Outfit Details:

Banana Republic Dress (also love this purple peplum one), Tabitha Simmons Flats (now on sale & more sizes here), Chanel Bag (similar style here)

On our last few days in London we had the most perfect weather. Summer felt like it had rolled in which was an abrupt change from the winter-like temps in the previous days. A day outdoors was in order and I had one thing on my mind: gardens. London has the best selections of gardens to choose from, all perfectly manicured and filled with fragrant blooms. Remember when we visited the Queen Mary’s Rose Garden last summer here? Rose saw that the bluebells, among other flowers, were blossoming over at Kew Gardens, so we were sold.

Kew Gardens is a big place and can seem a bit overwhelming on where to start, after all, it is the world’s largest collection of living plants. We made it easy and beelined for the bluebells which were not hard to spot. We saw shimmering purple off in the distance, in between forests of the greenest trees. Based on the Kew Gardens website, it seems like they always have something going on, whether it’s an exhibit opening or a new series of flowers or plants that are awakening for summer. If you’re in the area starting June 17th, this installation called The Hive gives a unique experience into the lives of working bees. The massive beehive is surrounded by fields of wildflowers and looks absolutely spectacular. Wish we would be in town to see it in person!

After a flower-filled afternoon, our stomachs were rumbling for something tasty. I had seen Clifton Nurseries on Instagram prior to our trip and definitely wanted to pop over. What a brilliant combination- a colorful nursery + a darling cafe. Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by flowers while eating in the sun drenched palm house? We slipped in just shortly before closing and had most of the place to ourselves. We ordered some fresh mint tea and baked goods before we wandered through their selection of hydrangeas to find something to take back.

Thomas and I took a little souvenir home to our sweet friends (hi, Rose!) who let us crash at their place during our time in London. It felt like our home away from home and much better than any hotel. We were sad when we left, no more morning chats and tea or late night takeout and Monopoly. We can’t wait for our next visit over, which will be soon since we’ll just takeover their guest room again ;)