All that glitters...

...is often gold, but sometimes silver too. I've just had some of my pieces framed, and thought I'd share a few pics of the finished works. My fabulous framer has done an amazing job, so here's a look at what's new:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOiM6wxavYIaG0RO5uczEDrn3cC1ug9tqKWBsZ8Zq5Tt9Hk3fsxnyAq4Y0q_3VIB5UC6kWidJu60qGmSk8keOk6xCFcnamf54AejJpr4YwlJ1Ny-drqhqMcnscG2Y4-pHyfhq4YLsexyy/s1600/pink+orchids+in+blue+watermarked+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOiM6wxavYIaG0RO5uczEDrn3cC1ug9tqKWBsZ8Zq5Tt9Hk3fsxnyAq4Y0q_3VIB5UC6kWidJu60qGmSk8keOk6xCFcnamf54AejJpr4YwlJ1Ny-drqhqMcnscG2Y4-pHyfhq4YLsexyy/s640/pink+orchids+in+blue+watermarked+resize.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">'Pink Orchids in Vintage Blue'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">original watercolour on paper</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">30cmx42cm </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...and here's a print in silver:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQprM7IXImSZUaOtKlvR7SJ3K4UiTbtcu-b_SetA67On-d7IcqdfO0a1ODVndQB_qgcoCR20Z_eQiM6nVnYfauzXNYlj8nVNsXtJQ4wohgvSEdHblPtlRjNgiJxUsssOyuaQOuQTCGqzN/s1600/pink+orchids+in+silver+bamboo+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQprM7IXImSZUaOtKlvR7SJ3K4UiTbtcu-b_SetA67On-d7IcqdfO0a1ODVndQB_qgcoCR20Z_eQiM6nVnYfauzXNYlj8nVNsXtJQ4wohgvSEdHblPtlRjNgiJxUsssOyuaQOuQTCGqzN/s640/pink+orchids+in+silver+bamboo+watermarked.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">This is now hanging in Mum and Dad's newly-renovated bathroom - I'll share all the pics soon</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">These pieces are commissions for a lovely client in Rockhampton. Teacups and Louis chairs.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOiIL2TYXZYmIKXyky8BH8wKgbWN9UaarbNE2aYryGwNXWbHalMfvPNQpk6x6xiHz2bXmouoVqRzDRuFBj3Y7OM-4yy4C6FbST2gOZcSRc113YvVi7FNKMHX6guqf4n5ubrGgP8gcBRsa/s1600/louis+chair+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOiIL2TYXZYmIKXyky8BH8wKgbWN9UaarbNE2aYryGwNXWbHalMfvPNQpk6x6xiHz2bXmouoVqRzDRuFBj3Y7OM-4yy4C6FbST2gOZcSRc113YvVi7FNKMHX6guqf4n5ubrGgP8gcBRsa/s640/louis+chair+watermarked.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>'Maddalena'<br />original watercolour on paper<br />40cmx50cm<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHN9HcXwla67tcS2xHyPkf2xTpCzyfX3jkHlTiYERZGluEaEDGea9q3ROnbPnWZN56GvVC_Jey_GUW9nSNbSjW_BgMq8zQmH6aghAM65I0y-ae0-XI2AVv2-oH-BYzSo3-TFxtZCm8DLk/s1600/teacups+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHN9HcXwla67tcS2xHyPkf2xTpCzyfX3jkHlTiYERZGluEaEDGea9q3ROnbPnWZN56GvVC_Jey_GUW9nSNbSjW_BgMq8zQmH6aghAM65I0y-ae0-XI2AVv2-oH-BYzSo3-TFxtZCm8DLk/s640/teacups+watermarked.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>'Divertimenti'<br />original watercolour on paper<br />40cmx50cm<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And look at this gorgeous orchid! My eldest daughter works part-time in a florist, so we're never short of beautiful blooms. This orchid is a stunner, and I think it would make a great subject for my next painting....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PVogpKxFbaT_mZbYufB7fL7YsFUpzLoGEK4Beo7DpQEony2rCG_8-L-0jhCyqX5m7Ey5ujBeRnqlWDi1Qj9sTz-_7-Enn8juyYoVjykEhdjRerviCBpOgbrRf3PfRIooxAiOGmXJ0J-1/s1600/cattleya+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PVogpKxFbaT_mZbYufB7fL7YsFUpzLoGEK4Beo7DpQEony2rCG_8-L-0jhCyqX5m7Ey5ujBeRnqlWDi1Qj9sTz-_7-Enn8juyYoVjykEhdjRerviCBpOgbrRf3PfRIooxAiOGmXJ0J-1/s640/cattleya+watermarked.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br />Pretty, no?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

All that glitters...

...is often gold, but sometimes silver too. I've just had some of my pieces framed, and thought I'd share a few pics of the finished...

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012 Highlights

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lucky me</div><div style="text-align: center;">I attended the <a href="http://www.rhs.org.uk/">RHS Chelsea Flower Show</a> this week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is always a mind-blowing event</div><div style="text-align: center;">that pushes the limits</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am always amazed by the creativity seen at this sold-out, five day show</div><div style="text-align: center;">that hosts 157,000 visitors over its 11 acres in London annually</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqI9bLJEcwKa7lIvT2R9bwg77ZzW3w6rQF5WoLLomMJcwGXiFLfzPSPfUMeYqLQSenYPZkk_-weQ70u_CzWcUuR0YDb1qF9VnbUFRMaGt-h0dslt-wQwk8oDUwO3gmsr3JjPkbg_JTMI/s1600/IMG_2119-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqI9bLJEcwKa7lIvT2R9bwg77ZzW3w6rQF5WoLLomMJcwGXiFLfzPSPfUMeYqLQSenYPZkk_-weQ70u_CzWcUuR0YDb1qF9VnbUFRMaGt-h0dslt-wQwk8oDUwO3gmsr3JjPkbg_JTMI/s640/IMG_2119-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Birmingham City Council </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a competitive event</div><div style="text-align: center;">with designers and growers vying for awards such as</div><div style="text-align: center;">Best Show Garden, Plant Of The Year,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and other 'best in show' categories</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see why it is the world's most famous flower show,</div><div style="text-align: center;">like a fashion catwalk in the garden world</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check this out...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ever wonder what an orchid tree might look like?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitgRkPvSj1QTY0Mr0Cn99MbYqC3t3jBxD7O3F0zfhRiQsv_vgM416vWNqJ9W1bklJFQVH-1p099MrWisQOWmkGNb-g4RmgOSSZaBMXiYphEAGbWHCY7xqq51WBCtfoohLDuMx3q9ZbF0/s1600/IMG_2092-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitgRkPvSj1QTY0Mr0Cn99MbYqC3t3jBxD7O3F0zfhRiQsv_vgM416vWNqJ9W1bklJFQVH-1p099MrWisQOWmkGNb-g4RmgOSSZaBMXiYphEAGbWHCY7xqq51WBCtfoohLDuMx3q9ZbF0/s640/IMG_2092-012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If I remember correctly, water-filled test tubes were hand-tied onto branches</div><div style="text-align: center;">to hold each orchid stem</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Magnificent! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Orchids were definitely popular this year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvCF1Oce6CXs1h1KmXTLTPC74-4MShREYMjLYhkyQu4OKnSVWv5l9j129odcXTr83CQGoiYOz_cC4Dul-ZJkFObwPGiriMcd3QqQliPogospAkH9SFQckh8b5UweyHdxdspGLHQEV-Vs/s1600/IMG_2099-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvCF1Oce6CXs1h1KmXTLTPC74-4MShREYMjLYhkyQu4OKnSVWv5l9j129odcXTr83CQGoiYOz_cC4Dul-ZJkFObwPGiriMcd3QqQliPogospAkH9SFQckh8b5UweyHdxdspGLHQEV-Vs/s640/IMG_2099-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big use of orchids by Pattaya City & Nong Nooch Pattaya Tropical Garden </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Loving this clever interpretation of Monet's </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bridge Over A Pond Of Water Lilies</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHrgCzBxGmFZQRLpcj_OeUJjf3_4SWvqTeHb9_tRJANwM5OWw_3xBzI4cr0bisUONQGCZchEMBE4_KFi771tJYy-dfMXBlP3pPdAFYLSdE-HHYTa2qXzkKZzCC6K3pqcSzGWCdqYKVZo/s1600/May+2012-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHrgCzBxGmFZQRLpcj_OeUJjf3_4SWvqTeHb9_tRJANwM5OWw_3xBzI4cr0bisUONQGCZchEMBE4_KFi771tJYy-dfMXBlP3pPdAFYLSdE-HHYTa2qXzkKZzCC6K3pqcSzGWCdqYKVZo/s640/May+2012-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made of plant material <br />by Inspired Impressions</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Larger installations were housed outside The Great Pavilion</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Depending on category, exhibitors had</div><div style="text-align: center;">two to three weeks to set up to make it look perfect</div><div style="text-align: center;">(which must have been difficult in the heavy rain of late)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Isn't this 'Plant Explorers Garden' just delightful?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cdhLIQN6hWmTDMi5gWSTh1ZgTX3FFM3if0UTc3ZJcP8YnrUWAQFGFJH1Ah__DKpiSiB11K5hnWioTJUDvKmMkj4DkHJ0mAuHK_sYfm77OwKW8tNqUulaMdQ3KYJKFly1rZhR4FWilxE/s1600/IMG_2163-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cdhLIQN6hWmTDMi5gWSTh1ZgTX3FFM3if0UTc3ZJcP8YnrUWAQFGFJH1Ah__DKpiSiB11K5hnWioTJUDvKmMkj4DkHJ0mAuHK_sYfm77OwKW8tNqUulaMdQ3KYJKFly1rZhR4FWilxE/s640/IMG_2163-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Scottish Agriculture College</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I must admit I was smitten by the Artisan Retreat section</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't you love to blog from here?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VKKF1EWHY26KRpkm3az6I5fPv0OepZFC-vBx7L_LqXe8dwfl9BmNA2O2Mbmv2lyLsCOClwQhLC1K3cud1pGut0aGDj29fbUCssCbK99YXVyVtEOf_VWU63mupnVcsMbELiEuFxDBFpk/s1600/IMG_2189-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VKKF1EWHY26KRpkm3az6I5fPv0OepZFC-vBx7L_LqXe8dwfl9BmNA2O2Mbmv2lyLsCOClwQhLC1K3cud1pGut0aGDj29fbUCssCbK99YXVyVtEOf_VWU63mupnVcsMbELiEuFxDBFpk/s640/IMG_2189-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Orla Kiely</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A huge fan of all things Orla, I asked if she happened to be there</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadly I missed her by a day</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at this a scrumptious space</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLI7ydqEUyo-GkGn4Tv4XoJhdLF1-fx6p0WiTJUxbLhpEPWtAIfXr6MmmxZUt1MlquILllYm5zlf4h1iPQjxwJpAL8BD5gNiHsiXG6K4f46YsKW3OqtPpOpB438TNnxJAjo5Tl9NdfMU/s1600/IMG_2195-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLI7ydqEUyo-GkGn4Tv4XoJhdLF1-fx6p0WiTJUxbLhpEPWtAIfXr6MmmxZUt1MlquILllYm5zlf4h1iPQjxwJpAL8BD5gNiHsiXG6K4f46YsKW3OqtPpOpB438TNnxJAjo5Tl9NdfMU/s640/IMG_2195-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by VV Rouleaux</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">And this one is so cheery and welcoming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp-RMK6k0HFt9CHEpq450a0uS3fI3oWs0G2bVgHWYOEHL78O4fq0rYCEFfNX25yJQYJYU6YKm2sHEDuYGoatPkEInbvPcHEpno6WxjEvRjwDo3w91tDcIpU9xN_AbiN3c8mPDoAxIWG4/s1600/IMG_2202-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp-RMK6k0HFt9CHEpq450a0uS3fI3oWs0G2bVgHWYOEHL78O4fq0rYCEFfNX25yJQYJYU6YKm2sHEDuYGoatPkEInbvPcHEpno6WxjEvRjwDo3w91tDcIpU9xN_AbiN3c8mPDoAxIWG4/s640/IMG_2202-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Kaffe Fassett</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The day was a feast for the eyes and creative soul</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Read last year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show post <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-2011.html">here</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012 Highlights

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Lucky me I attended the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week It is always a mind-blowing event that pushes the li...

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The English Rhododendron Season

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There is a magical window of time in England </div><div style="text-align: center;">when the bluebells and rhododendrons</div><div style="text-align: center;">bloom simultaneously</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iEOBfMAKKsYrPLKIdKGDDbKx5sBN8Ju2NRs0JI8hRN5AedCdxHhzr6qPgfezFiNd8Io0jA-Zuy5_K7AM2xQ7NymXqem1HgZW4tO29_c5K_YKuMSBLEjhdHeblH8sk-X69WETFWIpWeE/s1600/DSC_0217-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iEOBfMAKKsYrPLKIdKGDDbKx5sBN8Ju2NRs0JI8hRN5AedCdxHhzr6qPgfezFiNd8Io0jA-Zuy5_K7AM2xQ7NymXqem1HgZW4tO29_c5K_YKuMSBLEjhdHeblH8sk-X69WETFWIpWeE/s640/DSC_0217-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This stunning world-famous Rothschild Collection of </div><div style="text-align: center;">rhododendrons and azaleas is at Exbury Gardens,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a spectacular 200 acre garden in The New Forest, Hampshire</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUuU_wk_CQm8cErB567djuImpkDJCpLFIUKiGltDdyroHr-k1X29eZiy0CVsy_q44msxRgIXuhAWPmSeM7-Sy44V51d0ccr0H6iWkHobPdKuu_ywkD3oBDTPzUcPM1Fiyb7wT03U9E5U/s1600/DSC_0181-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUuU_wk_CQm8cErB567djuImpkDJCpLFIUKiGltDdyroHr-k1X29eZiy0CVsy_q44msxRgIXuhAWPmSeM7-Sy44V51d0ccr0H6iWkHobPdKuu_ywkD3oBDTPzUcPM1Fiyb7wT03U9E5U/s640/DSC_0181-004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lovers of mild, wet climates and acidic soil,</div><div style="text-align: center;">rhoddies are very happy in England</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The wisteria is in bloom now too</div><div style="text-align: center;">Interestingly, Japanese wisteria (<i>Wisteria floribunda</i>) climbs clockwise </div><div style="text-align: center;">while Chinese wisteria (<i>Wisteria sinensis</i>) climbs anti-clockwise</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGna52YvdB2Fl6arPJoInzhOfdhtXrLNv5Nh3MHSo75-GXuY824UD4ZrBRCxPGT7awUeT9VS93tNhxy-NltvdKMAt3ZS3WfGspnMg4JYu7zgnDSbJOM2tJfENk8NKFTobdlZ9bCPZt_GU/s1600/DSC_0205-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGna52YvdB2Fl6arPJoInzhOfdhtXrLNv5Nh3MHSo75-GXuY824UD4ZrBRCxPGT7awUeT9VS93tNhxy-NltvdKMAt3ZS3WfGspnMg4JYu7zgnDSbJOM2tJfENk8NKFTobdlZ9bCPZt_GU/s640/DSC_0205-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Plant explorers were crazy for rhododendrons in the early part of the twentieth century</div><div style="text-align: center;">which coincided with Lionel de Rothschild's creation of his woodland garden in 1919</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCxb2IxF4hUQ_Xy6lZ55H2U31WCm2qC_OkmG_lRDV7pCLMFsXrWHk_GGBZ_re40uITs7gpOEwcvjyTyn3PCOJ8vVp9NSRoE89QfZXhtlo7tvQosFtNIAejW2jbZ_fKka6OVuUQi9BiKU/s1600/DSC_0135-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCxb2IxF4hUQ_Xy6lZ55H2U31WCm2qC_OkmG_lRDV7pCLMFsXrWHk_GGBZ_re40uITs7gpOEwcvjyTyn3PCOJ8vVp9NSRoE89QfZXhtlo7tvQosFtNIAejW2jbZ_fKka6OVuUQi9BiKU/s640/DSC_0135-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many of the plants found by plant hunters still can be seen in Exbury Gardens today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGteha1NGKgsi-9kGig7kFCF4iuJ_QMc8_0Cu41lYbGnWFgYP-GQ-4FRjxrDF6hjtdNvonJ_wwKxz2hwiBEI3lAeaiulJxlw0N9WMu0lqkLKITuH2sx4X_3zHCbwSlvSG2Z1LRA0p_Ow/s1600/DSC_0085-013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGteha1NGKgsi-9kGig7kFCF4iuJ_QMc8_0Cu41lYbGnWFgYP-GQ-4FRjxrDF6hjtdNvonJ_wwKxz2hwiBEI3lAeaiulJxlw0N9WMu0lqkLKITuH2sx4X_3zHCbwSlvSG2Z1LRA0p_Ow/s640/DSC_0085-013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is me wearing my happy face</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">More info: <a href="http://www.exbury.co.uk/">Exbury Gardens</a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The English Rhododendron Season

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK There is a magical window of time in England  when the bluebells and rhododendrons bloom simultaneously This st...

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