Hello from the Emerald Isle

Hello from the Emerald Isle

Well, I’ve had a busy couple of weeks! 

Last week was spent tidying my garden for a visit from the RHS magazine. Luckily the weather was gorgeous when they looked around and I hope the garden looked pretty; it’s so hard to see your own plot through someone else’s eyes, without feeing judged. I’m not a tidy gardener as I like to keep the birds, bees and butterflies happy but when a photographer turns up, all I can see is weeds and nettles. Being judged is something that the designers of the show gardens at Chelsea expect, but I know it famously makes them nervous too.

I'm filming a new drama series in Ireland at the moment - its just lovely to be in a part of the world that I don't know well and I am settling in to it very easily. The countryside, the people, the food and the open gardens are just wonderful. I’m here for two months so I will be posting as I visit the various country houses, gardens, eateries, orchards and seafood places.

I'm staying near Kilkenny so please do share any recommendations for places to explore on my days off!

In other news, I'm currently busy designing some new useful and I hope, pretty things for this site. Plus my next book 'Drawn to Nature 'is due for publication in September. I will be selling signed copies here and I will let you know as soon as they are available. Once again, it will have lots of my own illustrations, including one of a baby heron that I'm particularly fond of! 

Love as ever

CQ XX

23 comments

  • Mrs Susan Cope on

    Hi Caroline, you should visit Suzanna Crampton who has a small farm with zwartbles sheep. She has lots of amazing trees and a great garden.x 😊

  • Jill Jones on

    Have a lovely time in Ireland. I have only visited for a day many years ago.Would love to go back. Looking forward to your new book.Really enjoyed your last one .xx

  • Antonia Wright on

    This all sounds very exciting! I’m very interested in the gardening aspects and that’s why I follow you but very much looking forward to hearing about what you’re doing in Ireland!

  • Janice on

    How exciting for you being in Ireland for your filming hope it goes well. l look forward to seeing and hearing of your visits to some beautiful gardens and beauty spots lve never visited Ireland either.
    Also look forward to your new book loved the last one…..have fun x

  • Janet Nelson on

    Welcome to a very beautiful part of the world Caroline. One of my favourite and interesting gardens I’ve visited has to be at Blarney Castle. Up here in the North there are so many beautiful gardens to visit, Mount Stewart for example – simply fascinating. There is also the Butterfly house and gardens at Seaford and the small but beautiful walled garden in Bangor. Not forgetting Hillsborough Castle – all in County Down👍Enjoy your time here. Look forward to following your blog. Janet

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