Well, I did end up having a nice picnic over the weekend, but it occurred to me afterwards that I should have set up under one of the many gorgeous blossoms that are around at the moment. It is a quintessential tradition in Japan, where it is known as hanami or 'flower viewing'
I was amazed that the weather reports in Japan all feature cherry blossom maps to show the progress of the blossoms creeping their way up from the warm south to the cool north.
Typically, you would take a bento box full of seasonal foods and drink sake. Although I can't see much food in it, I loved the look of this hamper from the suchprettythings blog who was celebrating under the blossoms in Washington DC.
I loved this cake from weheartit
And then you coudl finish off with a walk along the blossoms. Above is the stunning Philosopher's walk in Kyoto, a series of mini canals lined with blossoms.
Images via fecielo.com, travelpod.com, suchprettythings.typepad.com, weheartit, and panoramio.com
and the cheerful Hawaiian print on this 1950s sundress.
The garden was also very pretty, with topiary, wild flowers, magnificently old trees, a big stream running along at the bottom of the garden and surrounding rolling hills. As the Guardian describes "Every lunch Kipling tramped across his fields, slashing at nettles with a walking stick before returning to his study and sprawling on the oak day bed with a book'.
Everywhere is looking so pretty at the moment that I couldn't help taking gratuitous shots of the flowers everywhere. I especially love the combination of Victorian white stuccoed buildings or restrained Georgian buildings with blossoms. I took most of the photos in Notting Hill.
ps and thank you to my lovely cab driver Chalma who so patiently waited whilst I took these shots on my way home from work.
I was playing with this idea when I painted this Rose bed image. Now we just all have to wait for the weather to warm up a little bit!
Images: Unknown, unknown, Annika Vannerus, sunset via poetichome, Anzu, unknown via designersblock blog
