In a vase on Monday: is it really October?

Tags

Astrantia major, cornflower, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, October roses, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', rose a shropshire lad, Rose The Pilgrim

The weather this weekend has been incredible, dry, mild, bright and crunchy, (if weather can be crunchy that is).

I have been raking up barrows full of conkers, leaves, rotting windfalls. So far so Autumn

And yet the mild weather has allowed another flush of roses. A Shropshire Lad, Gertrude Jekyll, the Pilgrim.

Surprisingly there are a few Astrantia in flower and even some Cornflowers.

These roses do not have quite the same strength of smell at this time of the year. The flower heads may droop thanks to their slightly weaker stems yet there is no doubt that these roses are a lovely sight in mid October.

I am joining Cathy and the other regulars with in a vase on Monday. Have a lovely week. D.

In a Vase on Monday: stripes

Tags

David Austin Roses, Hydrangea arborscens Annabelle, in a vase on Monday, Leucanthemum, October, Rose The Pilgrim, shasta daisies, stripes

Seeking out a spot in direct sunlight first thing, I placed my bottle with flowers on a serviette, not so much because it has stripes but because the green is similar to Hydrangea Annabelle.

As I snapped my pictures on the phone I realised the stripes from the blinds were casting shadows.

The rose is The Pilgrim which has a faint rose scent. Planted next to the shasta daisies, I like how the rose colour picks out the yellow centre of the daisies and blends with the green of the Hydrangea .

So that’s it, my selection on this the 1 October. Joining our host Cathy Have a good day. D.

In a Vase on Monday: in from the cold

Tags

Dahlia William Morris, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, Rose "Lark Ascending", rose a shropshire lad, Verbena bonariensis, Zinnias

The weather this weekend took a distinct dip towards Autumn: dark, rainy with chilly nights prompting discussion about whether it would be ok to turn on the heating, it would not.

Although the rain has moved on and the forecast is for sunshine, those clear skies will bring a risk of frost which will mean farewell to many flowers.

A pick from roses, Zinnias, Verbena and dahlias were available on Saturday.

I used them to brighten the table for dinner.

To sit at a table with freshly cooked food, a major treat for my parents who are camping out with microwave meals as their kitchen is about to be replaced

These are my flowers to join Cathy. Do you have some flowers from your garden to share? Do join us and send a link back to Cathy. D.

In a Vase on Monday: not one but two

Tags

Astrantia major, Dahlia William Morris, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, persicaria affinis, Rose "Lark Ascending", rose a shropshire lad, sweet peas, Verbena bonariensis, Zinnias

I am joining Cathy today with not one but two vases of flowers. My garden has recovered itself after the heatwave and things like Astrantia and Persicaria affinis have reappeared. In addition to these flowering, roses are also having a second show. The later flowering Coreopsis, Dahlias and Zinnias are also flowering.

Front left is my favourite rose Lark Ascending next to it the petal full, pink A Shropshire Lad.

From left is an open Shropshire Lad, pink and lilac sweet peas, no idea which they are, sorry. In the middle is a soft pink Zinnia with Astrantia behind. I am not completely sure which Astrantia this is as it has self sown, to its right is this rose, so pale it is almost white, Gentle Hermione.

By way of contrast the next vase has the Dahlia William Morris, Coreopsis Moonbeam and dark coloured Zinnias.

Added to this group is Verbena bonariensis which is making a bid to take over my garden. Worse things could happen.

Have a great week and do check out Cathy’s blog. The link is above, to see other Monday vases full of flowers from all over. What a nice way to start the week. D.

In a Vase on Monday: gasping for water

Tags

calendula, David Austin Roses, echinops ritro, hottest day of the year, in a vase on Monday, July, Lark Ascending, morning mist, sweet peas, Verbena bonariensis

Can any of us believe this heat, amazing, scorchio.

My vase today has roses: Lark Ascending and Morning Mist, both David Austin roses. These are the second flush of flowers.

An orange tone Zinnia not grown from seed by me but purchased as bedding plants.

Echinops ritro before it opens, calendula, sweet pea and verbena bonariensis.

Everything is struggling in this heat but with regular watering, essential to keep things fresh for my garden opening in a couple of weeks, flowers are managing to actually flower.

I am very late with this vase so if you are reading on Tuesday do still take a look at IAVOM Cathy

Stay cool.D.

Saturday smile: mingling

Tags

cytisus battandieri, David Austin Roses, Rose "Lark Ascending", Sambucus Nigra, Saturday smile, Sweet cicely, Thalictrum Elin

All together, mingling.

Thalictrum, pineapple broom, black leaf elder, Roses, sweet cicely.

In a Vase on Monday: snippets

Tags

Alchemilla mollis, Astrantia major, astrantia shaggy, David Austin Roses, Geum Totally Tangerine, in a vase on Monday, June, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', snippets

These are tiny short stemmed snips today as I try to preserve stems for my first NGS visitors next week.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll

Rose GJ hanging about at head height so I catch her heavenly rose scent.

A small pot of colour thanks to Geum Totally Tangerine, Astrantia major and Astrantia Shaggy and chartreuse froth courtesy of Alchemilla mollis.

Short and sweet. Get thee over to Monday Cathy to see other vases of flowers picked from gardens all over the place and not just the UK. Should you fancy joining in, all you have to do is pick some flowers, insert them in a vessel, photograph and tell us about it, adding a link back to Cathy mentioned above.

Astrantia Shaggy

Have a good week. D.

Wordless Wednesday: Chelsea Flower Show (sights which caught my eye)

Tags

blue, camassia, Chelsea Flower Show 2018, David Austin Roses, favourite sights, Iris Sibirica, lupins, shadows, Tottering by Gently, vases, wordless wednesday

Auricula theatre

David Austin Rose ‘Tottering by Gently’

Lupins everywhere

Blues

Blue sky over London plane trees

Shadows

Hanging vase

Tiny vases

Blue vase

Sarah Raven trade stand vases.

Delightful poppies

Camassia and Iris

Moss and Japan

Tuesday view: 3/10/17 with a Monday Vase

Tags

Coreopsis moonbeam, David Austin Roses, Erigeron, in a vase on Monday, Molinia nia Transparent, Nassella tenuissima, papaver somniferum Black Single, persicaria affinis, rose a shropshire lad, sanguisorba canadensis, stipa tenuissima, Tuesday View, Verbena bonariensis

Evening all. First off a Vase to join Cathy. I am late for In a Vase on Monday but I hope I will be forgiven. 

These are roses from David Austin, rose ‘A Shropshire Lad’ with dahlias from Sarah Raven and opium poppy. ‘Black Single’. 

I hope you had a Vase to share with Cathy and the many other growers from around the world. 

Now to my Tuesday view. Cathy Of words and herbs , rather than rambling Cathy who hosts IAVOM, encourages us to record a view in our gardens throughout the year. It is both a useful record and interesting to see the impact the weather and seasons are having on our chosen spot. 

From the ground up, this shot shows the carpet of Persicaria affinis catching the morning sunshine. This is a very happy plant and I will have to be cutting it back before it takes over the lawn.

Molinia Transparent is doing its job well. A transparent screen. 

White sticks of self sown Sanguisorba canadensis mingling where they choose. 

Behind the Molinia is Coreopsis moonbeam, still flowering. 

Today has been lovely but in exposed parts ( the garden, not me) there was a nip to the air. Autumn is coming in fast now. We need to make the most of these last flowers of Summer before the scene turns brown and crisp. 

Just look at these lovelies. 

Erigeron, stipa, now known as Nassella tenuissima, verbena bonariensis. 

In a Vase on Monday: blue and orange

Tags

blue glass bottles, calendula, Dahlia Arabian Night, Dahlia Totally Tangerine, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, rose a shropshire lad

This particular Monday has been grey and soggy underfoot thanks to the rain overnight. Needing to brighten things up I chose blue glass bottles and Autumn favourites namely Dahlias.

Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’

The blue glass bottles, for bottled water, were brought back in my luggage from a recent holiday in Andalusia. Too nice to just throw away, regular readers may recognise this from Silent Sunday yesterday. Thank you if you are a regular. 

Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’

Rose  a ‘Shropshire Lad’ floating in a blue glass dish used for candles from Mallorca several years ago. 

A few of the great performers this season namely marigold Calendula. Such a fresh orange colour. 

So these are what I am enjoying today as I sit at my table working. I am sharing them with you and Cathy of course. Have a good week wherever you happen to be. D.