Dove Cottage Herb Kitchen, Cutting Garden and Painter's Paradise

June and July in Dove Cottage is a magical time....the epitome of summer, with gorgeous cottage garden plantings... a perfect cutting garden for weddings with a wild and abundant feel, a 'picked from the field' look and for all natural stylings.
Love flowers that blow in the wind... the tall purple spikes of verbena borealis; beautiful Cosmos, which always takes me back to the markets of Pollenca, Mallorca, where you would not think to go home without flowers for the table - beautiful artisan cheeses, olives, locally grown honey, fresh peasant style bread and salad leaves, peppers and tomatoes just picked from the fincas that morning.
George painting for an exhibition - drawing his inspiration from the exuberant poppy and other wild and carefree blooms. 
Also love using these glass cloches in wedding styling. There are so many things you can do...
Not only are blackcurrants amazing, (just picked from the bush and popped in your mouth before they reach the kitchen to be turned into jam, coulis, fools, cheesecakes and more), they are fantastic for flower styling. Fruit and foliage alike, as are the beans and deep reds of Lollo Rosso and other frilly red varieties of the humble lettuce .
Love growing flowers, herbs and vegetables together in true cottage garden style. I have drawn much inspiration from the inspired and gifted Gertrude Jekyll, and the queen of herbs, Jekka McVicar
So enjoyed a course I did with her and Raymond Blanc. Recipes were inspired from the mornings pickings of edible delights....wonderful! The house and gardens of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons are breathtakingly beautiful... must make a note to create a blog, so you can share all the gorgeousness.
Don't you just love the Peacock butterfly on the wonderfully deep rich purple Buddleia? One of my favourite butterflies (along with the common blue).
Gill Stewart
July 2015




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