In a vase on Monday: desk top flowers

Tags

Blackwing pencil, Faber Castell sharpener, Hellebore argutifolius, Helleborus orientalis, in a vase on Monday, January, Kaweco pen, scented flowers, Viburnum bodnantense dawn, viola, Vitsoe

Under electric light, flowers can look a bit ‘not right’. It has been a very grey, wet afternoon here and the lights need to be on. At risk of them not looking quite right, here goes:

Viburnum bodnantense Dawn. Wet with rain this sugared-almond pink sprig is pumping out its overly sweet aroma.

It has a twiggy stem, flowering as it does on bare wood.

Hellebores are opening their flowers for only the insistent of spectators. You really have to get down to their level, ankle height, and tip their heads gently upwards. Reluctant stars they are a pretty sight amidst the bare ground.

These are finally making good sized clumps, unnamed hybrids which came as tiny potted plants from the market.

My favourite is the green Hellebore argutifolius. Simple and elegant by comparison to the can-can skirted hybrids.

Did you notice the charming set of four little vases? Sister Dorris purchased them for me . They are etched glass and thought to be from the Victorian era. Perfect size for these tiny early Spring flowers. What do you think?

Another look at my green Hellebore with which I have put a white viola. These tiny viola flowers have a strong sweet scent. A wonderful distraction from all that is not so wonderful.

Thank you Cathy for hosting. Thank you for reading and have a good week wherever you are. D.

Six on Saturday: a welcome surprise

Tags

Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora, frost, Hornbeam hedges, January, Lonicera fragrantissima, Miscanthus sinensis, six on saturday, Viburnum bodnantense dawn, Viola odorata, white Foxgloves, Winter garden

The surprise is the weather of course. Sunshine and frost this morning, such a welcome sight after what seems like months of rain and grey skies and general bleh. My garden is holding water in small padding pools. I am trying hard, not allowing myself to stress about what the saturated clay is doing to my plants but horror stories keep popping in to my mind.

Not today. No, today I treated myself to some primulas to brighten a few bare patches. I walked around the garden, keeping off the squelching lawns, off the borders, stretching this way and that to reach closer to the sources of scent.

These are my Six:

Viburnum bodnantense Dawn

A quite vigorous, woody shrub, which sprouts out beautiful pink flowers in midwinter. Tiny multiples of flowers pump out a sweet scent in the sunshine.

This is one shrub I would always want in a garden.

Foxglove foliage dusted with frost.

I am hoping these will flower this year and will give me white spires. Digitalis purpurea f.albiflora

Foxgloves are such accommodating plants, suited to deep shade and to sun. They really will grow on any type of soil. I prefer the white form for its crisp contrast between white and green, finding the pink version a rather dirty pink. Highly poisonous if ingested, otherwise I would recommend them everywhere and anywhere.

Handsome Hornbeam

Hedges of Hornbeam are another of my favourite sights. Midwinter and the hedges are still retaining their foliage. Curled and pleated and a rich brown colour. The hedge provides shelter to garden birds.

Sunlight and Miscanthus

Backlit, I am reminded why I love Miscanthus sinensis so much. This particular one was new this autumn and is currently in a pot. I shall be transferring it into the ground once things dry out a bit.

More winter scent

This is winter Honeysuckle Lonicera Fragrantissima. Another woody shrub which bursts into flower in winter. The scent wafts on the air pulling the passerby in close. It too does not seem to be put off by the wet soil.

White flowers

These Violas are eye catching even in the low light levels of winter. They also are scented but you need to get very close to detect their aroma. Such sweet flowers, great performers and worth a couple of quid of anyone’s money. Winter bedding.

These are my six, joining The Propagator and gardeners from around the globe, sharing my six favourites in my garden right now. Do join in, we would love to see what’s in your garden too.

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Silent Sunday: Viburnum bodnantense Dawn

Tags

January, Silent Sunday, Viburnum bodnantense dawn, winter flowers, winter scent

In a vase on Monday: in minature

Tags

Helleborus orientalis 'Harvington Hybrids', in a vase on Monday, January, Lonicera fragrantissima, miniature vase, primroses, Primula vulgaris, Viburnum bodnantense New Dawn, winter honeysuckle

It is cold and bright here and these precious blooms are out in my garden today.

A double Hellebore, primrose and Viburnum.

So pretty and so tiny. In my tiniest “vase” which is 5cm x 4cm stamped 80 underneath, it was purchased in a junk shop. Perhaps it was for mustard? Anyway it is white and perfect to hold these minuscule offerings.

Sat on my kitchen window cill I hope the warmth of the house will encourage the viburnum and winter honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima to open a little for me to enjoy the sweet honeyed scent.

What do you mean you cannot see the honeysuckle, it’s there, behind the Hellebore.

I have a few snowdrops in the garden but they are so new, so precious, I couldn’t bring myself to pick them. I hope you will now take a look at our host Cathy to see what else is flowering in deepest January.

Have a good week. D.

Wordless Wednesday: ping

Tags

glasshouse grown, January, Oxford Botanic Garden, Pavonia, ping of colour, wordless wednesday

In a vase on Monday: Schubertii

Tags

allium schubertii, in a vase on Monday, January, ornamental onion

This is what I have in my vase today, the husk of Allium schubertii

I rather like the name as it makes me think of a conductor waving his arms in all patterns of the music.

I have it sat on a glass shelf with a selection of beach finds.

So not much of an arrangement but from the garden nonetheless. I am of course joining Cathy with her weekly meme. Join in or take a look. It’s a good start to the week. D.

Silent Sunday: a cold January morning

Tags

English country garden, frost, January, Silent Sunday

Frosted fern

Wordless Wednesday: freckles

Tags

clematis cirrhosa freckles, climbers, freckles, January, Ramsgate, wordless wednesday

In a vase on Monday: golden brown

Tags

Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster, golden light, hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, Hydrangea paniculata limelight, in a vase on Monday, January, Miscanthus sinensis, pine cones, Verbena bonariensis

The overhead lighting is casting a rather yellow light over today’s collection of seed and flower heads.

There is a crispness to their texture and a fragility which requires a very light touch.

The fluff of the seed heads of the Miscanthus are so delicate, light as a feather, perfect for catching a breeze and dispersing.

The pine cones are from my friends garden from her so called 100 acre wood tree. The tiny flower is from the Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle. The metal pot with holes is from a shop in Suffolk and I thought it might make a rather good pot for a cactus or succulent.

What can you find in your garden to share this Monday? See Cathy’s blog. Cathy hosts this immensely enjoyable and popular post.

Just the tonic for a Monday. D.

Six on Saturday: 12/1/19

Tags

2019, January, six on saturday, the Chilterns

2019.  Hello. How are you keeping?

I feel as if it is a long long time since I scribbled here on Digwithdorris.  I imagine you are perhaps in the midst of an alcohol and fat free period or that you are maybe toiling hard, starting with all those good intentions.

January can be such a beautiful time of year.

January is the one month in the year when you might imagine that there is little to be done in the garden but let me tell you that is a big untruth, January is a great time to get jobs done outside.  I have even cut my grass.

For my first post of 2019, I am joining cavershamjj  with my Six on Saturday.  These are pictures I have taken on one of my daily walks.

Wishing you all a super weekend and hoping you get chance to get out and enjoy your surroundings.  D.