MAY JOURNAL
Under blue skies...
For our May journal, we wanted to kick off the outdoor season in style, as we've had some fantastic sunny days and hopefully many more to come. Read on for how to be the best host whatever the occasion, and our musings on gardens and the best outdoor theme for your space....
On hosting...
It's that time of the year again. Time to dust off the hosting hat and get ready to have people over, because the transition to outdoor dining is well and truly upon us. Somehow, it still manages to take us by surprise as we find ourselves hastily agreeing to host outdoor dinners with friends and garden parties & picnics for the kids. If that sounds familiar, we've curated a few essentials for these summer scenarios, so that you're fully prepared for the next time the sun suddenly appears!
The Tablecloth
Create a meaningful moment by laying out a spread on top of a beautiful Maison Dinette tablecloth, to gather around and enjoy slow lunches with friends & family. The beautiful block printed patterns will certainly bring Spring whinsy and smiles to your party.
The Mattresses
You'll be the envy of everyone at the picnic if you turn up and roll out one of our mattresses. The key to extending that outdoor lounging time is to have something really squish and soft to lie on and our mattresses from Bungalow are just that.
The Drinkware
Our stars of the show for Spring/Summer hosting is the unbreakable silicone drinkware by Porter Green. Introducing sustainable living with colour & character, they are perfect sipping fizzy wine or berry Shloer from whilst chilling in the garden.
The Garden
It's a great feeling when guests get to marvel at your garden curations, whilst also creating the perfect setting for the alfresco dining event. Plant cosmos or sunflowers ahead of time, or create a mini herb garden to pick fresh ingredients from for your food and drinks.
The Decoration
One thing we never forget when hosting a garden party is to adorn the bushes with bunting. It adds a festive splash of colour & makes it feel like a proper event. You can buy bunting or DIY it like Daisy and tie vibrant ribbons on string to hang between trees.
The Food
One of our all time favourites for fresh food inspiration is non other than Yotam Ottolenghi. This Freekah tabbouleh is the perfect main event or side dish for a fresh crunch in the garden. Add in a jug of mint lemonade and your set for scrumptious Summer feast.
Admiring gardens...
We can't help but admire the way that gardens come into their own at this time of the year and it's hard to choose a style for your planting, but depending on whether you've got a suntrap, a shady corner, or just a small balcony, we think there's plenty of inspiration to be found in green spaces.
As an ode to past holidays in Greece or Italy, painting a wall white, or using white stones as toppers to your plant pots can give an instantly meditterannean feel, the more terracotta pots the better. You could even try to grow a lemon or olive tree in your suntrap & flowering lavender is also a sure way to make things feel French Riviera! There's a lot of fun in making a British garden feel like a holiday.
Prairie gardens have also been having a moment and we are admiring their whimsical nature. The trrick is to make the planting look effortless and wild - keep weeds that flower nicely through spring whilst you wait for Cosmos & Verbenas to flower.
Photo credit: Gardenista & The Design Files
Local Ambles.
Stroll around Coombe Lake, taken by Meg
Sun set at Cotswolds Water Park, taken by Donna
A cow & her calf in Stroud, taken by Tash
Pond spotting in South Cerney, taken by Meg
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