Before I get too deep into this post, I must say how funny it is being trailed by your one and only around a beautiful botanical garden trying to act normal. He always has to be in full on stalk mode to get a good picture of me – as I hate being on this side of the lens! We recently spent three blissful days on the IOW and two of those three days we were here at the Ventnor Botanical Garden where this ethical dress got its first outing.
The kind folks at Thought Clothing sent me this beautiful Iris dress and what better place to take it for a debut twirl then around a magical botanical garden in spring – and on the sunniest weekend of 2017 so far?! Keep scrolling to see inside the hothouse and get 10% off some ethical joy for your summer wardrobe this spring with Thought.
I can already tell this dress is something I will wear in all seasons. Light and soft in the perfect shade of denim blue, it is lovely on its own and I can add tights or leggings and a long sleeve top for underneath layers in the colder months. Plus a cosy cardigan too (I never go anywhere without a cardigan – ever)! Already a customer, I have quite a few pairs of their Bamboo Tights and super soft leggings (also bamboo) too, that will be great for autumn and winter.
The hothouse was steamy, with vines clamouring everywhere, waterfalls, banana trees, troops of ants scurrying about, looking busy. Tropical blooms peered out here and there and two of the biggest fish I have ever seen were swimming in the water.
Designed like an abandoned mine shaft that opens out of the darkness into a tropical rain forest – it appealed to our make do and mend/upcycling side. The anticipation of the imminent arrival of the Giant Waterlily that will appear this summer in the pond inside, was hanging heavy in the air.
It is quite unlike any hothouse we have ever visited and we absolutely loved it.
Back out in the fresh air, we wandered through the Mediterranean garden which we had all to ourselves, the birds were singing and shy lizards were basking in the morning sun. As we walked on, we spotted an elusive Red Squirrel (a life long dream realised) and I collected fallen blossom – did I mention this dress has pockets? Yay!
To get 10% off your own blossom collecting pockets (or any order) from Thought this spring just enter SWAN10 at checkout – code valid until 10th May 2017. To see some of the current items on my wishlist jump over here to my Ethical Fashion board on Pinterest.
To end this idyllic visit we discovered swathes of delicate yellow fluff floating on the breeze. Oven’s Wattle – almost as good as Mimosa. This post was written to share one of my favourite ethical fashion brands – Thought – (no money changed hands) they gave me the dress and I did the rest! Have a wonderful long weekend and be kind to the planet ;) j x 
that hothouse is amazing!! my little veggie plants struggling in the northerly wind would love something like that!!