Floriferous Lists-Gathering Joys: A Mid-May Collection

Joy lives in the little moments.

I’ve been a little quiet lately. The end of April and the start of May arrived in a bit of a whirlwind; busy, slightly wild, and at times, a little exhausting. But even in the midst of that hustle and bustle, there have been lots of little moments of joy.

Spring has truly settled in now. Everything is beginning to bloom; trees, meadows, and hedgerows are full of the abundance of life. We’ve been graced with golden sunlight, cornflower blue skies, and evenings that soften into shades of orange and rose.

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Here are a few of those moments I’ve been savouring lately:

• My first RHS Spring Festival
  Gardening is my escape: a quiet, creative outlet where I can breathe deeply and slow down. It feels like painting in slow motion, with living colour. The show gardens were incredibly inspiring: rich in texture, alive with wildlife, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Malvern Hills.

  We paused for tea and cake in a charming vintage tea room before I headed home with a small, haul of beautiful Nemesia: Wisley Vanilla - a delicate flower, fragrant, and filled with the soft scent of honey and vanilla.

• Embroidered handkerchiefs

  …because if I must endure hayfever, I might as well do it in style. I picked up a few vintage ones at a country living market and they feel like such a charming and elegant aid for every day life!

• Tadpoles
  Our little wildlife pond is full of life. The tadpoles are growing fast and seem on the cusp of becoming tiny froglets. It’s such a small thing, but watching that transformation feels like quiet magic.

• Peony season — enough said

  

• The M&S Big Daddy Pistachio bar
  I’m savouring every little morsel.

• Bubble baths and rom-coms
  My favourite bubble bath is back Ambre Vanille Honey Bath, and with it, the return of cosy evenings with bubbles and cheesy cult classic films. An unbeatable combination.

• Albion by Anna Hope

  

  I devoured this novel. What drew me in most was the poetic prose; a lyrical exploration of time, memory, and place, woven seamlessly into a deeply layered family drama. Each character felt vivid and complex, even when they were flawed or unlikeable, I found myself understanding them, seeing their contradictions and humanity. At its heart, this is a story about privilege, our colonial past, the possibility of redemption, and the quiet, powerful ways people can learn and transform mirroring the wild, shifting re-wilding project that fills the landscape that surrounds them. I was especially moved by the perspective of Rowen, the child caught in the emotional wake of the adults around her. The ever changing natural world becomes her constant, a quiet anchor through turmoil. It’s a beautifully told, evocative read, one I would highly recommend.

• Ducklings and goslings along the canal
  It’s endlessly sweet watching them waddle behind their parents through the bluebells and wild ammi. Yellow irises are bursting into bloom along the water’s edge, and the lily pads are just beginning to rise. The water is so clear, you can see the reeds dancing gently with the current, and on sunny days, fish bask in the light near the surface. It’s enchanting.

• The Merlin Bird ID app -

  I’ve been using it to learn bird songs, and it’s completely changed the way I listen to the world around me. It invites you to pause, take your headphones out, and really hear the dawn or dusk chorus. I especially love the cheerful chatter of wrens in the morning and the gentle, underrated beauty of the blackbird’s evening song.

  

• Homegrown roses
  Picking them fresh from the garden and popping them into little antique aqua glass bottles. Small, fragrant treasures and the more you cut the more they bloom.

• My hammock

  Gently swaying in the breeze, book in hand, cat curled up beside me. Albus is very much a fan of afternoon naps in the hammock, too.

  

• Morning matcha
  I’ve been slowly cutting back on coffee, which can leave me a bit jittery, and replaced it with a small cup of matcha in the mornings. It’s an acquired taste, but now I find myself looking forward to it. Sometimes I take it outside, sit in the stillness, and just breathe for a few minutes before the day begins.

• Gardeners’ World
  The perfect way to ease into a Sunday morning. I’m an early riser (usually up by 5:30), but on weekends, I let myself wake slowly. I’ll often stay curled up with a book, or watch Gardeners’ World with the cats snoozing (often snoring) peacefully beside me. A quiet start to the day, full of green thoughts and gentle rhythms. Gardeners’ World – BBC

• Braeburn apples

  Always. A little crisp, a little sweet, and something I genuinely look forward to each day.

The Wellness Scoop Podcast

A new favourite of mine. It cuts through the noise and unpacks all those wellness myths that flood our social media feeds.

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Thank you for being here, and for taking the time to read.
I hope this season has brought you some small, quiet moments of joy too.

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What little things have been bringing you joy lately?

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