Styling the Seasons - May

May is one of my favourite months. My birthday is in May, just (I'm a day away from June) and my son, my first born, arrived into this world 3 years ago later this month (how did that happen?!)

The beginning of May, with its bluebell woods, sweet forget-me-nots and bold tulips always feels like Spring is in full swing. Lighter evenings make for happy, productive evenings in the garden and a busy time of seed sowing for us.

Its at this point that the garden's growth really steps up a gear and from now, right through to early Autumn, I love that I can pick flowers straight from my back door. One of my greatest joys is snipping away at our home grown flowers and filling up all manner of containers, jars and bottles to dot around the house.

On Thursday evening when the kids were down, I did just that. Armed with my scissors and phone (to catch some photos before the light faded) I enjoyed a little mosy. It was then that I spotted my inspiration for this month's Styling the Seasons post.

Tucked away amongst some grass and growing next to our Willow arch was a few tiny sprigs of Lily of the Valley. I thought I'd spotted its distinctive leaf a week or two ago and remembered planting some bulbs a few years back but as nothing flowered last year I wasn't sure if they'd died. As I knelt down to take these photos their beautiful perfume was unmistakable.

Lily of the Valley is the flower for May. I remember being given Lily of the Valley soaps when I was younger and my Gran telling me that it was my birth flower. The smell of them instantly takes me back to her spare bedroom where she told me about it as I opened up the soaps.

So, despite there only being a couple of delicate, bell adorned stems I knew I had to bring one in to the house. I also knew that it had to be placed somewhere where its scent could be enjoyed and decided that nowhere would be better but my beside my bed. I wasn't sure how long it would last when cut (I cut some clematis that did NOT like being brought in yesterday) and wanted to see it as much as possible while it didn't look too sorry for itself.

One thing I love about Styling the Seasons is that it encourages me to look at a surface in a new way and to bring in other objects and items that weren't there before. One of the items I wanted to include when styling this surface was this little glass Chinese tree.

This ornament was one of the things I chose from my Gran's house when she sold it about 3 years ago. It's moved about to various spots in our bedroom and has gathered a lot of dust on its delicate branches. However since losing Gran a few weeks ago, every item I've had from her has suddenly gained even greater significance to me. Just as this flower brings back memories of her home, it's lovely to have a part of it in my own home.

I have to say it did require a lot of wiping down with a handy wet wipe before it was ready to be photographed though!

I couldn't finish this post without talking about that tiny footprint you can see on the lamp. My husband's incredibly talented Aunt is a Ceramicist and made the lamp for us after our daughter Anwen was born. She makes these stunning lamps by taking a cast from sand and I was lucky enough to be given one by my kids (ahem, Sam) for my birthday last year.

Linda wanted to try out adding footprints to these lamps so when Anwen came along she asked us to take a cast off her tiny feet in some clay. When we next visited I was blown away at this incredible piece of art that she presented us with. It is so special, truly unique and looks amazing when it's lit.

You can take a look at more of Linda's stunning work

here

. If you live in the South East then you can also see her work in

Brighton Open Houses

every weekend in May. Linda will be showing her work at:

- Dog House, 15 Hampstead Road and

- 202 Ditchling Road

Well worth a visit, especially as you can see and buy her work in person.