The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes

McPartlin, A. (2014). The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes. London: Transworld Publishers.

Dr Anne has bought the Richard and Judy 2015 Book Club.  She chose the book about Rabbit Hayes last days in a hospice as her first read.  

It was a grand read from beginning to end - an Irish family - a strong opinionated mother with an adoring father, a big sister (Grace) and her family, a wayward musical brother (Davey), a best friend (Marjorie) and a 12 year old daughter, Juliet.  What to do about Juliet when Rabbit dies.  Who decides?

Running alongside the family comings and goings was the story of Rabbit's kindred spirit Johnny who had developed MS young.

Dr Anne awards 7/10.

The Pavilion and the Floral Art

Dr Anne spent her usual two hours in the Pavilion.  There were fewer exhibitors this year.  

The tulips were amazing, the clematis were awesome, the irises were to die for.

The Interflora Stand.

This ceramic column of tulips was designed by the guy who designed the poppies at the Tower of London.  

Below are Dr Anne's highlights from the floral arrangements.

The Show Gardens

Brewin Dolphin Garden

L'Occitane - A Perfumer's Garden in Grasse

The M&G Garden - The Retreat

The Royal Bank of Canada Garden

Sentebale - Hope in Vulnerability

This garden got a silver gilt but it was the people's garden.

The Daily Telegraph garden had blocks of plantings.

The Beauty of Islam - sleek.

The Hidden Beauty of Kranji - Singapore.

The Viking Ocean Cruises.  See the cruise boat.

The Homebase Urban Retreat Garden in associate with Macmillan Cancer Support.

See the structures of the urban environment with the softness of nature.

The Time In Between 

This water feature takes a long time to fill but can empty in seconds.  It reflects the loss of someone close.

The Morgan Stanley Healthy Cities Garden

Sean, the amateur gardener with the brief for a front garden.

Sean's garden was quite impressive.

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Sean with one of the judges of the amateur gardener competition.

Sean arrived with phone stuck to his ear.

Sean met some friends.

The Artisan Gardens and The Fresh Gardens

Dr Anne likes the Artisan and Fresh Gardens better than the big Show Gardens.

Greygranite and  Dr Anne headed for the Artisan Gardens when they arrived at 0800. 

Dr Anne's favourite was the Evader's Garden by Chorley Council. She was there when the designer was awarded a silver gilt.  

A sculpture of a young pilot, seconds after parachuting into France, hides in the ruins of a war damaged church.  His eyes look up to a stained glass window where two young French people are reaching out to help him.  

A code poem engraved into a tablet.

The path is the pilot's parachute.

The designer meets the judge.

Dr Anne's second favourite was the Japanese Edo garden which won gold.  It reminded her of her recent read about the Garden of Evening Mists.

The Sculptor's Picnic Garden

The Old Forge for Motor Neurone Disease Association

Brewers Yard by Welcome to Yorkshire

Runnymede Surrey Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Garden

Future Climate Info, A Trugmaker's Garden

Breast Cancer Haven Garden

Below are Dr Anne's favourites in the Fresh Gardens Section.  

The Breakthrough Breast Garden

The plantings were superb. The stone pathway was crossed by a ribbon of soft pink planting.

The water pools rippled every 10 minutes to represent the shocking statistic of a woman being diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  

The ethereal green and white planting created a feeling of hope.

The Pure Land Foundation Garden

Wonderful white shimmering structures with superb plantings.

Harrod's Fragrance Garden

Dark Matter Garden for the National Schools' Observatory

The World Vision Garden inspired by the beauty of Cambodia. This was awesome. 

Thinking of Peace by Lace Landscapes.

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