Tags
Allium Purple Sensation, Anthriscus sylvestris, Aquilegias, cerinthe major purpurascens, columbines, cow parsley, early summer flowers, Geum Totally Tangerine, Hebe hulkeana, Honeywort, in a vase on Monday, Iris Sibirica, New Zealand lilac
How glorious the weather was on Friday and Saturday. Clear blue skies, not a breath of wind, balmy temperatures. The lanes around me are quiet and have been since lockdown. No sounds shouting over the birdsong. Bliss. Delivery drivers continuing their work dash through avoiding the numerous cyclists, the regulars in spray-on Lycra, the lockdown cyclists making the most of the quiet lanes, wobbling and weaving two or three abreast.
The chance to enjoy the weather, to sit in the sunshine, to have time to savour the pleasure of a peaceful breakfast outside. This is what summer should be like. If only it would last.
This morning is windy and cool and the forecast is for overnight temperatures falling to 1 degree. This is disappointing. Too cold for the newly emerged seedlings. Potentially burning new foliage and petals.
This vase was picked on Saturday to dress the table outside. Above is the NZ Lilac a delicate lilac colour but without the scent of real lilac. Geum Totally Tangerine is flowering profusely and hopefully it will continue throughout the summer months. A head of Allium Purple Sensation almost a common sight in gardens now but still offers much to be admired.
There is a single Iris which I am enjoying very much. The three 1L pots I planted two years ago have clumped up sufficiently for me to snip one or two for a vase. The froth of white is cow parsley. There are purple columbines, Aquilegias. I am pleased to see that this year they have taken themselves to all corners of the garden and are even in the bark chippings between the raised beds.
The exotic Cerinthe, Honeywort, a rather glaucous and pleasing mix of greens to deep purple, are another favourite of mine. They too have self seeded a short distance from where I originally planted seed.
Now inside the house, these flowers I picked on Saturday are still looking perky. Close up I love the orange of the Geum outshining the yellow of the Iris.
Thank you Cathy for hosting. Have a great week, wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.
digwithdorris.com 
The NZ lilac is a pretty colour and links the allium and cow parsley together – and is that a stem of persicaria I see in there too. I must replace my TT and see if I can keep it this time as it is a glorious colour and makes a nice contrast with the rest of the vase. On our walks, speak to everyone we see (which aren’t many!) but the lycra cyclists rarely respond, focussing on their cycling and not on the countryside I expect.
Oh yes that’s right a pink shade from Persicaria bistorta. Well spotted!
I could only see it one of the photos but I didn’t think I was imagining it!
Hawk eye
😉
The Iris is gorgeous but I LOVE that New Zealand lilac! I looked it up, wondering if I could grow it in my climate. Some New Zealand natives do well here in Southern California. It doesn’t show up in my garden guide under either its old genus (Hebe) or its new one, Heliohebe (a genus I’ve never even heard of) but I shall be looking for it.
Thank you Kris. I did not know that the name had changed. So tricky to keep up! interestingly the RHS website still refers to it as Hebe. Hardiness is shown as H4. Hope that helps
A lovely colour combinatiom and you picked some Hebe hulkeana, how could you bear to? But it does look lovely. My goodness, it’s cold, I’m so worried about my wisterias and emerging dahlias. I am one of those annoying lockdown cyclists, but I promise I don’t wear lycra and we go single file and I wear a mask which I made out of a bra. I made one for the Pianist too but he won’t wear it.
The Hebe is covered in flowering branches this year so it could afford to lose a few. It is so cold but oh my goodness a mask from your bra, no wonder the Pianist will not suffer the indignity.
A beautiful vase full of early summer delights! The NZ Lilac is gorgeous. Hope your temperatures don’t go below zero. We have been forecast frost for tonight so I have moved a lot of things and covered others up with fleece!
Thanks Cathy. We have frost forecast for every night until Saturday. I’ve been wrapping things up where possible. Hope your tender plants will be ok
And yours too Dorris.
Fabulous. The NZ lilac is just lovely and I’m smitten with the iris too.
Thanks so much
Very pretty bouquet– the Geum and Iris play off each other quite well. I’ve never seen a NZ lilac, it’s lovely!
Oh that is a most delightful vase. I’ve never heard of a New Zealand lilac. As a hayfever sufferer it could be a solution to my problem 😂 I’m off to find out more about it forthwith.
Thank you. I don’t know how much pollen it generates but hope it might be suitable for you
The New Zealand Lilac is such a soft and lovely colour, never seen that before. A real stunner. Have a good week.
Thanks Noelle. Have a great week and stay safe
New Zealand lilac is really interesting. I had seen it before, but only in pictures rather than locally.
I love the Iris and the Lilac, I’ve just grown a tropical Lilac from seed..not sure about it, though. The cyclists are going mad here, sneaking up on me while I am walking my dogs.
Take care! Mad 🚴♂️ are out and about