, as even though it was a Friday and I naively thought it may be quieter, it most certainly wasn't!

So I found a little spotted where I could see the hills and got out my flask and knitting.

Feeling refreshed I was ready to have a look outside at the showgrounds and other exhibits and stands, they even had some amazing classic cars.  I could not get over how huge there are!

They even had a blacksmith working away.

Then I came across Paul Burton Sculpture stand where Paul creates the most stunning sculptures.

He asked me if I could take an image of his sculpture in the show ground next to his stand which I was happy to oblige.  Hope you like them Paul!

I also loved the RAF garden.

I also came across a beautiful knit stand Aran Crafts where the garments are made in County Kerry, Ireland.  Having looked at the website, oh my I think I may just have to invest sometime in a Mucros Hat they are soooooo me!!

As cable is one of my favourite stitches I just had to have a look at the jumpers they had on display. I loved the label detail telling you what the different cables represented too.

I find this fascinating and when I next come to designing will definitely do some more research.

I ended up only purchasing two items, one of which was a calendar by an incredibly talented artist who lives at the base of the Malvern hills, I so can't wait to view this when the time comes, but for now it has gone away till the new year as a surprise!.

But my other purchase after seeing the beautiful stand was a Clematis for my very bare fence as the one of the ones purchased from a chain store just has not taken.

Again I was amazed to find how close the nursery that grows them is to me, literally only 10 miles away!  There stand was just beautiful and the knowledge they had is outstanding.  The website explains that Thorncroft have been running and specialising in Clematis for over 30 years and is a family run business.  They also hold twelve Chelsea flower show Gold medals which you can read more about here.

There is pretty much no where that you can not grow this plant I have discovered and why not when they have such variety.  

These two varieties caught my eye and made me return to the stand to make my purchase.

To me the colours are just exquisite!

I did however come away with Clematis x Aromatica which can be grown in a pot, grows to maximum of 4ft with the most beautiful vivid purple flowers which I can't wait to see.

Here it is in situ 

My own Clematis which I have had for many years is currently looking beautiful.

So I hope you have enjoyed reading and seeing all the pretty images, I will leave you with one of the other highlights of the show for me which was the steel band.

Until next time..... 

 

The City of Wells

So over the Bank Holiday weekend I took a day off and headed 50 miles from home down to stay with my Mum who lives near Bristol.

One of the places she loves to visit is the city of Wells in Somerset.  

It has great childhood memories for me with the drive there I used to cycle with my Dad and we once did my longest cycle from our home up to a place called Priddy Pools which is right on the top of the Mendips.  

It is about a 2 hour cycle to get there and I will always have such clear memory of Dad putting his hand on my back and helping me up the hill.  Every time if I cycle and I'm struggling to get up a steep hill I just imagine Dad pushing me and it spurs me on.

This is a picture of Priddy I hasten to add not taken by me but a beautiful image I wanted to show.

Mum has the most amazing memory of places they walked, Dad worked for the Ordinance Survey and if their was a walk to be had, or a footpath to find, he would find it!

It was interesting finding somewhere to park as it has been many many years since I last drove to Wells. In fact the last time was also when the market was in town and I got my trusty knitting basket which I adore.

So by the time we got there it was time for lunch and what better place to have lunch than with Wells Cathedral as a back drop!!! I mean just Wow!!

We had lunch and a good old natter.  

Then as we were leaving a big congregation of people came out of the Cathedral including the Archbishop.

We had a wonder through the market and I was treated to an Aloe Vera plant to add to my lovely houseplant collection.

Then we headed to the Bishops Palace Gardens which I can't recommend highly enough, it is just the most peaceful and inspiring place.  On route we passed a very talented pianist who played so beautifully that I wanted to share with you.

Isn't it just beautiful.

Before we entered the gardens we were saw the Swans and there new signets too.

You can't do anything but say ahhhh when you see the little babies.

This is the entrance to the gardens where behind me is a lovely café which does the loveliest cakes and drinks.  This very precise lawn doubles as a crotchet lawn, although I am not sure when they ever play on it.

I love this view through this window. 

The buildings date back over 800 years with more information here if you would like to go and have a look for yourself.

Mum and I loved the doorway which she modelled just how much more petite in height than some people are now as she is 5ft 2" and she fits perfectly!!

I then ventured off for a little while with my camera, while Mum found a lovely spot to sit and knit.

To get to part of the gardens you go through an entrance in the surrounding of the palace wall down a walkway that runs parallel with the moat that surrounds it.  As you come round one side of the building you are greeted by the most stunning view of the Cathedral.

The sound of the waterfall, the reflection in the water, and the majestic huge building that is the Cathedral is just stunning.

So I walked over the bridge and the waterfall and came across the community allotment.  I mean wow what a place to have an allotment! 

I then walked through the gardens and came across this area that was left to grow naturally with Tulips and Bluebells just popping up through the grass.

This was I think one of my favourite parts of the gardens, it was just so quiet and when you sat down at the flowers level it was like you could be in your own private woodland.

Throughout the gardens there was also paintings and this was by far my favourite. I would love to have that on the wall in my home.

Finally we came across this sculpture which represents a Swan, I just loved that when you looked at it from different angles it looked higher on one side, then higher on the other.

I hope you have enjoyed my photographic tour of Wells and will leave you with Stanual my Campervan when we stopped off at a scenic part of the drive home on the outskirts of Wells.

Until next time......