When we left Kew Gardens a few of us jumped into a black cab to go to our next destination which was Petersham Nurseries. Our knowledgable cabbie gave us an interesting tour while on the way.
He told us a little about Richmond Hill the beautiful town that Petersham is located in.
The homes with views of the Thames are some of the most beautiful and pricey real estate in the world.
He pointed out Mick Jagger's home, well Jerry's home (i think) that is so beautiful.
Anyway, we get to Petersham starving knowing they have a michelin star restaurant there.
But after hearing the prices we decide to eat in the tea room instead.
It was a good choice.
The restuarant is located inside a greenhouse with dirt floors and rusty garden furniture and it couldn't have been prettier. Imagine it's drizzly wet and cold out and you step into a warm greenhouse that serves delicious food. A gardener's dream!
This chap is the lead florist at Petersham. He gave us a talk about different plants to use in floral arrangements.
Then we all went into the *shopping* area of Petersham.
Everything is for sale in here.
And it was good.
But after hearing the prices we decide to eat in the tea room instead.
It was a good choice.
The restuarant is located inside a greenhouse with dirt floors and rusty garden furniture and it couldn't have been prettier. Imagine it's drizzly wet and cold out and you step into a warm greenhouse that serves delicious food. A gardener's dream!
This chap is the lead florist at Petersham. He gave us a talk about different plants to use in floral arrangements.
Then we all went into the *shopping* area of Petersham.
Everything is for sale in here.
And it was good.
What the?...
Look at this chandelier!
I mean look at it!
I've never seen anything like it.
Incredible.
So I hope these photos give you the feel of just how special Petersham is.
I feel so incredibly lucky to have been able to see it all with my own eyes.
More than knowing what the food tastes like I want to know what the greenhouses smell like!!
ReplyDeleteA terrible place. Everything looks like a 'buy-buy-buy'.
What junk most nurseries sell in USA....
Of course Detroit Garden Works, discovered online, is fabulous. Must get myself there one day. Petersham too.
The rains in England are cute. Their gutters look like a Disney production for Liliputians.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
they smelled good tara. real good.
DeleteReminds me of the line from Field of Dreams: Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa. Had the same feeling seeing this spot....that chandelier is divine. What goodies!!!
ReplyDeletehaha yes it is a bit like field of dreams.
DeleteI have been by the Jagger house. My brother lived near it. They saw him in an antique shop once. I believe he still lives there part of the time. Richmond is a beautiful place. My brother used to ride his bike through Richmond Park into London each day. The deer there were originally brought in by King Henry the 8th.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had an amazing time there.
if your brother lived within 5 miles of that house he is one lucky guy. such gorgeousness! i read that about the deer too!
DeleteI need to visit . . . my kind of over the moon dream visit . . . thank you for the inspiration . . .
ReplyDeleteyes, go!!!
DeleteGorgeous spot! I hear the cost of eating out in London is tres pricey.
ReplyDeleteyou know deb, it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. france, esp. paris was pricier.
DeleteHappened upon your beautiful blog and oh my, what lovely images of "The Petersham"! Special it is!
ReplyDeleteJust lovely, and I may lurk around here a bit!
All the best
Stacey
www.downtoearthdigs.wordpress.com
oh thank you stacey and glad you liked it.
DeleteIt would have been hard for me to leave such a totally charming place. I can't imagine being there in person...
ReplyDeletei know, i didn't want that day to end.
DeleteUm, gorgeous! Wow...heading back up to look at your pics one more time.
ReplyDeletexoxo~
T
well hello t!
DeleteHow perfect to eat in the greenhouse! What a great memory to have from the trip. I love the chandelier!
ReplyDeletethat chandelier still gives me the chills.
DeleteSuch happy memories! Seems like so long ago now though....I'm leaving Uzes tomorrow (gulp). Won't be long now until I'm home again from my travels. Have you settled back in....keen to see what changes you have wrought on your house having been inspired by England and France?! Hope all's well. Rx
ReplyDeletearen't they? it still seems like yesterday to me. but you've been sorta busy. :)
Deletei'm working on a few things here and hope to talk about them soon.
Your enthusiasm for the things you experience is palpable, Janet :)
ReplyDeletewhat a sweet thing to say tam. thank you.
DeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous pictures...I'm in awe of the gardens and such over there. I knew it was beautiful, but it's so nice to see some more personal photos instead of some from a magazine. That chandelier is something! Wow.
So...did you get some inspiration for your own garden? I think my head would be full of ideas, probably to the point of being overwhelmed!
Linda
xo
linda, i got so much inspiration my head is ready to explode!
DeleteDid you buy anything during your trip, Janet? The garden shop looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteClaudia
i bought some fabric from london and a blouse from paris. and a few small gifts for friends. :)
DeleteWhat a fun place to visit. The best nurseries are special because of the attention to detail. Of course, they must sell things or they would not be able to stay in business! A carefully chosen garden tool, pot or some whimsical object purchased from a unique nursery is respected and treasured because it came from a special place and will always remind you of your visit. Hope you picked up something to tuck into your suitcase! The chandelier is very beautiful, just needs some windex!
ReplyDeleteyou are right cindy but the only thing i brought home from petersham were these pictures and my memories. :)
DeleteI love the framed what-looks-like "cards" of dried leaves/flowers under glass...
ReplyDeleteMaybe you only need photos and memories...depends...or okay to sometimes pick up a little souvenir although, when traveling, they can load up your suitcase fast!
Looking forward to hearing more about your driving adventures in France... how were the roads south, or north? Did the car have push-button ignition? Did the road signs confuse you? Could you stop for an interesting thing along the way? I think driving in Europe by car is the ultimate; never did it, but want to. I think it takes guts! Expand on you in the scarf tied Boho-style around your head, leaning against your ride...what's the story in this part of the adventure, Janet??!!
vicki those are antique botanical pressings and they are gorgeous!
Deleteyou do not want to hear about my driving adventures through france! the car was a stick shift and we did not have a navigational system. we relied on faulty maps and it was our intuition that pretty much saved us! there really isn't a story re the pic of me with the car other than i never want to forget that car. haha!
I tried to press flowers once when I was a kid; used an old book to flatten, then glued them on stout paper board and framed them; looked pretty cool for a long time but I guess you are supposed to spray them with some kind of something because they eventually pulverized and, whups, there went my art; a powdery demise. I want to try it again; I think I remember that it's very much a Victorian kind of ladies' thing; very gentile and refined in that era/society. I'm sure if I google it there will be better instructions on how to do it more effectively than my fumblings in youth. I've seen flower-press books/apparatus for sale in catalogs.
DeleteOh, c'mon; I want to hear! Adventures in Stick-Shifting...were the roads paved? Did you get lost next to a beautiful field of lavender? Why don't you want to forget the car...it had push-button ignition, didn't it. I know it did. My great-aunt and great-uncle drove all over Europe in one decades ago and he could NOT figure out how to start the car; their telling of the story would reduce me to belly laughs and uncontrollable humor-tears. But it was better than the van he leased one time...trying to navigate streets there meant for carts in medieval times meant he'd wrap a corner and tear off the side-view mirror. My great-aunt trusted him in all things but was mostly terrified when he'd drive overseas. Some people just shouldn't.
By the way, thanks for the throwback to your post on Henry and Gertrude...and the luscious, luxe roses, OMG, so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou take such wonderful photographs Janet, it really makes all the difference. Thank you for sharing your tour.
ReplyDeletethank you!
DeleteHi
ReplyDeleteHave visited your blog a couple of times... am absolutely loving the tales of your garden tour. The photos are great. I'm sure you had a wonderful time and will treasure the memories always.
Catherine
thank you for visiting catherine. :)
DeleteIt was a great day and so much fun! Paula x
ReplyDeletewasn't it? i am missing all that fun we had.
DeleteI'm loving reading about your travels in the UK and I'd have been beyond excited if I'd glimpsed Mick's house!
ReplyDeleteThat's definitely not your usual British garden centre, they're pretty hideous mostly. That light fitting looks like a nautical one, isn't it beautiful? xxx
i think you may be right about the light fixture. it was just so big, old and gorgeous. i still want it! and seeing mick's house was such an unexpected surprise...like so many others on the trip.
Delete