Harry Bush (1883-1957), Snowfall in the Suburbs - A View from the Artist's House, 1940. Image courtesy of Liss Llewellyn
What better way to give your mum a treat this Mother's Day than spending quality time with her, taking in the latest London show or going to an art gallery? From floral displays to high fashion, the choice is hers.
Both Petersham Nurseries Covent Garden and Petersham Nurseries Richmond are celebrating Mother's Day this year with a series of themed menus and mindful masterclasses along with a line-up of beautiful gifts. The in-house restaurants in Covent Garden, La Goccia and The Petersham, will both be serving special Mother's Day set menus and afternoon tea in beautiful floral surroundings. The Richmond site, meanwhile, will present an intimate wine lunch with a four-course menu served alongside a range of Petersham Cellar wines. Workshops include a fermentation class that will teach attendees how to make their own sourdough starter and a floral masterclass that shows participants how to create a hand-tie bouquet. A selection of floral arrangements will also be available to buy along with artisan gifts such as handmade vegan apothecary.
The Garden Museum explores the golden age of garden painting between two world wars with its new exhibition, Sanctuary: Artist-Gardeners 1919-1939. Showcasing the works of over 20 artists, the exhibition illustrates how the peaceful period between two wars allowed for a number of artists who also gardened to entwine their pastimes and find sanctuary by producing a number of exceptional works showcasing gardens and plants. After World War One, many reacted to the trauma by returning to pastoral landscapes and the exhibition showcases works such as Mahoney's 'The Garden', Evelyn Dunbar's 'Woman Tending Bocconea Cordata' and Nancy Nicholson's playful depiction of her father 'William Nicholson at Work'.
If your mum has green fingers, book her in for the Terrarium and Gin Tasting Workshop this Mother's Day. Hosted by Harvey Nichols in partnership with LSA International and The Forest Distillery, the unique workshop invites participants how to handcraft their very own living terrarium while sampling two small batch gins by The Forest Distillery, both of which have been uniquely distilled with locally sourced forest ingredients such as wild bilberries, raspberries, moss, fern and pine. Each guest will be able to take home their handcrafted terrarium and there will also be the option of buying a bottle of Forest Gin for the discounted price of £40, usually priced at £59.50.