In a vase on Monday: 21 September 2020

Tags

Cosmos, Cosmos cupcake, Dahlia Cafe au Lait, Dahlias, in a vase on Monday

Today was my first day back at work for almost a month. It was such a tonic to see the garden looking lovely in the sunshine. The dahlias have really picked up a pace and Cosmos cupcake, grown from seed, was covered in flowers.

White dahlia with Cosmos

Here are a few of them in my vase

Other dahlias picked are these

Dahlia Cafe au Lait

Luminous red dahlia

These are all supermarket dahlias which I have multiplied over the years through cuttings. They make a colourful display on the perimeter of the vegetable garden. As they are growing on thin soil over chalk they are left in the ground over winter, under a deep mulch.

These flowers are to share with you and Cathy. Thanks Ali for letting me enjoy your flowers.

Have a good week wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

In a vase on Monday: despite the incessant rain

Tags

calendula, Coreopsis moonbeam, Cosmos, Cosmos cupcake, cosmos purity, Dahlia Arabian Night, Dahlia Totally Tangerine, Helianthus salicifolius, in a vase on Monday, leucanthemella serotina, October, persicaria affinis, Persicaria amplexcaulis Firetail, sanguisorba canadensis, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum ‘Lady in Black’, Zinnia Giant Dahlia mix

Having battled through the overly dry and often windy summer, the garden is still giving us lots of flowers. By ‘us’ I mean us gardeners joining Cathy on her Monday meme.

I have used my special vase to accommodate them all. At the white end I have the daisy types I love so much: Cosmos ‘Purity’ and ‘Cupcake’, Leucanthemella serotina, Sanguisorba canadensis, and a late flowering Aster. It has changed its name and now I have forgotten which variety it is.

Moving towards the yellow there is Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ next to Helianthus salicifolius, fresh orange Calendula, Zinnia from a ‘Giant Dahlia mix’ packet of seed.

To the pinkier tones of Aster, now known as Symphyotrichum lateriflorum ‘Lady in Black’, Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’, Persicaria affinis, Persicaria Firetail and Dahlia ‘Arabian Night

It sounds as if this wet weather is with us all week. Wellies and anoraks at the ready!

Have a great week wherever you are. D.

Six on Saturday: stunning September

Tags

apple juice, Bees, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Cosmos, dried alliums, Echinacea Delicious Candy, sanguisorba canadensis, September, six on saturday

The weather the last few days has been glorious, warm, with highs of around 20c, blue skies and long shadows. Yet for gardeners it is a struggle to keep a garden looking fresh as it is so very dry.

Dry Alliums, hanging in the summer house. These are to my mind too pretty to compost and are almost as lovely as the Spring forms when they appear in shades of purple. These dried out skeleton alliums act as a reminder to pop a few more in this autumn. The first of my Six on Saturday

2. To quench the dry

These are my bottles of apple juice collected from Mr Nutkin, Tring’s Own Apple Juice. For £1.50 a bottle he can convert your apples and pears into juice. It prolongs shelf life of the fruit for up-to about 18months and is delicious too. Worth every penny.

3.

Bees are happily doing their thing on the Cosmos. No bees no fruit. Very welcome here I say.

4.Sanguisorba candanensis

I love these and they grow well on my nasty hard clay ground.

5.

These are the lovely tails of Calamagrostis brachytricha. They come into their own late in summer. Tactile.

6.Something sweet

This is Echinacea Delicious Candy. That colour is not enhanced in any way. Glorious in yer face pink.

These are my 6. Please join us and refer to the Propagator above to find out how.

Have a great weekend wherever you are. D.

Six on Saturday

Tags

Aster, Bees, Borage officinalis, Cosmos, Dahlia Bishop of Auckland, garden opening for charity, National Garden Scheme, six on saturday, stipa tenuissima, Verbena macdougalii Lavender Spires

I am under (self imposed) pressure to get the garden ready for its NGS opening on 29/9. Yesterday I made good progress chopping back, weeding and mulching and today a car full went to the tip. My Six today are some of the sights that I enjoyed this morning before the next round begins.

1.

The Bishop of Auckland. Dahlia. Finally throwing some flowers. Hope Brother Dorris and family like this one.

2.

Hairy bees and borage

3. Stipa tenuissima looking better for a comb to remove its sticky seeds.

4.

Rudbeckia maxima looking more upright than yesterday thanks to a bit of late staking. The wind yesterday had all but flattened them.

5.

Verbena macdougalii Lavender Spires. I especially like this variation for its curious fingers.

6.

The foliage of the Cosmos looks vibrant against the dark backdrop of Aster lateriflorus Lady in Black.

That’s it. Back to the weeding. Hoping you get chance to join in or read The Propagator post.

Have a good weekend, wherever you are. D.

In a vase on Monday: in a row

Tags

Cosmos, Dahlia Arabian Night, Dahlia mignon.mixed, in a vase on Monday, Rose "Lark Ascending", Tse & Tse April vase

A row of flowers comprising dark pink Cosmos, small terracotta Dahlia mignon, Dahlia Arabian Knight, Rose Lark Ascending and the tiny white Dahlia whose name I have lost.

It was late in the day when I got the chance to put this together and so the light was poor and electric light has tainted the colours.

Not much I can do about the light but I can pull the line into a group thanks to the flexibility of the vases, my favourite by Tse Tse.

I am off to take a quick look at some of the other Monday vases on Cathy’s lovely blog https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com  Did you get chance to look at them?

In a vase on Monday: seeking shade

Tags

Achillea, Alchemilla mollis, Cosmos, Dahlia mignon.mixed, Dahlias, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, poppy seed heads, Rose The Pilgrim, turquoise milk glass

 

 

All sorts

The heat is building up over the next couple of days and already the dog is flaked out on the cool flagstone floor.

I grabbed a few of the last roses, this one is The Pilgrim from David Austin. A buttery yellow old style rose with a strong rose fragrance I do like it but find that the weight of the blooms cause it to flop over. A chop to shorten the stem ensures the heads are supported by the sides of the glass. To the rose I have added yellow/ lime coloured Alchemilla mollis and Achillea which fades from dark to pale pink. 

In a turquoise glass jug I have put the strong pink coloured Cosmos with more of the Alchemilla mollis and Achillea.  I have also added the seed heads of a few poppies.

More Alchemilla has been added to the small Dahlia mignon.  This overwintered in the cutting bed which I am very pleased about.  Finally I have a few of the tiniest Dahlia which I chose because I do love the look of a daisy.

 

So there you have it folks my vases for Monday.  Do take a look at Cathys lovely blog https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com to see some more Monday vases, certainly more cheerful than world news.

In a vase on Monday and 52 week photo challenge: Heat

Tags

52 Week Photo Challenge, Alchemilla mollis, Cosmos, Dahlia mignon.mixed, Geranium 'Ann folkard', Geum "Mrs Bradshaw", Geum Totally Tangerine, heat, in a vase on Monday, Katie Swan, Lily, Rose "Lark Ascending", Rose Morning Mist, Verbena bonariensis, wibledon championship, wildcard

Where is the heat to this Summer? The weather pattern is unsettled  but to me it seems to be very settled, settled into a routine of much rain followed by a few warm hours each day.  The weeds are growing well, not unlike Jacks beanstalk.
Today is more of the same so to join Cathys ‘in a vase’ and Sandra ’52 week photo challenge’ of last week, my vase is full of hot colours.

The vase is an old earthenware pickle pot, and this arrangement is in a bit of a pickle with stuff all over the place.

I like it like this with lots of movement and hot colour. No real reds but plenty of oranges and hot pinks.

So two birds with one stone today. Last weeks late entry to https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com and Mondays vase to https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com

Take a minute to have a look at other entries they are usually diverse and always lovely.

Have a great week.
Wimbledon has started today so that usually means more mixed weather. I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for wild card entry Katie Swan on Tuesday. Ranked 437 she won for GB in the Fed cup in Israel earlier this year and is the youngest British player to have won a Fed Cup game. Swan will play Timea Babos (44).
Let’s cheer her on, go Katie!