RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Thank you for all your kind messages left on my previous post...I am beginning to feel a lot better today - Hopefully it was just a virus that laid me low for a few days. It did mean that I spent most of yesterday snuggled beneath a quilt on our sofa in front of the television, and so I was able to catch the first programme on the BBC, live from the 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

A Postcard From Wales - Photo courtesy of the RHS website.

I was very excited to hear that this year they have introduced a new garden category, to join the 15 small gardens. It is an Artisan garden category, where designers are asked to be innovative with recycled materials for a sustainable garden to showcase their creativity. Having personally been a little disappointed with last years show (mainly because of the lack of traditional/cottage garden styles), I hope that this new set of small gardens will reignite my interest.

A Child's Garden In Wales - Photos courtesy of the RHS website.

I'm looking forward to dipping in to the TV coverage now and then over this week and hope to be inspired.

I needed a little fresh air this afternoon, so grabbed my camera to take a few quick shots of my own humble garden - Don't know if the high winds are affecting you in your area of the country, but things are a bit wild here...so I had to be quick!

I thought I'd include a few photos of some of the junk (recycled materials!) that we have used around our plot...An old oak post for its sculptural presence. The now disused chicken house is used as a log and kindling store for our fires. An old wardrobe mirror on the back wall reflects another view...can you spot it?...

Can you now?

Hello!

A lovely weathered chair makes an inviting perch...

mostly for our resident collared doves!

The wire work mannequin has almost been swallowed up by the dog rose this year...

More junk! Nothing to rival Chelsea though - I know!

A half-barrel pond.

One of my favourite roses. St. Swithun.

A rust smothered gate supports another yummy rose - This one is Blush Noisette.

Chimney pot planters feature heavily in our garden. I love the extra height they bring to a border.

A lidless bread bin is another pretty planter (sitting on a decrepit French chair!)

The 'push-me-pull-you' lawn mower supports some tall perennials.

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This wilder corner of our garden, that I don't show on my blog too often, has three apple trees growing there.

A ladder (a permanent fixture here) makes apple picking easy.

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Back towards the house again now...as you see...the washing is drying well on the line with these high winds...

The old sink from our cellar (now my workroom) holds my selection of culinary herb plants below..

Just for fun...

The rusty bed head on the house wall holds a collection of rusty metal pieces, weathered terracotta and beach finds.

A rainwater hopper for a sedum.

Every year the French table and chairs on our balcony have a re-coat of paint...On my 'to-do' list!

Out the front now, where there's more rubbish! I'd far rather re-use a damaged enamelware bowl as a lovely pot for pinks though, than to throw it away as no longer useful.

The crumbling wheelbarrow with punctured tyre is ideal as a plant container too.

Hopefully Chelsea will offer inspiration this year...I have a lot to learn when it comes to garden design, I know...but I do know what I like...and its not modern styles with expensive manufactured finishes.

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Its always nice to bring a little of the outside in, as well.

Have a great week,

Niki x