I am so pleased that I’ve discovered the fabulous Beach House Art! They've got lots of gift ideas for both adding some colour to the home or at work, or somewhere where you want people to get a connection to the sea and coasts!

They have a real passion for the coast, the sea, nature and outdoor life.  And it shows in their prints and photographic gifts which are both high quality and affordable.  I think they are great fun, they are lively and full of energy and passion and vibrant in colour.  Mind you, the black and white ones are amazing, too, such as this one, the Three Surfboards on the beach Photography print. 

I love their simpleness in their designs such as this one with the lobster – so striking;  it really draws the eye.

 
I just adore the colours in this picture,
the Ethereal Coast Painting from Beach House Art.
I really get the sense of power from the sea and the natural world.

To show the depth of their passion, they’ve got prints and photos you wouldn’t normally think of having, such as red seaweed prints and watercolour seaweed paintings which really bring the sea into a room!    There’s coral art, too.

This is the Indigo Seaweed Print from Beach House Art - just beautiful!

Their beach photography shows many aspects of beach life and sea life which immediately connect you to the coast.  Some of the photos and prints pick up on different aspects of sea life, zooming in on items such as ropes and tackle, sails, a lifeguard hut, and palm trees. 

There’s sailing wall art, too, two of which have quotes such as “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” and “We can’t direct the wind but we can adjust our sails. 

They come framed or unframed – if the latter, they come in a roll.  And there are different sizes to choose from, too.

The prints and photos also understand the connection many of us have with the sea and sealife, such as this one, with the quote, Gulls just wanna have chips.   Gulls just love to swoop in on human food and you can imagine them flying down to grab some chips. 

 
This is a fun print from Beach House Art, and it's full of colour!

There are print sets, too, of two or three pictures, making for a very striking display. 

Their prints and photo prints make for great gifts for anyone who feels a connection  the sea – it brings it into the home.   You can almost smell the salty fresh air!

Sail away to Beach House Art to take a look for yourself!

Gift experience company Virgin Experience Days have an offer for you !  

They've got a wide range of experiences with a wide range of budgets to suit all ages!  Whether you're looking for a family day out, or a romantic break for couples, or the chance to do something you wouldn't ordinarily do perhaps, this is a chance to break from routine!

With animal experiences, afternoon teas, arts and craft opportunities, adventurous days out, short breaks, food and drink, spa and beauty and more, there are lots of gift ideas, and plenty of fun to be had! 

For garden lovers, there are garden experiences at Kew, the RHS, and gardens north, south, east and west!  

There are animal experiences, featuring big cats, donkeys, horses, dogs, birds, bees, pigmy goats, Arctic wolves, capybaras, alpacas, llamas, meerkats... the list is endless! 

If you want to have a go at something of an arts and crafts nature, you can - some experiences can even be done from home!   There's cooking, chocolate making, candle making, blacksmithing, Hobbycraft workshops, photography, pottery, glass blowing, create your own perfume, brush painting and more! 

Head off to Virgin Experience Days here

Have you heard of Snoozimals™?   

They are soft, plush toys, perfect for bedtime, naptime or snuggles on the sofa! 

At the CalendarClub.co.uk, there's an offer on them - you can Buy 1, and Get 1 Half Price!  This offer is available until the 28th August 2025.  

There are lots of Snoozimals™ to choose from at the CalendarClub
and you can buy 1 and get 1 half price.

You can choose from animals such as a red panda, a polar bear, a fox, a dinosaur, sloth, shark and unicorn.  There's also a panda, an elephant, a unicorn, and a dolphin.  A kitty and a hippo, a corgi, turtle and penguin are also in the range!

Hop off here to the CalendarClub to see the Snoozimals™ from the CalendarClub. 

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is drawing closer!  The Show runs from the 20^th to the 24^th May, the Tuesday and Wednesday being Members’ Days. 

I’m watching the BBC’s Gardener’s World as I type this, and am very excited about the news of the garden Monty Don is creating (aided by his gorgeous golden retriever, Ned) the RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden!

The idea is to ensure that dogs are integral to the design.   Ned helped Monty design the paths that intersect through the planting.  As you can imagine, golden retriever Ned just followed his nose – and that forged the routes to be copied at the Show!

Monty is creating the garden with a team at Form Plants, led by Jamie Butterworth, who is a plant expert and horticulturalist.  After the Show, the garden is heading to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where the animals can enjoy it! 

Read the five tips for creating a dog friendly garden from the RHS and Battersea here

The hope is that the RHS & BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden will encourage dog owners to create green spaces for both owners and pets. 

The RHS and Battersea have got 5 top tips for creating a dog-friendly garden which you can read here.   They include fencing off anything which could be toxic to your dogs and the article has information about that.  

Woof for now!

Dig here for more information about the garden Ned has had a paw in designing.

Please note that for entry to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the RHS website says, "Only guide and assistance dogs can be admitted, no pet animals. Please do not leave dogs unattended in parked cars."

Why not treat your loved one to a day out at an RHS Flower Show? 

There are a number of these throughout the year, including a new one, the RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire from the 16th to 20th July.   Find out about the RHS Flower Shows here.  

Well, May is just round the corner and for garden enthusiasts that means No Mow May is on its way from the plant charity Plantlife, who are asking us all not to mow our lawns.

No Mow May is all about giving Power to the Flowers, and letting your lawn (or at least some of it) grow.   Why?  Plantlife say that about 97% of flower-rich meadows have been lost since the 1930s, and that means that vital food and habitat needed by wildlife has gone as well.  Wildlife need things like clover, knapweed and long grass to help themsurvive and thrive. 

So they are asking us all not to mow our lawns with a campaign called #NoMowMay.  Different flowers give different resources for different wildlife,  so it’s good to have a variety.  Leave a mix of grass lengths in your lawn and help nature!  You can find out about it here – if we had a sprinkling of longer lawns across the UK, that would really help nature.   Watch for #NoMowMay  on social media!  And then follow on with Let it Bloom June!  Plantlife have lots of help and advice for your garden lawns to help nature and wildlife. 

Take a look at Plantlife's You Tube Channel

We’ve decided not to mow some of our lawn – we haven’t got a big one, but flowers are starting to appear on it, and they look very pretty!   Plantlife has advice on how to increase the number of wildflowers in your lawn, and they’ve got a guide to a nature friendly lawn too!

Dig here for more information.

And if you’re looking for a gift for a plant lover, you could think about giving your loved one a Membership to Plantlife or adopting a reserve, a flower, lichen or fungus, an acre, or a veteran tree.  They've also got very pretty sustainable bags.  Find out more here.