The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, Cinco de Mayo, mint juleps, tapestry lawns, C. Atherley. and more on weekend meanderings.
WEEKEND MEANDERINGS
Good Saturday morning to you friends. It’s time for Weekend Meanderings with Kim and Juliet! This is our weekly series where we share all of the things that piqued our interests and caught our eye.
It is going to be a fun and busy weekend. Today is the Kentucky Derby, I will be skipping the mint julep for an Oaks Lily while I snack on some pimento cheese dip.
Then tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo and my sister-in-laws birthday. I made a scrumptious chocolate cake for the birthday girl and barely had enough frosting because I taste tested it one too many times.
Ok, let’s meander.
Cocktails for the Weekend
If you are hosting a Derby or Cinco de Mayo party here are the recipes that we use to make Mint Julep and Classic Fresh Margaritas.
Mint Julep
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Bourbon
- 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
- 3 Fresh Mint Leaves
- Crushed Ice
Express the essential oils in the mint by placing one leaf on your hand and smacking it with the other. Then rub the leaf inside the glass. Next, add the simple syrup, bourbon and crushed ice to the glass. Stir. Garnish with more ice and fresh mint.
Fresh Margarita
Ingredients
- 4 oz. tequilla
- 2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 oz. simple syrup
- 1 oz. Triple Sec or Grand Marnier orange liqueur
For the rim of glass:
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime zest
- 11/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Cinco de Mayo
Still need a few things to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Here are some delicious additions to your menu:
- Carnitas Tacos
- Ground Beef Tacos
- Spicy Mexican Shrimp Bowls
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Easy Refried Beans
- Mexican Street Corn
- Guacamole
- Homemade Salsa
C. Atherley Geraniums
A story of renewal, a childhood fascination with scented geraniums and a move to the countryside, with the idea for the collection sparked by a much loved greenhouse.
Catherine Kidston Padgham’s new bath and body brand, C.Atherley launched not too long ago and is the perfect gift for the geranium lover in your life. Named for grandmother, this line celebrates her love of gardening and flowers.
Catherine is the founder of the wildly popular home goods company Cath Kidston, she is also an author, and interior designer. She got her start working for Niky Halsam whom she credits with giving her confidence to go off on her own and eventually start Cathe Kidston. Several years ago she sold the majority stake in Cathe Kidston and has since created Joy of Print and C. Atherley Geraniums.
After a chance meeting with old friends Denis and Leslie Aaronson, founders Heathcote and Ivory the idea for C.Atherley grew. The result is natural body care products made only from distinctive geranium fragrances.
The collection includes, bath oil, body lotion, bubble bath, salts, scrubs and more. You can find them online and in stores. Or pick some up on your next trips to London.
Tapestry Lawns
Speaking of flowers, have you ever thought about converting your yard to a wild, colorful wonderland for pollinators? You might be interested in planting a tapestry lawn. Also known as meadow lawn, prairie lawn, or patchwork lawn are all the “rage” and latest lawn trend this year.
Tapestry lawns have actually been around for years but with the cost of lawn maintenance and water they are making a resurgence. A tapestry lawn uses low growing perennial plants with colorful leaves and flowers, including herbs, ground cover and flowering plants in place of traditional grass as we know it. Clover, creeping thyme, and chamomile are just a few of the plants used.
There are many benefits of converting your turf to a tapestry lawn:
- low maintenance, little to no mowing
- affordable
- attacks pollinators
- drought tolerant
- shade tolerant
- low water
- eco-friendly
More on tapestry lawns
Tapestry Lawns: Why You Need This Low-Maintenance Grass Alternative
Important Things to Know About Tapestry Lawns
How to Grow a Tapestry Lawn—the Landscaping Trend That Turns Your Yard Into a Living Masterpiece
Wanderlust
The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
Belgium is one of my favorite places to visit, but in all of the times I have been there I have never had the opportunity to visit the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken.
In 1873 King Leopold II and architect AlphonseBalat designed the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken. Over 31 years they built a complex of 7 stunning Art Nouveau greenhouses built entirely of metal and glass. Influenced by the Chrystal Palace at the Great Exhibition in 1851 King Leopold wanted to build something similar in his palace garden.
The greenhouses are world famous not just for their architecture but also because collection of exotic and rare plants from all over the world that are housed within them, including the Royal Botanic Collection, camellias, orange trees and plants from Africa.
Every spring, the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken are open to the public for 3 weeks, it is the only time of the year the public have access to the garden. This is a tradition that was started by King Leopold II and has continued to this day.
If you have plans to go to Belgium next year make sure to get tickets for The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken.
Beatrix Potter fans you will be happy to know that the original building which inspired Beatrix to write The Tailor of Glochester is a museum.
In 1894 Beatrix Potter went to visit her cousin, Caroline Hutton, her cousin told her the story of a tailor who left work one night with a waistcoat cut out and when he returned to work the next day it had been sewn together. The tailor said it had been sewn by fairies.
Beatrix asked to see the shop, and drew a few sketches. Then in 1901, when a friends daughter was ill, she used the sketches and the shop as the inspiration for her book The Tailor of Glochester.
The shop and museum are open to the public, is free of charge and it is located at 9 College Court, Gloucester.
While there don’t forget to visit Gloucester Cathedral Cloisters which were the corridors in Hogwarts Harry Pottery films.
LINKS TO READ+WATCH+LISTEN
How Fleetwood Mac Got Cool Again
This gardening book looks great too!
19 Things Your Kitchen Doesn’t Really Need
A Very Ornate Park Avenue Time Capsule
The forgotten medieval habit of ‘two sleeps’
Essential Supplies For Raised Bed Gardening
The Best Way to Keep Mosquitoes From Breeding in Your Yard
51 Wonderful Words With No English Equivalent
Why we keep seeing egg prices spike
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT THIS WEEK
Monday I shared a gorgeous Homeworthy home tour,The Bordeaux Book Club, Gillian Harvey, Fashion Over 50 Summer Outfit and more.
Click the image below for the outfit pieces that you like.
Then I shared a few Mother’s Day gift ideas, including these gorgeous vases based on the patterns of traditional Irish Knit sweaters from the Aran Islands.
Next, my 10 favorite Derby foods, including bourbon brownies, mint juleps, pimento cheese dip, hot brown sandwiches and many more delicious morsels. By the way of you have leftover pimento cheese it is delicious in homemade macaroni and cheese.
Last but not least, Friday favorites, books, recipes, fashion, decor and more, including this outfit and this scrumptious no-bake cosmic brownie cheesecake.
This classic, casual blue and white skirt outfit is great for days out, to take on holiday and to wear to a bbq or just a day at home.
Click the images for the outfit details. To see more of my outfits follow me on LTK.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
I hope that you enjoyed weekend meanderings. If you did please share the post on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter or Pinterest.
Have a great day and a wonderful weekend.
Don’t forget to pop over visit my friends Kim and Juliet you can find the links below. If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here.
This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
On My Radar
Happy Saturday, Elizabeth!
I really enjoyed Weekend Meanderings (as always!) I did not realise Cath Kidston had sold the majority of her shares in the company several years ago. That makes me happy as the company has gone into receivership in the UK, so I am glad she is no longer part of it! I always loved her designs and it is wonderful to see her geraniums.
It has been a few years as our son was quite small when we went (he is now 31), but we visited the shop in Gloucester that inspired Beatrix Potter’s The Tailor of Gloucester. It is very quaint and we had a lot of fun. I also enjoyed the Beatrix Potter exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum a few years ago. She was a fascinating woman. Thank you so much for sharing this post with the Hearth and Soul Community!
Good morning! I’ve never been to Belgium and the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken make me think I might need to go. Next spring. You always share such interesting things … and I learn so much. You should see my notes! As for Beatrix Potter, I suddenly have an urge to return to England. Better get some travel plans in order. But back to the more immediate concerns of the Derby and Mint Juleps. Is there a prettier drink? I don’t think so. Please don’t fall over, but I didn’t know who Cath Kidston was … or her store. My gosh, I’m always late to the party. Geraniums, especially the trailing ones, are one of my favorite flowers to grow. And they seem to be foolproof because I have success with them. Tapestry lawn is a great term. Here in California lawns are being replaced left and right. We took ours out. I love the idea of replacing them with these beautiful wildflowers and other pretties. So much fun stuff today, Elizabeth. Happy Derby Day … and Happy Cinco de Mayo Birthday to your SIL! Cinco de Mayo! xo
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for a lovely post. So interesting to hear about those greenhouses and they look incredible!
Happy weekend!
Francesca, I thought so too! I have them on my list for my next trip!
Hi Elizabeth,
I watched the Kentucky Derby today (or at least parts of it), I thought of you since you had your favorite goodies to sip and munch on.
The antique looking pot that you show with the mint in it. Is that a pot you happened to purchase or is it a picture you found? I think that container/saucer is really unusual.
I too have been making the frosting from the
Hershey’s Cocoa can too. I have never made the cake from the HC. I usually do a yellow cake instead. The question I have for you since you are “the Queen Baker.” Do you suggest doing the dark HC for the cake and frosting? I would think it’s much richer with the dark.
Thank you for your advise.
Hello Katherine,
If you are referring to the silver cup it is an vintage Kentucky Derby Julep cup, it is engraved on the front The Kentucky Derby and if memory serves me it is from the 50s’. It is older than me. My husband love Kentucky and the Derby and I gave it to him as a gift one year.
The Hersheys frosting is my FAVORITE frosting ever, I could eat the whole bowl. As for the cake, I typically use Cacao Barry Cocoa Powder in most any chocolate cake that I bake. But I have used the HC for the cake and it os good. To be honest, I think the frosting is the most important thing.
Have a wonderful week!
Elizabeth, Really enjoyed this post and especially shaping to the greenhouses of Laeken! I have never heard of them and what a treat that would be. I love Belgium, but haven’t been to Brussels, except to pass through it on train. I think Belgium is an undiscovered gem and Bruges was one of my most favorite places I’ve ever been. Thank you so much for sharing this!
I didn’t know about Cath Kidston’s new geranium scented venture, but I think that sounds wonderful. I love them and I think they do have such a pretty look and distinctive scent! I did not know about the Beatrix Potter spot, but I would love to get there! You find the coolest things.
I hope your SIL enjoys her cake! It sounds delicious. I totally forgot it was Cinco de Mayo. What kind of Californian am I? Guess it was the travel this week. Both drinks look so good. Love the blue short outfit too.
I hope you had a fun weekend! x
Elizabeth, thank you so much for sharing my Essential Supplies post! You are so kind. I love your links, as always. The summer short outfit is perfect! Have the best day!
Kim, you are very welcome! Have a wonderful week! Happy Belated Mothers Day.