Summer Gardens

It's the height of summer and therefore the time to enjoy your garden the most.  I have a typical country cottage garden, high maintenance, lots of roses and climbers that require constant pruning and training.  I do love it though and I think the gardening bug caught me as soon as I moved in to Beech House, it is a truly relaxing past time. 

However, the busier I become (and a baby daughter on the way) I'm focusing on down scaling everything in my life and making things as easy as possible - for the time being anyway!

With this in mind, I have fallen in love with simple and stylish garden design.  I'm thinking lots of simple topiary that looks super chic and tasteful, some potted, some not... 

 

Top tips to achieve this look:

• Keep to a clean and classic style, with stylish and simple furniture 
• Up-lighting is an absolute must
• Choose a simple colour scheme to avoid that 'fussy' look, think simply green and white
• Use an outdoor fire for a focal point.  Chimneys or firepits look equally as chic at a fraction of the price
• Use lots of green!

 

 

 Lighting is so important and I just love candlelgiht on a summers evening.  Our fabulous lanterns look so chic.  They are £35 each - buy here. 

Last of the Summer Soiree

So August bank holiday weekend is fast approaching, a weekend that symbolises, dare I say it...the end of summer!  So with this in mind I think we should embrace this extended weekend and enjoy some summertime living, even if the weather isn't up to scratch.  I'm thinking Pimms, sundresses and sombreros...erm, maybe we should leave the sombrero!  

Anyway with this in mind here are some gorgeous outdoor spaces to inspire you to create a summertime oasis of your very own.  

I just love fairy lights outside, they are festive, subtle and above all oh so elegant.  I have invested in some solar powered fairy lights this year that I have simply wrapped amongst the wall climbing plants and trees, so come nightfall they sparkle.  

The Butterfly Lane al fresco collection is just so chic (even if we say it ourselves!).  It looks like your most treasured crystal but in fact it's acrylic!  This collection can also be used for inside soirees throughout the rest of the year.  I like to get cost per use out of my purchases, so I know I'll be using the stunning salad bowl time and time again.  

View the full al fresco collection here

No party would be complete without the cocktail du jour, so here is a favourite at Butterfly Lane HQ, which was first discovered at The Booking Office at the St Pancras Renaissance.  I hope you enjoy it!  

The Champagne Cobbler:

1 slice of orange

1 lemon wedge

1 fresh, skinless, pineapple wedge

3/4 oz Maraschino liqueur

4 oz Champagne 

Muddle the fruit an Maraschino at the bottom of a bar glass.  Add ice and Champagne, stir gently and strain in to a Champagne flute.  Garnish with orange peel and serve.  Et voila!  

  

Anyway, here's hoping for a beautiful September so we can extend our summertime fun a bit longer.  

Remember to look at our new online boutique!  We hope you like it.  

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Summer Heat

Well, rather disappointingly the weather has turned to the chilly (and wet) side here in England.  One minute it is glorious sunshine and the next minute the Aga is on full blast for some well needed heat!  It is indeed Flaming June so I am not going to be discouraged from elements of blissful summer time living, and that is why I am completely inspired by these amazing outside fireplaces.  

What could be more beautiful than sitting in your gorgeous, but chilly, garden with a roaring fire blazing.

  

I'm telling you fires are not just for winter, they are a well needed component of your garden design, especially with the unpredictable British climate.  

Just imagine, a cocktail in hand, tapas on the table, a cashmere throw on knee, accompanied by friends and family...all gathered around your outdoor fire.  Forget 'Glamping' (aka Glamourous Camping),  this fabulous fire side attraction is so much more my cup of tea!

All images from the Butterfly Lane Pinterest Page

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Chelsea Flower Show 2012

This week the fabulously floral Chelsea Flower Show is in town and it is a must for all you garden lovers.  Or if like me, you don’t particularly have a green thumb, you are sure to appreciate the stunning floral displays on offer.  You might just stumble across a new flower to include in your arrangements at home.   Nothing makes a home more welcoming and cheerful than a flower display in my opinion. 

I don’t think you need to be of a ‘certain age’ to enjoy the event, as The Telegraph harshly reported this week.  Here at Butterfly Lane we think that everyone can appreciate the beauty that is showcased at this unique show.  I visited the event a couple of years ago and loved the array of styles, stunning outdoor furniture and initiative lighting concepts on display.  It is inspiring to say the least.  I am off later in the week for my second Chelsea Flower Show adventure, as a guest of one of the Butterfly Lane suppliers. What a treat! 

Cleve West's Garden, Chelsea Flower Show 2012

I do not have the gardening gene (well, it hasn’t sprouted yet), but I completely love and appreciate a pretty, stunning and most of all, neat garden and it is something that I’m sure I’ll learn more about along the way.    

As summer days are here at last (for the moment anyway) I have abandoned the interior of my house renovation and am completely dedicated to create a floral haven!  However, a haven it is not!  The patio has been dug up and is currently being re-laid.  Concrete, brick dust and lots and lots of noise, is not what I envisaged for one of the hottest weekends of the year!  Where is my sanctuary of calm to accompany a chilled glass of Chardonnay?  Hopefully soon it'll be ready and will be transformed in to a CFS worthy garden...erm, here's wishing!

Here are, in my opinion are the fairest gardens of them all.  Courtesy of The Chelsea Flower Show and many talented and green-fingered folk. 

In ode to my favourite of favourite beverages, I just love the simplicity of the Laurent-Perrier garden.  Full of dusky pink flowers to complement the sponsor's champagne.  It is gold award winning too!

The Mediterranean hits Chelsea with the gold award winning L'Occitane Immortelle, Corsican rocky inspired garden.  Give me some olives, a bit of bread and leave me in this garden please, just divine!  

What’s been your favourite garden on show?  It would be lovely to hear from you.