This time next week I shall be ensconced in the enervating environs of Northumberland, teaching a Natural Perfumery workshop at Dilston Physic Gardens (Saturday, 2 July). If you are at a loose end and would like to explore this beautiful part of the UK and make an inspired botanical perfume to take home with you, then you can still book a place via their website, which has all the workshop details, directions etc!
I shall be bringing my box of amazing smells with me, including a new one - Mango Leaf Absolute - bring in a bit of the tropics daahling, should the weather fail us!
Get your fix of Botanical Bliss at Dilston Physic Garden
With the monsoon-style weather we have had recently I am expecting to be greeted with a lush abundance of aromatic inspiration, which will greatly enhance my 'walk-around' with the 'students', before we kick off with all the alchemy!
I'm hoping to squeeze in a little exploring too while I am there, although I think Hadrian's Wall might be a tad ambitious ...
Hadrian's Wall - bring your comfrey and arnica! Picture Credit: outdoorsnorthumberland.co.uk
However, one of my favourite online stores has a shop in the village that I am staying in, I feel the siren call of lovely housewares and absolutely (un)necessary paraphernalia, check out their website at: www.re-foundobjects.com
arREesting housewares in Corbridge picture credit: www.thebeatthatskippedmyheart.co.uk
and of course any pictures with an animal in is a winner in my book,
Welcome to RE-foundobjects, dog not for sale! picture credit: www.veryenglish.co.uk
The calendar so far this year has been rich with horticultural delights, such as the Chelsea Flower Show, Chelsea Fringe and then Open Gardens Weekend, but if you are still thirsting after a nature fix and cannot join me in delightful Dilston, do check out a few of my favourite London-centric oases (I am hoping that is the plural of oasis!!) of olfactory and plantiferous delights:
www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk - I am going here tomorrow for lunch
www.kew.org - they have a wonderful new 'Hive' installation
www.geffrye-museum.org.uk - has a small but perfectly formed herb and period gardens (Elizabethan, Victorian + Georgian)
www.dalstongarden.org - Dalston Curve - a wonderful community garden
www.slbi.org.uk - South London Botanical Institute, founded in 1910, densely populated garden with amazing botanical reference library and workshops and events throughout the year. I am a little biased, as I am also teaching a workshop here in August (update coming soon!).
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Dilston Physic Garden is a beautifully curated botanical gem, do check out their website to find our more: www.dilstonphysicgarden.com