Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Petersham Nurseries











After a few days running around in London, my plan is always to spend a day out at Richmond with a visit to the very stylish Petersham Nurseries. This trip coincided with the Petersham House's open garden day, which made it all the more special.

We stayed at the nearby Petersham Hotel from where you can walk across the meadows to the village of Petersham which is like an old country hamlet in the middle of parklands in London suburbia. There's only a handful of houses, one of which is owned by the Nurseries owners, Gael and Francesco Boglione who bought the old run-down nursery almost a decade ago and transformed it into a model of garden style and eco-conscious practices.

Perhaps their best decision was to entice Sydney-born chef Skye Gyngell (sister of Nine Network chief, David) to cook for them in the restaurant and it now has a Michelin Star as well as a star-studded following. When we were there I was almost bowled over by the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood. An interior designer friend who lives in Richmond also adores the Nurseries and says last time she dined there Madonna was at the next table.

Lunch is served in the greenhouses on delightfully rustic vintage metal tables surrounded by vintage garden artifacts, old armoires, chandeliers and potted plants. This inspirational atmosphere feels more like a Lucianna Arrighi set for a movie than a plant nursery.

It was lovely to take a stroll around the gardens of the house. For me, the highlight was the kitchen garden which supplies fresh produce for the restaurant and the Boglione's conservatory. One of the main features of the garden is the 50 metre long herbaceous border - a very English folly which was flowering madly.

6 comments:

  1. Well goodness! I used to live in Richmond before coming to Sydney and this takes me back. Takes me back and yanks on the heartstrings for all that verdant, overspilling green!

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  2. Oh Catherine, didnt realise you were overseas. How brilliant. Lots of inspiration I bet!

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  3. Thanks for letting us know about this gorgeous location in London. Skye is one fabulous chef too.
    Best Carolyn

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  4. What a beautiful spot. I wish my poor neglected lawns looked like that!
    Clare

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  5. What a beautiful post..i like it..Beautiful pics..thanks for sharing..

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  6. What wonderful blooms and garden furniture! I'm very envious! Have a wonderful time!

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