Lulu’s Review of 2016
Now that Santa’s been and we are almost in 2017, it’s time to have a quick look back at what’s been happening in 2016. What was your favourite thing in 2016? Here are a few of my top picks, from best books and products to best places I visited…
Having fun outdoors was the most important part of 2016!
Garden of the Year
The winner of this accolade simply has to be Jupiter Artland this year. We had a wonderful day there this summer with the very talented photographer Julie Howden who took some lovely photos of me and Tilda. It’s such a fun place to hang out. Our favourite is the land-forms by Charles Jencks which we ran around for hours! It’s packed full of amazing sculptures and bits to explore.
Hide and seek is the best fun at Jupiter Artland
Event of the Year
The winner of this award is the Fairy Trail at the Woodland Experience in Balfron. It was such good fun we went there twice and I am already planning on going back again when they re-open next Spring. There are LOTS of fairy doors to find, a wishing chair, worry tree and LOTS more.
Fairy Trail Fun
Product of the Year
This was a hard choice and we have reviewed lots of amazing things this year. My pick is not cheap but it’s worth the money as it’s such great quality, very practical and we will use it for years. It’s the Twigz wheelbarrow! It’s so sturdy that it makes wheeling Tilda about super easy!
The Twigz wheelbarrow is great quality
Craft Project of the Year
We LOVE a craft project at Vialii Towers so we had plenty to consider for this award. My choice is this super cute glittery acorn.
Glittery acorns – gorgeous!
Top Tip of the Year
We are always looking for cheap and easy ways to have fun outdoors. We had lots of fun playing noughts and crosses with some twigs and pebbles on an old tree stump. Free fun is the best!
Free fun!
Book of the Year
Our final award, for the best book, goes to the The Children’s Garden. A brilliant book packed with loads of great ideas to do outdoors throughout the seasons.
My book of the year
So that’s my review of 2016. I hope you had as much fun as me. Here’s to getting outdoors and having a ball in 2017!
Happy New Year from me, Tilda and all at Vialii.
Lulu xx
Vialii Review of 2016
It’s getting to that time of year. With Christmas on our doorstep, 2016 stretches back behind us, packed full of gorgeous gardens, perfect products and funny Fringe shows! Here is the Vialii review of 2016 and all our best bits…
Website of the Year
Well it has to be our own new website doesn’t it?! It took a while for it to come to fruition but we think it was worth the wait. Pride of place if our new portfolio section which showcases the many gardens we have designed and built over the years with lots more photos to see. We have brought our well-loved blog into the cosy confines of the website too as well as making the whole website and blog more user friendly and packed full of lovely images of gardens. We hope you love it as much as we do.
Website of the Year
Garden Product of the Year
Our vote goes to Bogs wellies. Mrs Vialii got a pair of these and they are the warmest, cosiest, funkiest wellies we have seen. Perfect for gardening, walking the dog or just generally getting outdoors.
Green Product of the Year
We love the Wind Tree which has just arrived in the UK. As prices drop we hope to see more of these used in urban areas to help power lighting. We would love to include one in a community garden we are planning if we can…
Fun Design of the Year
We have had so much fun working with the Dunblane Centre, designing their outdoor space. We will start building it early 2017 and it will include a Seasonally Enchanted Path, Mini Allotment, Yoga Shack, Sensory Garden and much more. From flip flop walls to willow contemplation domes, this place will definitely be worth a visit!
Fun Design of the Year
Garden Feature of the Year
We are so lucky to be able to commission lots of wonderful features to go into the gardens we design. This year we have seen raised ponds, water features, bespoke seating, dry stone seats and much more. It’s really hard to choose a favourite but we do really love “Orbital” by Steve Wood for a garden we designed in Bridge of Allan.
Garden Feature of the Year
Plant of the Year
Wow, how do we pick?! OK, if we must, then this year we will go for pennisetum. A wonderful grass which gives wonderful texture to the garden. How can you resist touching these wonderful fluffy plumes of pennisetum “Summer Samba”?!
Plant of the Year
Quirkiest Garden Brief of the Year
We are always kept on our toes by our clients and every garden is unique. Some are more unique than others and this one in Dollar was a first for us as the clients asked us to include a golf tee in the design!
Quirkiest Garden Brief of the Year
Show Garden of the Year
This year Jo Thompson’s Chelsea Barrack’s Garden won our hearts. What a beautiful place to relax. Perfect!
We hope you have all had as great a 2016 as us and we wish you the very best for 2017.
All at Vialii