Spring garden

Was walking round the garden this morning and realised that Spring has been here for a while. There is one flower left on the magnolia, the lily-of-the-valley are all gone, the bluebells are well passed their best but the hellebores are hanging on. The upside ... the roses are smoothered in buds some bursting and other already out, the grapes are forming on the vine in profusion and it's barbecue season. MUST get the pond cleaned, the sheds & fences painted and some of the grass re-turfed. I have to say I am very lucky to have such a beautiful garden most of which was inherited when we bought the house; we also have a gardener who is a law unto himself and thinks the garden belongs to him not me! I suppose really it belongs to everyone who has worked in it.

I know of a lady in Toronto who runs a very special flower business called My Lucious Backyard. It sells flowers that are from local backgardens! How simple, green and great is that? I can't bear to cut my flowers or I think I maybe have enough varieities to start a similar business here. These are some images from my garden over the past 10 days.




And from My Lucious Backyard

and a couple of their bouquets. More beauties on their website.

Fab photography

Let's get more into the swing of the season today. Here are some images from one of our favourite Ontario wedding photographers, Elizabeth in Love. Hope they inspire you ... the first one was a styled shoot for Style Me Pretty and the next 2 are 'real weddings'

The Wonder of Winter

Yes, I DO know it is only May but weddings take planning and I found this style shoot on a blog called Bow Ties & Buttercream. It ties us both together nicely - they are from Ontario where the shoot was done and we are from the UK and, of course, Burberry is one of our luxury 'brands'. As an aside, did you know the dress Samantha Cameron wore to the Royal Wedding dress was one of theirs?

By the time we get to winter, it is far too late for all those couples who decide they want to get married in the snow to even begin thinking about it unless they want to wait a year! So ... it's time to think ahead to the Wonder of Winter and use this for some inspiration.

{Credits}

Photography: Purple Martini Photography

Concept, Styling & Design: Rachel A Clingen Wedding & Event Design

Location: Noten Acres (Orangeville)

Stationary: Paper Damsels

Wedding dress & headpiece: Noah Brown Bridal

Destination - Canada

Received an email this morning suggesting I follow in the footsteps of William & Kate and visit Atlantic Canada! Their actual tour, which comes in response to an invitation from the federal government, will kick off with the royal couple celebrating Canada Day on Parliament Hill, Ottawa. They will then travel to Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, according to a loose itinerary released Wednesday by the federal government. In all, Prince William and his future bride will be in Canada from June 30 to July 8, 2011. So it would seem Ottawa will be their only Ontario stop. What a shame - I REALLY wish visitors could see beyond the capital, Toronto and Niagara Falls! There are SO many stunning experiences to be had away from the 'tourist' trail. I guess William & Kate get little, if any, say in where they go but for the rest of us, please look beyond the usual brochure locations ...

Ranting over and all credit to Atlantic Canada for seizing the marketing opportunity.

A tripadvisor email just came through with the Best Destinations travellers' choices for 2011.  In Canada's top 25, 8 locations were in Ontario. Niagara Falls [5th], Toronto [8th], Niagara-on-the-Lake [12th], Ottawa [15th], Windsor [22nd], Kingston [23rd], Thunder Bay [24th] and London [25th]. I would class Niagara-on-the-Lake [one of our locations], Windsor, Kingston and London as all but unknown to the UK market. Unless people have family in these areas so visit - you'll not find them in most travel brochures. It's good to get off the beaten track, as it were. Thinking of beaten tracks, a couple of years ago when we were north-east of Toronto on a road trip, we found an original settler's road. Boy, did we have fun following that - really could have done with a 4x4. I must hunt the photos out as it was beautiful.

A very special day

Where to start ... today, I loved

The Fashion
- For me, the out and out winner from the guest list was Miriam Gonzalez Duantez. I also liked Sam Cam - especially her hair jewels, Zara Philips and Victoria Beckham

The Flowers
- Sweet William, myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth and ivy. Sweet William means gallantry, lily-of-the-valley means return of happiness, hyacinth symbolises constancy of love, while myrtle is the emblem of marriage and love. There is also ivy for fidelity; marriage; wedded love; friendship and affection. And love the single sprig of lily-of-the-valley in the lapels of Kate's father and brother.

The Tiara
- A diamond "halo" made by Cartier. It was given to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother when she was the Duchess of York by her husband. She gave it to The Queen to mark her 18th birthday and today it has been lent to Kate. [Dont' forget that to qualify as the something borrowed, it must be returned to its owner.] Think this is it - if not it's very similar.

The Tinies
- Sooooo well behaved in the Abbey but sooooo enjoying themselves. And they looked just adorable.

The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge
- Their day, their way.

and The hotties

- Prince William & Prince Harry

and - David Beckham

Finally ... the picture you thought you'd never see.

David did it ! He made her smile !! Look closely !!!

Tomorrow is THE day!

I wasn't going to blog about the Royal Wedding today BUT ...  I'm getting excited!

Apparently, that hooded female entering the Goring was Sarah Burton. Is it going to be McQueen? Will Kate wear a tiara and if so, which one? I love the Fringe Tiara - do you think The Queen will lend it to her? She wore it when she married Prince Philip.

The Royal Collection © 2008,

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

RCIN 200184

 

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/royalwedding1947/object.asp?grouping=&exhibs=NONE&object=200184&row=53

Can you do that with Royal Collection things? Hope I don't end up in The Tower!

AND ...  how 'touchy' was Prince William on his walk-about?

Will be watching tv from quite early tomorrow to check out hats, suits, dresses, flowers - oh, mustn't forget shoes ... which channel or shall we hop through them all? Watch all spaces!

We hope they have a fabulous day.

Fab new blog!

I was thinking royal wedding dresses ... one of my most favourites is the one Princess Anne wore when she married Mark Phillips in 1973. I loved it then and still do - it's just so timeless & stylish.

However .. I came across another blog which I have been absorbed in for far too long this afternoon but

IT IS GREAT! Called Mad Hattery! It's mission is, and I'm quoting here, "bringing you the very best in ridiculous royal hats". Not all of these hats are ridiculous; some, yes but not all - in fact, there are some quite stunning ones. It doesn't just focus on British royalty, European royal families are included as well. The blogger is "Ella Kay" and needless to say, she's from the States. Here's just a few photos, but there are pages.

PHOTO CREDIT: REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

or MARCEL ANTONISSE/AFP/Getty Images

PHOTO CREDIT: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

PHOTO CREDIT: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Do let me know what you think!