2013 winner at the Chelsea Flower Show - Fleming's Nurseries rendition of Phillip Johnson's Trailfinders Australian Garden

I am over the moon with joy that Fleming's Nurseries (they hail from Monbulk in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne) have taken out the champion garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in London.  The picture above is Phillip Johnson's design.  Below is the design fulfilled.

Fleming's have been exhibiting at Chelsea for two decades.  The mind boggles at the dollar investments - and the human resources investments - they have made.  And now Fleming's have hit the jackpot, the pinnacle. It is being said that, for the first time in the history of the Chelsea Flower Show, the judges were unanimous in their decision to award the grand prize to the Australian garden.

And here is Phillip Johnson speaking about the design and the garden

GIRLS' DAY OUT AT MORNINGTON : BAY HOTEL : POMME: MORNINGTON ANTIQUES CENTRE

Herself and I had a girls day out to-day. We drove to Mornington. First of all, we stopped for lunch at the Bay Hotel.  You can see the bistro section - which was beautifully warm and toasty - on the right of the collage above.

We checked out the menu:

We had certainly picked our day because we were able to avail ourselves of the Monday/Tuesday Special which meant that if we picked a "starred" item we got it for $15 with a complimentary glass of wine.  I know I don't dine out often these days, Trad Padders, but I hadn't come across a cleverly marked menu such as this.  Along with the stars, the menu sported tiny 'v's for vegetarian and 'gf's for gluten free.  I am vegetarian and I appreciated this thoughtful touch and I am sure the gluten free brigade would too.

I ordered Mediterranean Pappardelle which, ordinarily according to the menu, has chicken.  I asked for the dish without the chicken and they were happy to oblige.  So my pappardelle came with roasted vegetables, pan seared with olive oil, tossed through the pappardelle and sprinkled with feta and toasted pine nuts.  Herself - who is a carnivore - ordered the Hopkins River Beef Burger.  I didn't have the wine.  Herself had mine and I had a coke.  She seemed well pleased with her vino.  I noted that The Bay promotes local Mornington Peninsula wines with other Australian wines bringing up the rear.  So, as you can see, we had good provender.

Our real purpose for the day was to visit the Mornington Antiques Centre.  But before we set off for there, Herself wanted to make a visit to the local Bed Bath and Table.  We couldn't find close parking in the main street and had to turn out of the main street only to find ample parking and more shops, including major chains like Target, behind the main street shops.  We got out of the car and Pomme caught my eye.  I figured in could do BBT back home any time.  And off I went to Pomme...

The chairs at the front of Pomme are bright and cheery

and the store will cover these chairs to the fabric of your choice.

 Display of art and design, jewellery and homewares

is beautifully done at Pomme.  Go see for yourselves.

 These delicate hanging pendants are filled with tiny treasures.

Behind them, are enchanting artworks of Belted Galloway cattle.

I purchased something for my sister's forthcoming birthday -

but I won't let out the secret here.

Then we were off to browse the Morninton Antiques Centre...

And we did walk away with some goodies.

Herself bought a beautiful print of pink roses.

I brought home a chest of drawers which I hope to transform

and two wooden cutlery holders for pens & scissors & etceteras.

Perhaps that will be the subject of the next post.

The development Edna Walling designed

Dear Trad Padders,

If you scroll down the sidebar you will come cross my links which are categorised.  One whole category is dedicated (with many links) to one woman: Edna Walling.  By the time you work your way through those links you should have a good idea of who Edna Walling was and why she and her work are so admired.

In the long ago, Edna undertook some real estate development.  The development was named Bickleigh Vale and is situated in the the outer eastern Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark.  In Edna's time, this area would have been rural or semi-rural.  To-day it is suburban and, unless you know where to look, it is easily missed.  The development is situated around Bickleigh Vale Road, off Pembroke Road in Mooroolbark.

The road is a dirt/gravel road.  I think it is likely to be a "local road" where the local residents take responsibility for their own road.  It wanders between tall trees which appear, remarkably, never to have seen a bushfire.  Many of the houses are timber so I think the residents are probably very fire conscious since the old timber homes would probably burn like paper.

Recently one of the houses came up for sale and it had a great promotion in real estate section of The Age, one of Melbourne's major dailies.  I include some of these for your interest and titillation.  BTW, one needs something more than bottletops to purchase n this neighbourhood.

Related reading:

 

The Vision of Edna Walling: Garden Plans 1920-1951 

The Unusual Life of Edna Walling 

 

Gardens in Australia: Their Design and Care 

A Gardener's Log 

THE GARDEN MAGIC OF EDNA WALLING 

The gardens of Edna Walling 

EDNA WALLING'S YEAR: Ideas and Images from All Seasons 
Australian Roadside 
Letters to garden lovers 
Happiest Days of My Life 
Cottage and garden in Australia 
Gardens in Time : In the footsteps of Edna Walling 

Whatta place - Howey Place!

On Friday night, Miss Eagle was having a wander in the city and found herself in Howey Place. Aaaah!

Howey Place is a laneway of lovely shops off Little Collins Street. The circle on the map above marks the spot.

Dear Reader, if you are living overseas, you should know that Melbourne is the shopping capital of Australia. It is also the artiest city in Australia and the most European. Mmmm...

At the entry to Howey Place is Oroton on the left...
and French Connection (FCUK) on the right.
Special occasion elegance is in the window at Stellini...
and the latest trends at Jason Grech.
Accessorising is done at Glass Tree ...
... and sheer class comes from Andrea Yasmin.
David Medlow Chocolates are a recent addition...
...with fruity delectables...
...and liqueur choclates.

And then there is Miss Eagle's favourite - Alannah Hill.

Miss E has written about her before.

Funky, feminine elegance...
...mixed and flaunted...
And in the door Miss Eagle went, dear Reader...
...into the luscious foyer...
...with the glowing red portholes and signature Alannah flowers...
...and more flamboyant fashion...

...under red canopies of light.
All in all, a stimulating walk, daydreaming, musing, enjoying.