28 Aug 2012

Something a Little Bit Different

In the last post on my Ramblings from Rosebank blog here I wrote about a visit to a wonderful little place called the Garden Barn which is about a twenty minute drive from where we live.  I was so impressed with it that I took the beloved with me on Monday for another look.

It isn't a garden centre exactly - I mean it doesn't sell compost and the usual trays of pansies etc. - no it is more of a garden experience.  It used to be a farm but now the barns have been converted into a shop for garden ephemera.  Lots of vintage - and what the Americans would call 're-purposed' items.

Old tin baths ideal for use as planters

Old step ladders for displaying pot plants

Railway sleepers propped up on old chimneys to display a row of lavender

Earthenware pots and flagons for garden decoration

A beautiful vintage pergola for training the runner beans

and inside the barn - old display cabinets

all the items beautifully displayed

and upstairs in a viewing gallery - a small cafe with retro furniture.


and outside again - a cast iron garden table and chairs - sadly, for display purposes only.

I came away with lots of ideas to try and put into practice in my own garden.  I already have old tin buckets full of plants and the old flagons and earthenware which I have accumulated over the years.  And I have three railway sleepers that I have wondered what to do with.  Now I know - I'll use them to display pots of flowers raised on brick columns.

It's not often that I come across a place that ignites my imagination - this one certainly did.

9 comments:

  1. I love that place.Wish I could go there.The layout is so artisitic.It amazing how quite ordinary artifacts can look so great when arranged so beautifully.No wonder it inspired you. love Angela

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  2. What a brilliant place - all that terracotta, galvanised metal and nick nacks would make my heart sing too! Lovely Elaine!

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  3. What an inspirational place....! I'm looking forward to seeing what you do in your garden! Jx

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  4. This is the sort of place I could spend hours in... fascinating.

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  5. nice and interesting looking place but I am dying to know did your beloved buy anything?

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    1. Yes David - a Japanese Anemone and a terracotta pot

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    2. I trust he`s going to keep the anemone in the terracotta pot they can be quite rampant

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  6. That's most definitely a place that I'd be more than happy to have a good look round! Flighty xx

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  7. That's my kind of place, Elaine. I would LOVE to have that beautiful cast iron table & chairs for my garden. Thanks for taking us along. :-)

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