London and the Cotswolds Flower and Foodie Trip 2023
In May of this year, I took a group of 11 people to London and then on to the Cotswolds for a week of beauty and deliciousness. Kari Geary, who is THE talented florist in Fort Wayne as well as a darned nice person, was my right hand person for the week. Kari and I had worked hard on this trip to fill every day with something new and vibrant. She had wonderful ideas and we made a great team!
Kari and me at the London Botanical Gardens.
After their arrival on day one, the guests had a 2 hour walking tour of London with a most gracious tour guide, Annemarie. It was good to stretch our legs and work up an appetite because afterward we headed to the London Ritz for high tea. It is such a gorgeous hotel and every bite was amazing. A few years ago, I had the honor to tour the kitchens and also to see where they store all the pretty silver they use daily for the teas—so much! If you want to see how a top notch kitchen is run, this is the place. Very organized, very clean and it is run quietly. It is NOT like The Bear haha. All with the Ritz Lions were shined up and ready for use.
The next day we traveled to Sissinghurst and toured those beautiful gardens surrounding that interesting house, which was owned by that very controversial and artistic couple many books have been written about. I had been told by several people throughout the years to be sure to see it one day, and it did not disappoint! We took a train there, walked around, had a short tour for anyone who wanted to go, and had lunch. But we needed to get back to London to see our musical.
A view of Sissinghurst from the tower on the property.
After returning to London, we went to see the musical Six at the Vaudeville Theatre, about the six wives of Henry the VIII. All of the wives take on a current pop character and sing and behave with her personality from Miley Cyrus to Adele.
Wednesday was the day we had been waiting for! (Well, one of them because several awesome things were still to come.) The Chelsea Flower Show was on this day. To get tickets, Kari had to sign many of us up for the fancy tickets, which was great because then we could do a few fancy things! The Chelsea Flower show was amazing. All the women were dressed in flowery dresses or tops, the men in seersucker suits and straw hats—it was so fun to people watch. I get dismayed with the poor way many Americans dress these days. I think it shows a lack of respect when you go to the doctor or dentist in tank tops and cut offs or when adults wear their pajamas on a plane!
The flowers in the Chelsea Flower Show were gorgeous. Some of them were giant size, the roses were of all varieties, colors and fragrances, and the bonsai section had plants over 60 years old. There was a lane of vendors with very, very cool stuff to buy—which we did!—and delicious food to eat. The displays were so unique- small houses built, laden with flowers, porches, patios, espaliers, green grass. Think of flower heaven and you can imagine it.
What about this trunk????
Such pretty irises.
This bonsai was very small and was planted in 1960.
If only my garden looked like this.
Cynda, Debbie, and Hope at the entrance.
These delphinium were ginormous!
Just your average vegetable patch!
Cutie Judy Pursley is OUR peony girl!
We were lucky not to be there when the oil protesters came and vandalized a few displays
with their orange paint. What a shame for the people whose displays were ruined.
Thursday was another spectacular day as we departed London and headed to Vervain Flower Farm. India Hurst and her partner, Christopher, use local growers as well as their own organic flowers they grow seemingly everywhere on the land. She creates ephemeral bouquets for wedding, events, and just about everything you would need flowers for. If you follow her on Instagram, you will see the beauty she creates. The farm is set in the countryside of England and it is otherworldly. She taught us how to make flowing, lovely bouquets similar to the flowers in Grand Master paintings. India gave us many tips and ideas that we can always turn to here at home in our own gardens. She had hundreds of flowers for us to use!
Afterward, we had a delicious vegetarian dinner on a long table on their property, set in the open air. It is a memory I will hold dear to my heart and one of the best days of my travel life.
Naomi and her mother, Annie.
India’s parent’s home.
Hope and her bouquet.
Alex was a flower whizz.
How pretty is this for a dinner table?
This lovely rose was a café au lait color—a color I had
never seen before!
Here is the gang, fed and flowered!
On our way home, we stopped in a sweet little town where they raise trout in the
cleanest—I mean cleanest—trout ponds I have ever seen. We went for a walk
around this pretty town and it was a delight.
Some pretty scenes from the stop. More gorgeous irises.
Friday was an excellent day! We had free time in the morning to explore Broadway, then we went to Highgrove, King Charles’ beloved country estate. He bought this property long ago and has bought up surrounding properties as they have become available. He and Camilla were actually there when we were touring his organic gardens. Our guide thought we might get to see him because our tour was the last one of the day and he likes to go out and putter in the garden around sunset. Alas, we were not that lucky but it certainly kept us excited and on the lookout!
After our tour, we had a really delicious tea—almost as good as the Ritz—in a gorgeous green room. The wait staff was young and kind and it was everything. Check out the sculptures on the wall. These are actual garden items which were bound together and painted white. I loved them! How heavy they must be.
We were not allowed to take any photos of Highgrove outside now that he is King, but trust me when I say it is well worth a visit. King Charles was made fun of when he began his campaign for organic eating and farming. Years later, he most certainly is having the last laugh.
Saturday took us to Daylesford Organic Farm. This is a huge farm with sheep, all organic produce, a creamery, a cookery school, a flower arranging school, a food hall, and a lovely store with everything you could possibly want for your home and garden. I wish I had the rights to open one here.
Here is funny Jeff with Rick. Rick is a very good cook, by the way!
The dish Rick and I made together.
This is the other chef plating his dish, of grilled asparagus topped with organic chicken. Grilling asparagus takes it to a whole new level and there isn’t a chance for it to get mushy and limp.
Inside Daylesford Farm. An area to eat.
Just a touch of love for all who enter.
I have not mentioned the town of Broadway where we stayed. Broadway is one of the larger Cotswolds towns, but still quaint in every way. The yellow stone of the Cotswolds makes up almost every building and the town is surrounded by sheep farms. There is great walking in the country if you want some alone time, as well as fabulous shopping and eating in the town. I highly recommend it!
Our hotel The Lygone Arms, one of Kari’s great finds.
Our last day was spent in Stratford on Avon, taking a tour around the town with a very interesting guide who is also an actress. She was a gas and she taught us so much. We were all so grateful that we did not live back then. About 50% of all babies died before they were two. Life was very, very precious and very dirty, because they didn’t understand about washing and germs yet. So stinky too…
After our tour and a nice lunch on our own, we hopped on the bus and returned for one more night in London. We had our farewell dinner at my favorite restaurant Amaya, which everyone seemed to love as much as I do.
I personally stayed another day and went to Chartwell to see Winston Churchill’s home. It was something I plan to do every time I go to London and it never seems to happen. So I booked it a few months ahead to be SURE I did it and I was really glad.
Sir Winston’s swimming pool.
He tried to take a swim every day.
These are some of the grounds surrounding his home, now a National Trust, so families can come and picnic and hike any day for a small fee. It was absolutely bucolic.
Home sweet home for Winston and Clementine.
I hope you enjoyed this picture filled account of our spring 2023 Flower and Foodie Tour of London and The Cotswolds. This trip rates up there as one of the top 5 in my mind. Please consider coming on a future trip with us. The next two excursions to France are sold out, but I hope to post one soon for Fall 2024 for the gardens of Italy. Stay tuned!