RHS Wisley in the Springtime - pt. 2

Way back in April, I visited RHS Wisley with my mum for a little afternoon out - have a look at my previous post here - but we only live about 20 minutes up the M3 from it, so I was appalled that it took me so long to get around to visiting again! Especially since I found out they had a gorgeous glasshouse (you know I love a glasshouse), which is what this post will feature heavily...

The glasshouse is a fairly recent addition and opened in 2012 (Wisley house and gardens were given to the RHS in 1903), with three sections; you can read about the glasshouse at Wisley here, but it really is fantastic. With it's tropical section, filled with giant palms, hanging orchids, and all the ferns a girl could wish for, I could happily spend hours in there. I loved the arid glasshouse too, filled with beautiful cacti and scented flowers, when I visited.

Keep reading for the orchids...!

RHS Wisley in the Springtime - pt. 1

Way back in April, I visited RHS Wisley with my mum for a little afternoon out. Having been several times when I was a little kid, I really couldn't remember it too well, so we decided to refresh my memory.  We only live about 20 minutes up the M3 from it, so I was appalled that it took me so long to get around to visiting, especially since I found out they had a gorgeous glasshouse (you know I love a glasshouse).  

I know that I'm a bit out of season with these pictures - but I had so many to resize and edit, because everything there was so beautiful, that I just hadn't had the time to get around it, and it seemed like such a daunting task - so now I have finally got around to it, I think I'll have to split it into a couple of posts...! 

I particularly loved walking around the initial gardens when you come in, in the spring these are full of magnolia trees, cherry blossoms and acers, all sorts of brightly coloured spring flowers to admire as you walk through to the glass house, which really had my heart.
This pink tree is my absolute favourite - I'm determined to get one for my dad for his garden: it's something like a chinese cedar/mahogany, but the name is 'Flamingo' - which is the most perfect pink with white trunks.

Keep reading to see the bonsai trees...!

candlemaking

I've wanted to make my own candles for a little while - my mum bought some soya wax the other week and let me make some candles. Soya wax is good because you can melt it in a Pyrex jar in the microwave; no messing about on the stove: perfect. I've posted about candles you can make in old jelly moulds before and have always wanted to try it, but the price of 'vintage Jello moulds' is ridiculous! Then I came across these metal tart tins in my local cheapy-cheap shop (£1.50 for six) and thought they would be perfect.. They look super adorable, and I added some fragrance that I had bought from the same website as the wax and they're lovely. All you have to do is fill your container with the unmelted wax (to know how much to melt), put it in a microwavable container and melt for 30 second blasts, stirring in between. When done, make sure you have the wick held in place with some string, a peg, etc, and pour in the wax. Leave to set and bingo, some lovely little candles. Just a tip, you use a lot more wax than you think, so buy more than necessary!

washi washi weekend wanderings

(images from of one, two, three)

I recently bought some really adorable washi tape from Paperchase - I passed by it in House of Fraser and I really just couldn't ignore it! This one has little woodland animals on and leaves and cute things, right up my street. It wasn't expensive like washi tape usually is - only £3.50 for 4 rolls, which I thought was a good deal.. it wasn't until I got home that I realised that I didn't have a use for it.. A quick google later and I found a wealth of ideas on Pinterest. Here are a few of my most favourite/least cheesy ones.

Washi Tape Corkboard

Ikea Decorated Frames

Washi Tape Light Favours

Coloured Keyboard

Colourful Notebooks & Pencils

Washi Tape Tumbling Blocks

Monogram Letter Art

Colourful Pillar Candles

Washi Tape iPhone Case

Another Washi Tape iPhone Case

Washi Workspace

Coloured Keyboard on Black Keys

Bright Storage Jars

travel memories

[image from marthastewart.com]

This is one of those types of things that pops up on Pinterest all the time, and I never really pay that much attention to them - but then I saw this and I thought that it was such a good idea. I'm one of those people that keeps (hoards?) all kinds of things from when I've been on holiday somewhere. Like photos and ticket stubs and receipts and postcards and flyers and stuff.. and then they just waft about my room and sometimes I put the photos up but sometimes I forget... I definitely want to get something like this and try it out. I don't really like the colours and the stencils but I might collage some images or something on it? I'm not sure, but I like that they fit on the bookshelf like books!

I was thinking I should get some of the photos i took this last week on holiday printed out and it would make such a cute box.. hmn, ideas ideas!