Last month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers topic was green window sills and balconies and I shared my cake dome filled with seedlings. However, May’s topic was greens in cafes, restaurants and shops and I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to contribute as I’ve been trying to save a bit of money for my new home office, which meant no shopping or eating in restaurants! However, because we have a dog we are constantly out and about walking him whether it be in our local Southwark park or we regularly take him over to Richmond Park for a weekend swim in the lakes. Therefore, over the last week I have come across some lovely greens in cafes, restaurants and shops on our walks that I wanted to share with you as it may give you some inspiration for your own home and garden.
The first pics (all on my iPhone whilst trying to restrain a dog so not the best quality, I’m afraid) I took are from a Richmond Park walk when we stopped off at Petersham Nurseries. You can’t get much greener than this place; it is a restaurant and shop set within a nursery so you’re surrounded by plants and there’s even soil on the ground.
Petersham Nurseries restaurant.
As well as eat at Petersham Nurseries you can also buy beautiful plants and homewares.
Next, is an idea I love using at home, which is planting flowers or herbs in old food tins. I found these this morning at The Garrison on Bermondsey street (we treated ourselves to breakfast!).
We walked past a pub the other day on a River Path walk towards Rotherhithe. I had to stop and take a photo of the drain pipes they have erected on the facade of the pub, filled with soil and growing Nasturtiums from holes they have cut in the pipes. So pretty and such a great idea for the garden!
And finally, I want to share a special place that we discovered last weekend in Rotherhithe, after a walk in Southwark Park. It’s a a roof top garden connected to the Brunel Museum, right next to the river. It’s a circular herb and vegetable garden called the Midnight Apothecary that serves cocktails and mocktails. They host a special saturday night event that costs £5 – you get entrance to the museum and the garden where you can drink cocktails and toast marshmallows in the central fire pit. It is magically lit with lots of little lights and I think it’s going to be my new favourite place.
Yummy cocktails at Midnight Apothecary garden.
The bar grows all it’s own herbs for the cocktails.
Thanks to Igor and Judith for their Urban Jungle Bloggers inspiration. You must all take a look at Igor’s lovely Boot cafe in Paris post and Judith’s post about the gorgeous plants in the Ally Capellino shop in Notting Hill.
Katy x
Wow, now this I call a real green jungle café! Wonderful discovery and thank you for sharing it with our little green family:-)
My pleasure, Igor. Look forward to next month’s topic 🙂
I love that pipe solution for the Nasturtium! Definitely going to try that with mine, as it’s growing all over the greenhouse now 😉 And what a fab place, the Midnight Apothecary. It just has to be your new favorite spot, name-wise 😉 and it’s so cool that they grow their own herbs for the cocktails. Thanks for sharing these, Katy!
I know! How perfect is that name! Loved your post, Judith x
Good post. The great thing about the nasturtiums is that you can add the flowers to salads too. If you’re ever around the Southbank, check out Tas Ev just by Southwark tube station – they’ve converted three spaces under railway arches into bar, restaurant and café, and outside it’s like a little Mediterranean paradise.
I’ve actually been there, Louise. Its really, really lovely, isn’t it? May have to pop down there again soon now the summer is back x