Hello everyone who has contributed to our whistle-making efforts. Thank you for everything you have done for us.

First, we are still printing whistles: if you need whistles we will happily send you between 100-3000 for free, no questions asked.

linktr.ee/3Dwhistles

A view of the architecture of the Kew Gardens Palm House. In front of me is a raised bed with a line of pillars supporting part of the glass roof running down the middle. Ordinarily these would be largely obscured by foliage, but the plot has been emptied in anticipation of the 2027 closure for renovation. In the background another section is still full of foliage and a staircase up to the raised walkway is visible.

A view of the architecture of the Kew Gardens Palm House. In front of me is a raised bed with an arch in the middle supporting part of the glass roof. Ordinarily this would be largely obscured by foliage, but the plot has been emptied in anticipation of the 2027 closure for renovation. In the background another section is still full of foliage and a staircase up to the raised walkway is visible.

It looks like the emptying of the Palm House has begun in earnest 😔 I knew it was coming; they've been moving plants to a temporary greenhouse for months, ahead of 2027 closure for renovation.

#kewgardens #plantsky #plants #glasshouse #greenhouse #publicgarden #daytrip

A pale hand with long, almond-shaped dark green false nails holding an in-progress sashiko sampler against a backdrop of a London Overground train interior. The pattern on the sampler is a repeating motif of cherry blossoms in pink thread on white cloth. The work is slightly scrunched up with several stitches on the needle waiting to be pulled through, as it's being actively worked on.

A pale arm holding out an in-progress sashiko sampler against a backdrop of dark green foliage and the curved glass wall of Kew Gardens Palm House. The design is a repeating motif of cherry blossoms in pink thread on white cloth. A pink flower-shaped needle minder holding a sewing needle is placed approximately in the centre of the work.

I'm making progress; I've almost finished all the darker pink diagonal stitches. I took my work to Kew at the weekend. Sashiko is travel-friendlier than my knitting or crochet since I don't need to have a pattern out. 🧶🪡

#sashiko #embroidery #flower #artsky #craftsky #stitchsky #WIP

A rectangle of white cloth with sashiko embroidery in pink thread on it. All the stitches running from top left to bottom right are complete, and the stitches running bottom left to top right are in progress. A light pink flower-shaped needle minder sits on top of the cloth near the centre. This is a hanafukin/traditional Japanese kitchen cloth kit: the fabric is pre-printed with the design and you stitch along the lines with the provided thread.

Alongside the other sashiko supplies, I ordered three hanafukin kits via Etsy. This one is from hobbyra hobbyre and has a cherry blossom pattern. I'm enjoying it so far. 🧶🪡

#sashiko #embroidery #artsky #craftsky #stitchsky #WIP #WIPwednesday

We live in a cursed timeline

Do you know how little that narrows it down 😂

A large stuffed toy train carriage behind a rope barrier in the foyer of Northampton railway station. The carriage has the livery of London Northwestern Railway: mostly dark green with some white.

London Northwestern Railway has a big stuffed toy train carriage at Northampton station! I think it's to show off their new train livery? Unfortunately there's no merch stand at which to buy a mini one 🥺

A flatlay picture of a variety of supplies for sashiko embroidery (a traditional Japanese style of embroidery). Top: 4 packets each containing a skein of white thread with a dark blue label around it. Bottom left: a large packet of pre-marked 5mm grid sashiko cloth. The packaging is dark blue with rustic looking crosses on the top third and a circular cutout showing dark blue cloth. Middle: two packets each containing a skein of pale blue thread with a dark blue label around it. Upper middle right: two packets of sashiko needles, one regular and one long. The regular ones are in a white packet and long ones in a dark blue packet. Bottom right: a needle threader in a small paper packet and a ring thimble in a small plastic packet attached to some cardboard.

My sashiko supplies arrived! I'm not good at sewing; whatever I make will hold together but looks like a five year old attacked it. But hopefully the pre-marked fabric and the fact that it only requires a running stitch will work in my favour. 🧶

#sashiko #embroidery #artsky #craftsky

About a third of a light to dark grey gradient crochet shawl. The shawl uses lots of puff stitch clusters and has lots of texture and layering from front- and back-post stitches. Above the shawl is a small, scruffily wound ball of pale grey yarn. On the right is a bright red and white Prym ergonomic 3.5 mm crochet hook. The project sits on a softly lit, shadow mottled white background and casts a stark shadow on the surface.

I'm making progress! I'm approaching the end of the first pattern repeat, I think. 🧶

#crochet #crochetersofbluesky #crochetsky #craftsky #yarnsky #shawl #crochetshawl #WIP #gradient #monochrome

Thank you!

I may or may not have ordered a load of sashiko supplies on a whim. 😬 The geometric patterns are so satisfying and the traditional combination of navy fabric and white thread is super pretty.

Let's hope I pick it up easily 😅

A can of lemon sparkling water. The base colour of the can is silver, with solid lemon yellow at the sides and small yellow dots over the silver section. The brand name "Yew" is written in large white block capitals with a black shadow and yellow outline. Below that is a cartoon lemon and the text "Zesty Lemon, Sparkling Water, 400ml"

I feel like giving your sparkling water the same name as a highly toxic tree is a bad idea

I'm lying in bed with a black cat on my chest. She's completely invaded my personal space, shoving her head in my face.

This is harassment. 🐱

#catsofbluesky #catsky #cat #caturday #void #blackcat

It's so annoying that I can see the moon just fine but my phone camera can't, so I miss out on pretty evening photos because my phone thinks it's a luminous blob. I swear this phone has worse astigmatism than me 😑

I hate shoes. I wish it was sandals and sundress weather again already. 😑

Thanks! I'll remember for future posts!

Thanks for the comments about which species the different orchids are! It was so busy that I forgot to take photos of the little species plaques, so I just tried to group my pictures by flowers that looked somewhat similar. 💖

kill the imposter syndrome in you head because not only is there someone out there doing it worse than you, they're also using chat gpt to do it

Anyways.

The top I'm wearing is a Ranunculus I knit from two very mismatched skeins of Malabrigo Sock in the colour Fiona, if anyone was curious. 😅

A pale fat woman with dark blue hair wearing a black ankle length dress, striped green handknit top with lace details at the neckline, and green cloak with flowers at the neck, and glasses. I'm stood in front of a large dragon sculpture covered in orchids on a pond in the Kew Gardens Princess of Wales Conservatory.

A large sculpture of a Chinese dragon made from dried palm fronds(?), standing in a bed of orchids with more orchids all along its back. The sculpture is suspended above the pond in the main central area of the Kew Gardens Princess of Wales Conservatory.

A sculpture of nine large koi fish made from dried leaves(?), suspended along with white and purple aerial orchids above a pond in the Kew Gardens Princess of Wales Conservatory.

Last photos, I think. Throughout the exhibition were sculptures of different animals with orchids. These are the dragon and koi fish. Thanks to the staff member who took the one of me with the dragon!

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #artsky #sculpture #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A large arch covered in foliage with long, pointed leaves, various types of yellow and red bromeliad flowers, and some different kinds of orchid. I can see some pink ones, white ones with purple centres, and hanging yellow and purple ones, there might be more. An older Asian woman is taking a photo through the gate with her phone at the same time as me. Two other people are walking away from the gate.

A bright red bromeliad flower. It has lots of pointed red petal-like leaves arranged in layers around a central yellow stamen(?). Some other red bromeliads can be seen in the background among lots of bright green, glossy foliage.

A bright red bromeliad flower. It has lots of pointed red petal-like leaves with white tips arranged in layers around a central white stamen(?). The background is taken up by lots of bright green, glossy foliage.

A bright yellow bromeliad flower. It has lots of pointed yellow petal-like leaves arranged in layers around a central stamen(?). In the background, to the left, someone is standing around taking photos.

Finally, something that isn't an orchid! Through the exhibition were some fun flower gates. Unfortunately I only managed to get good photos of this one, which was decorated with different bromeliad flowers.

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #bromeliad #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A front-on closeup of a large white Venus slipper orchid. The flower has two petals extending outwards like wings, a large top petal curving over the flower, and a cup-like petal on the bottom. The plant is upright with lots of bright green, glossy, elongated leaves around its base.

A side view of a large white Venus slipper orchid. The flower has two petals extending outwards like wings, a large top petal curving over the flower, and a cup-like petal on the bottom. The plant is upright with lots of bright green, glossy, elongated leaves around its base. It's standing in front of some mossy tree trunks.

Last orchid! This is a type of Venus slipper orchid.

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A close up of a brightly coloured orchid. The top part of the orchid is somewhat star shaped with dark red crinkled, furled over leaves. The bottom part is a large petal, bright red on the top half and white on the bottom.

A close up of a dark pink orchid. The top half is somewhat star shaped with a large bottom petal. The bottom petal is dark pink with white splotches and red veins emanating from around a yellow stamen.

A close up of a bright pink orchid. The top half is somewhat star shaped with a large bottom petal and a yellow stamen in the centre.

More orchids! These are some that are roughly similar in shape, with large bottom petals.

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A spray of star-shaped orchids with narrow petals dangling from a hanging basket. These orchids have narrow, upright petals. They're yellow with deep purple veins. In the centre of the orchid is a yellow "hood" petal with a pink tip, deep purple rounded petal beneath it.

A closeup of a star-shaped orchid with narrow light green petals that have large berry-coloured splotches along them. The centre of the orchid has a white hood petal and below it is a large, rounded white petal with a pink centre.

A closeup of a star-shaped aerial orchid. This one has three larger petals arranged in a triangle with two narrower ones sticking out from behind them. The petals are yellow-green with deep purple spots.

A star-shaped orchid with crinkled, furled over petals. The petals are dark reddish-purple with white tips. The centre of the orchid has a collection of bright pink petals surrounding a yellow stamen.

Here's another group of orchids, this time with some fun patterns.

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A closeup of a star-shaped orchid with narrow petals. Five green petals (or maybe leaves, it's not easy to tell) with brown splotches at their base are arranged behind a purple rounded petal with deep purple veins.

A closeup of a star-shaped orchid with narrow petals that curve gently inwards. Five light pink petals are arranged behind a similarly coloured "hood" petal and large rounded petal below that.

A closeup of a star-shaped white orchid with narrow petals that curve gently inwards. Five petals are arranged behind an elongated"hood" petal and narrower protruding petal below that.

A closeup of a star-shaped orchid with somewhat narrow, more rounded petals that curve gently inwards. Five light yellow-green petals are arranged behind a similarly coloured, small "hood" petal and rounded white petal below that.

Here's another group of orchids. These ones are all star-shaped with narrower petals.

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A closeup of a soft, cool-toned pink orchid with light veining in a deeper pink. This orchid is somewhat star-shaped, with two lightly pointed sideways petals in front, one pointing upwards behind them, and two pointing down beneath the main petals. In the centre of the orchid is a pink "hood" petal, with a large tongue-shaped petal beneath it. That petal has a white centre with a yellow streak and is dark pink at the outer edge.

A closeup of a white star-shaped orchid. In the centre of the orchid is a pale pink "hood" petal, with a large tongue-shaped petal beneath it. That petal has a yellow streak at the centre and is otherwise pale pink.

A closeup of a red star-shaped orchid with somewhat rounded petals. The petals are a bright berry red with prominent veins in a deeper red. In the centre of the orchid is a yellow "hood" petal with a red tip, with a large tongue-shaped petal beneath it. That petal has a yellow centre and red outer edge.

A closeup of a star-shaped orchid with orange-red petals and prominent veins in deep red. In the centre of the orchid is a dark red "hood" petal, with a large tongue-shaped petal beneath it. That petal has a white centre and dark red "ink splotches" around the outer edge.

Here's another group of orchids. I think these all grew as sprays of flowers on upright stems with lots of foliage around the base. They're also more noticeably star-shaped than the previous groups.

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A closeup of a soft, cool pink orchid with some light veining in a slightly deeper pink. It has two large, rounded side petals and behind those one smaller, rounded one, along with two narrower petals pointing down from the side petals. Hanging from the centre of the orchid is a collection of petals with two upturned "wings" and a lower, outstretched petal like a snake's tongue. The centre of that collection has a yellow streak and some deep red stripes.

A closeup of a bright magenta orchid with veins in a slightly deeper pink. It has two large, rounded side petals. Behind those is a narrower upright petal and two similar ones pointing down from the side petals. Hanging from the centre of the orchid is a collection of deep pink petals with two upturned "wings" and a lower, outstretched petal like a snake's tongue.

A closeup of a yellow orchid with all-over, deep pink veins. It has two large, rounded side petals. Behind those is a narrower, prominent upright petal and two similar ones pointing down from the side petals. Hanging from the centre of the orchid is a collection of deep pink petals with two upturned "wings" and a lower, outstretched petal like a snake's tongue.

Here's another group of orchids, somewhat similar to the last group in shape, but with more uniform colouring.

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A closeup of an orchid from the Kew Gardens Orchids exhibition. Species unknown. The orchid has two large sideways pointing petals, which are white with large, semicircular, inkblot-like berry-coloured patches around the outer edge of the petals. Behind those two is a narrower, more upright petal with similar colouration, and two pointing down beneath the main petals. In the centre of the orchid is a small yellow dot, with a protruding collection of bright, buttercup yellow petals beneath it.

A closeup of an orchid from the Kew Gardens Orchids exhibition. Species unknown. The orchid has two large sideways pointing petals, which have large, inkblot-like berry-coloured patches in the centre and a white spike pointing towards towards the centre. Behind those two is a narrower, more upright petal with similar colouration, and two pointing down beneath the main petals. In the centre of an orchid is a group of white petals forming a cup with a snake-tongue-like protuberance.

A closeup of an orchid from the Kew Gardens Orchids exhibition. Species unknown. The orchid has two large sideways pointing petals, which are mostly white with some light berry veins and small, deep berry-coloured dots and splotches. Behind those two is a narrower, more upright petal with similar colouration, and two pointing down beneath the main petals. In the centre of the orchid is a small cream dot, and below that hangs a set of petals with similar colouration to the outer group: two petals form "wings" at the side, and a lower petal is reminiscent of a snake's tongue.

I'd hoped to post my orchid pictures sooner but this week has been so hectic. I'll try to group orchids that look somewhat similar together. 🌱

#plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #photography #dailyflower #flowers

Again, while I'm glad I went, it wasn't a great experience. Overall, it was frustrating, overstimulating, and I left with very sore feet. I really wish I could have bought a photographers/small group early-bird pass and been able to take some better pictures of the wider exhibition.
6/6

An area inside the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens during the Orchids exhibition. The whole area is packed with dense foliage. In the centre of the photo is a large gate covered in pink flowers. Red spherical lanterns hang from the ceiling leading up to it. The bottom half of the gate is obscured by a dense crowd of people.

- This was most noticeable at the giant flower gate by the gift shop (see photo). I'm still mad about it
- The only good photos I took were closeups of individual flowers. Even that was hard due to the crowds
- I was jostled around so much
- It took almost an hour to get through
5/6