Inspiration from Westbourne Open Gardens

15 gardens in 3 hours, and so many photos my phone ran out of battery... Time to sit down for a rest before I get out and tend to my own patch! I'd really like to act on some of the ideas I had for my own garden as I wandered round, so here's what I liked...

Alchemila molls combined with Alium Christophe. I've wanted some of these alliums for ages, they're so structural and dry well too.

A rose arch to divide different areas of the garden/driveway.

This was the garden of Rosebury House! I can't believe how far it went, right to the river Ems. Gorgeous!

I love the colour combination of nepeta and salvia.

In the garden next door - a great feature! I want one! Reminds me of the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

 Ideas for hard surfacing, I do love paviers...

Topiary! If only I had the time...

I think this was Ivy House, not a huge garden but one of my faves with lots of interest.

Nice subtle colours with pale variegated foliage.

A buddliea grown as a tree!

Box edging doesn't have to be very thick to look smart...

A cute brick path to a secret veggie corner of the garden.

A lovely spot next to the river!

A pretty example of how gardening doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming... Mum if you're reading this, please can I have some of the purple one? I don't even know what it is, just that it likes to grow in crevices!

Another lovely riverside spot, near the humped back bridge

My first rope swing of the day!

Irises - must get some, and the pink flower is fabulous too...

The paving in this garden was amazing and all done by the owners' children and grandchildren!

I had hard landscaping envy in this garden. They even had a 'rill' for their grandchildren to sail boats down, although they're too old for it now and it's been filled with gravel.

The Chantry Hall estate was a real eye opener! All new but with so much character, immaculately presented! I don't think I'll ever be that tidy!

 I love this veranda.

Green green green, so relaxing.

A gravel 'patio' with brick edging looked smart.

Something to aspire to, nice colour combo

A blue leaved plant, looked amazing!

Every garden should have a lavender seat, and I like the rope steps too...

Interesting wall, I could see this in my garden...

And the steps... I need to talk to Handy Dad this time!

The scent in this garden was amazing! Need more roses...

And rose arches...

A show-stopping peony, hubby would love this!

The veranda I covet every time I drive to Southbourne

Lovely big rose

And the finale - a huge American dogwood tree, wow.

I'm feeling inspired, and also pleased with what I've already done. I LOVE gardening!

Enjoying the beauty of flowers

There are still many overgrown areas in the garden but we're loving the flowers at the moment. The fruit and veg are coming on nicely, but I wanted to share the flowers in all their glory! I'd actually forgotten what colour the lupin was, so now I have a record, I can plan better next year...

Pink with yellow tops!

Not massive but still lovely

Poppies, I want more!

The potato flower over the love arch, such good value

Blueberries and white aquilegia. I'm going to try to save some seed this year

Globe artichoke and apples. Time for me to thin out the apples on all the trees, to give a few of them the chance to get bigger

My favourite little daisy, which I've divided

Leeks and lettuces waiting patiently to be planted out in the raised beds

Different varieties of tomatoes going strong

A new flower in the garden, archangel, to keep an eye on, just in case it tries to take over!

Another new addition, let out for the first time. Hopefully we can co-exist in the garden! The tabby was still to venture out at this moment.

Spring has POPPED!

We are very lucky to live so close to nature here in the woods, with a relatively big garden. After many years living in cities and craving nature, it's something we'll never take for granted. I love watching spring unfold, so here are my highlights. Some are taken early in the morning before the sun's come up over the trees, when there's a chill in the air. It's lovely.

The cherry tree. Last year we had only a handful of cherries, all of which were eaten by the birds!

One of two espalier apples at the front of the house in the morning sun.

Chaenomeles japonica - amazing colour. I'm going to have to find out how to propagate this one!

Bluebells - under the trampoline!

And the flowering cherry which we planted for C's baby naming ceremony 5 years ago. She enjoyed picking the blossom to make perfumed concoctions and encouraged R to do the same, in their pyjamas! You can see the new playhouse in the background which has already been well used since the weather's warmed up.

A view of the garden after the first rain we've had for a couple of weeks. The silver birch is suddenly in full leaf and everything looks so fresh and lush. Love it.