London is having epic thunderstorms recently.
It was midwestern USA level of lightening.
This was the calm before the storm.
Millie does not like the storms.
I really feel for her.
If it continues, I am thinking of getting her a thunderstorm jacket to comfort dogs.
But on the day I visited Chelsea Flower Show, the weather was superb albeit there were those flying thorns all about poking everyone's eyes.
This year there were more bonsai stands than other years.
The standout plant for me was this wisteria bonsai.
I am surprised it didn't win an award though the stand as a whole did get a gold.
This year was better than last year but there were many more selling stands and the show and artisan gardens were still lacking in the numbers and were replaced with people flogging man caves, greenhouses, and champagne.
We all love a Japanese garden but each year they seem to go OTT in the Japanese token tea ceremony hut. They really throw every single element and now I find this a bit schmaltzy.
The one thing I noticed this year as a trend was the sparse planting with lots of visible dirt.
I think they refer to it as Queen Anne planting?
It isn't my thing.
Seeing dirt like that makes me feel a little flat.
This winter has been tough so was just thankful that my plants came out.
Except for my jasmine which only bloomed one flower so I am nursing it.
Native roses always do well.
Hardy stuff those roses.
Clematis came out but I find them a little complicated.
Meanwhile, the sunken garden in Kensington Palace is really becoming a feature more and more.
These boughs brought in a while back is really coming into its own and I love walking through them.
Such great vantage points from each aperture spaced about 5 meters apart.
This year they opened a tea cafe on the far side of the sunken garden.
It is very touristy but it does give you this view of the palace and gardens.
Speaking of royals, I went to watch Harry's wedding at a club.
Think kind of like a sports bar but for weddings.
It was a chic central London club but this duster broom stood out to me.
The duster looks better face on - its good side.
Don't have anything too unique to say about the wedding.
But then I don't buy into kool-aid nor hopium.
As you all well know.
It was very entertaining to watch but when people were saying things like,
"Oh my gosh - look how he looks at her! He must love her!"
I did wonder how many weddings these people had gone to where the groom punches the bride?
But the U.K. has gone all weird.
Look at this poster I saw on the tube.
Holy crap.
Most of us don't bother talking to some family and friends.
On one hand, think tanks and government funded initiatives are trying to make us speak to each other.
But about what when everything is twisted, accusative, and one is constantly being told rather than engaged to speak to one another?
According to an article in this weeks FT,
asking a working woman with a family how she manages to do it is to be added to the long list of things you are not allowed to mention.
Sorry about the pic alignment here.
Apparently, Uranus is in Taurus which is a huge thing.
Don't know what really - I am learning.
But Kim Kardashian is speaking prison reform with President Trump.
Can you believe that KK will be the Jacqui O of her generation?
I might have to watch all the backlog episodes of the Kardashians!
Hope you had a great May and see you in June x