Potatoes at Chelsea flower show, Peonies, and the Duchesse of Roxburghe at Sotheby's

I have been all things floral the month of May.
I celebrated with peonies.

The first batch of the season's flowers always seem to be the best crop.
These lasted 8 days and every stage was glorious.

My second batch were lovely but didn't last as long.

But unlike other flowers, peonies go through such a transformation of bloom and fade out their color.

After two days they were blush and then another two they turned white.

Chelsea flower show was fun although I wonder who would maintain this garden with mirrored inserts in its water feature.

As I wrote in my post about Chelsea Flower show, 
there were both good and questionable stands.
I liked this stand that planted in threes and had neat lines.

 This homage to Alice and Wonderland seemed a bit facile.
Fun but not very Chelsea flower show IMHO.

 These orchids were impressive but I just felt like I was in the airport in Bangkok.

There were some funny items.
I suppose there is an overlap in the Jilly Cooper crowd and gardeners.

 The surprising hit stand this year?
There were queues and I had to wait my turn to see what was so intriguing.

 Potatoes!
Mind you, wild, foreign, and old strain of spuds.

The best auction preview in May was the one at Sotheby's for the precious objects of the late Duchess of Roxburghe.  
It was all very Downton...

You would need a lady maid just to help lay out all the beauty utensils.

I loved the recreation of the home in the middle of the city.
So effective.

I enjoyed it more than a proper house tour because you could have a proper rummage through!

This was the bags and travel cases of her estate.

So much nicer than a BA tag.

There were a lot of folding screens but didn't even bother putting in a bid because I knew I would be disappointed and I don't have the room.

The bedroom was my favorite room they recreated.

Complete with tea in bed.

There was Sevres porcelain that I saw a lady who was recently engaged ask her mother to get for her wedding list. ( overheard conversation naturally)
 I wanted to ask what else she had on this wedding list!

The hit lot was this cupboard of vintage Irish and North European linens.

Some dealers were counting folds and measuring to see if they were getting value for money as they weren't allowed to unfold the sheets to inspect. They were bought as seen with ribbons.

These gowns piqued the interest of some theatre people.
I suppose they would make a great staple in a wardrobe that could rent these costumes out to film crew.

Her dinner porcelain was monogrammed but of no particular beauty.
And this is for someone like me who goes bright eyed even in the home section at Ikea.

England does shine ( not literally with sun ) but with flowers and bees in May.
Tis a great time to visit.

I need to write to the William Morris society because these roses were the best smelling roses I think I have ever smelled.

I am thinking about getting another climbing rose like this.

Don't you love how life sprouts out of the most unlikely places?

This mercury retrograde is really trying my patience.
So as a bone from the gods, they sent the builders twice to treat the rising damp in the loo.

Still not done but it's moving along.

This is funny because it is true.
It seems Americans love any accent other than their own.

I have seen men with no dating luck in London be swarmed in the states.

We had a few warm evenings and everyone was out to celebrate.

The curve of Regent Street has to be one of the most pleasing roads in London.

I don't know how to order at restaurants in terms of quantity.
I thought I was having dinner with a friend but I had already ordered.
Then he turned up with three more people and it turned out there was just the right amount for 5 adults.

Don't you like this old style phone?
I tried it but waiting for the dial to go back to neutral before I could dial the next number did my head in!

Here is to a great June for all! x