Read and rejoice!

It’s my stop today on the blog tour for The Invisible Women’s Club by Helen Paris. This five star read celebrates the power of connection and demonstrates the strength women can muster to achieve the impossible. The book’s main character, Janet Pimm, is used to being invisible. 70 something, with her beloved allotment for company,Continue reading “Read and rejoice!”

Feeling Blah?

It’s my stop on the blog tour for Feeling Blah by Tanith Carey. Before reading, I had never heard of anhedonia, which is when you feel more bad than good: This book will be useful for people who know they are not depressed but yet feel like they don’t enjoy life as much as theyContinue reading “Feeling Blah?”

A book celebrating the joy of front gardens

This book heroes 20 commonly found plants growing in the front gardens of one road in London. Ben’s observations in Grove Park – such as hollyhocks growing at number 92 being ‘serotonin for the summer soul’ – are insightful and full of joy. Ben takes us with him as he walks up and down theContinue reading “A book celebrating the joy of front gardens”

On top of the world

Brown Clee is the highest hill in Shropshire, standing at 540 metres. On the first day of our holiday, we (my husband, daughter and I) set off to the top from our Air BNB because a previous guest mentioned it was a nice thing to do. There was an OS map on the wall, soContinue reading “On top of the world”

How to add sculpture and texture to a garden

I love grasses and clipped topiary in a garden. They add sculpture and texture and when they are contrasted with floaty, fluffy flowers my heart sings. I visited The Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park last week, where I saw some great examples. Above are swathes of molinia grasses, which sweep across the lawn nextContinue reading “How to add sculpture and texture to a garden”

Dopamine & dedication at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is colourful, inspiring and an assault on the senses! I arrived at about 8.10 am on Tuesday, RHS Members Day, and walked through the iconic gates – this year decorated in dried and fresh alliums – to get my first floral dopamine hit. The first of many. I love theContinue reading “Dopamine & dedication at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show”

Recommendations for The Cactus Surgeon

I’ve been extremely grateful for the wonderful reviews readers have shared with me, and here are just some of my favourites: ***** A lovely book with some important messages about living well, a cracking read. I enjoyed this book a lot and read it in a very short time as it really pulled me in.Continue reading “Recommendations for The Cactus Surgeon”

Connections, Covid and Christmas lights

I travelled to Houston, Texas with my husband and daughter for Christmas, to stay with my husband’s auntie. We booked tickets before the Omicron variant emerged. In the week before we left, we were indecisive. Should we go? Sentences starting with ‘what if..’ endlessly ran through my mind and filled me with doubt. We veryContinue reading “Connections, Covid and Christmas lights”

Bigging up bulbs

I don’t believe in leaving things to chance. Luck doesn’t find me, I go out and find opportunities. And, in the same way, I engineer small wonders of nature in my garden. By small wonders, I mean anything nature does which makes me smile. It’s normally something that tickles the senses. Colour, scent, texture –Continue reading “Bigging up bulbs”