hchhewitt: padova in bloom

The thing about being cosmopolitan and fabulous in a city without any shrubbery is that seasons come and go and you're not really sure where you are. And all of a sudden you're caught in a blizzard in your summer dress feeling anything but fabulous. Either in honour of Kat's visit or because it was about ruddy time we saw some greenery, Padova finally found the spring in its step. And boy was it worth the wait.

The ghetto in bloom. (It really is called the ghetto, not just my pet name because it's where the scallys hang out)

Rows of herbs I didn't even know existed. Pineapple sage has definitely been missing from my herb garden.

And just as we're there thinking the morning couldn't get any more perfect, there's a man in a giant lime serving up cold tumblers of limey-coconut heaven.

Feeling all springy we went off in search of more flowers and ended up at the Orto Botanico.

I came here with Mum & Dad in Autumn and it was pretty spectacular. But Spring is pure and simple magic! The entire Dulux range in flower form, bursting out from every corner. It's enough to send your hayfever wild.