May the celestial force be with you in your gardens! …
We’re now at the point in the year when we can look forward to some warmer, drier evenings in which to enjoy our gardens; honestly, the sun is coming!
The moon garden – or lunar garden – is designed to extend the time you can spend outside. Relax by the light of the moon, without overwhelming the space with artificial light. This celestial trend is popular because it addresses everything from sustainability, to climate crisis, biodiversity and conservation – and, best of all, it’s lovely. Find out how to create one below – we can help with it all.
And don’t forget the Bank Holidays this month. It’s always a traditional time to get the BBQ out, so we’ve got a few ideas on both new, useful, cooking apparatus and scrumptious ingredients.
Finally, with Surrey Day this month, why not visit some of the great local attractions – we’ve been busy finding out about those for you too.
Happy reading!
Chris & all the Bushy team
Jolly hollyhocks!
With yellow, red, white, pink or purple funnel-shaped flowers, hollyhocks make an attractive display in a mixed border or cottage garden. Ensure you have a sunny spot that is sheltered from winds to reduce the risk of tall plants blowing over – or we can stake them for you as part of our ongoing maintenance service.
By the light of the silvery Moon Garden
Create an area of your garden with a lunar theme. Think circular shapes like a winding path and light-coloured, round-shaped paving. There are many circular furniture sets online and garden centres like Notcutts have interesting egg chairs.
Choose white, fragrant flowers like evening primrose, jasmine, (which attract nocturnal wildlife like moths and bats); also viburnum, cosmos, hosta, shasta daisies as well as plants with silver foliage to provide natural illumination. Add a small fountain to create gentle trickling sounds and a bird bath or moon-gazing water bowl to reflect the light. We can help with all this!
Beef up your BBQs
Dare the British weather to behave with a BBQ – especially with the May bank holidays providing extra leisure time. Weber has added some better features to its 2024 BBQs, including griddle, oven and wok. We like the look of this recipe from them for beef picana steak, fried mushrooms and vinaigrette with red wine sauce too. Worth getting the barbie out for!
Savour Surrey Day
It’s Surrey Day on Saturday 11 May and there is an array of attractions and activities to enjoy throughout the county. Just two of the ideas to choose from are the Botanical Sphere Workshop at the Birtley Estate, Bramley, where you learn free weaving with brown willow to make a Sphere/Ball. And it’s Open Day at West Horsley Place, giving you the chance to explore the Manor House and walled gardens. The estate was used as ‘Button House’ in the TV sitcom Ghosts, Guy Fawkes was a footman there, apparently Walter Raleigh’s head ended up under the stairs, and Elizabeth I had a theatre built in the gardens – so plenty of interest!
Bushy Beverage
On the first May bank holiday (6 May) why not celebrate with Albury Vineyard on the release of their new Silent Pool Rosé! The vineyard’s event features a pop-up wine bar, rosé tastings & vineyard tours. If you’re unsure, did you know that Albury Vineyard’s flagship wine was originally served on the Royal Barge to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and usually sells out within months of its release in May each year? Details here.
Until next time!
If you would like to chat about some ideas for your garden, you can book a FREE Bushy garden appraisal with us here. It’s amazing what great things come out of even the vaguest of thoughts if you share them with experts like us!
