Friday: faffing with flowers

Tags

faffing with flowers, florist ring, harvesting flowers, Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote', lavender, wreath

Yesterday I picked some of the blue lavender flowers before trimming the rest. The smell was heavenly but slightly nose tickling, it’s a very dusty sort of job if done when it should, when the lavender is bone dry.

This is Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote

I then bundled the flower heads into groups of 20-30 flowers, holding them together with florists wire.

The bundles were then wound onto a florists metal ring, using more of the wire.

Here is the end result attached to Ali’s door.

Have a great day. D.

In a vase on Monday: from the sunny side

Tags

Agastache/ hyssop, Allium sphaerocephalon, Geranium 'Ann folkard', Jasmine officinalis 'Coltted Cream', Knautia macedonia, Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote', Nepeta govaniana, Verbena bonariensis

In raised beds I have grown as many scented and bee friendly plants together. There is rosemary, an edge of lavender, small olive trees and a fig. Mixed with these are a couple of clipped box cones and a couple of purple leaf acers. The flowers for today’s vase reflect the bits inbetween.

Ann Folkard is a geranium with rather lime coloured foliage which creeps up and around it’s neighbours in a rather passive manner. Knautia Macedonia is growing like mad this year but does seem to have a touch of powdery mildew. Too dry perhaps!?

The Hyssop is a good strong shape, unlike the naughty Knautia which is lolling around. It also has a strong dark purple colour, scented leaves and the bees love it.

The lavender was chosen for its colour and scent of course and because it tends not to get as big as some varieties.
Lavandula stoechas or French lavander is pretty for its flags and scent, again insects like it.
Allium sphaerocephalon is one of my favourite alliums in that it has such a dark burgundy colour, is without those unattractive strap leaves that the other forms have and it comes back time and time again.

Verbena bonariensis is a useful back of border plant which the bees and butterflies love. No scent and borderline hardy it will self seed if you’re lucky.

I introduced the palest yellows to the scene for full on scent. Jasmine clotted cream is strongly scented and not as rampant as some garden varieties. It may not be as hardy as some but managed well last Winter in its quite sheltered spot. Finally and by no means least, Nepeta govaniana. This catmint is lovely, graceful even, flowering until the Autumn with a strong catmint scent when touched.

So there it is folks, my Summer in a vase, well a marmalade pot to be precise. This was a Tring Friday market find and usually houses an orchid in the kitchen.

I don’t think any bees visiting these flowers will be pollinating any oranges for marmalade, but I can dream.

Cathy at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/in-a-vase-on-monday-calmer-serener
Is the host of this meme. This week she has some lovely dahlias in her vase, do take a look and then peek at some of the many others on show.
Failing that get outside and pick your own flowers. Have a good Monday.

In a vase on Monday: A hint at what is out there

Tags

Geranium 'Ann folkard', In a vase on Mondoy, Knautia macedonia, Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote', Salvia nemorosa, Sanguisorba officinalis 'Red thunder' Pelargonium sidoides

Is it me or is Monday here again quicker than expected?  After all the pinching last week I felt I should do the decent thing and snip a few precious flowers from my new planting.

All of the flowers have been transported from my old garden in the form of cuttings or  pots and planted into raised beds that were already in situ.  The area is South facing and is very sheltered thanks to the buildings that surround it.  Consequently it means i have an ideal spot for my sun loving plants and collection of succulents.

The planting includes lavander,  Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ and Salvia nemorosa for a litle on- contact scent.  Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Thunder’ for its dark bobbles and  Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ for its long lasting flowering period, its rather scrambling habit and its slightly lime toned leaves.  Pelargonium sidoides for its blue grey foliage and its velvet looking flowers  and last but by no means least Knautia macedonia for its perfect pin cushions of claret.

Then there is the whopping great purple flower.  That is a Clematis that has been allowed to remain as its colour sits well amongst the bruised tones.  Not sure which one it is.  It has lovely seed heads after flowering so it gets my vote. And that is it for today.  My vase was kindly provided by my sister as she knows I have a  liking for pretty medicine bottles.  Sat on the kitchen table, I am liking the way the overhead light has cast a shdow of the blooms.

So that is it, my vase for this Monday.  To see what Cathy and other bloggers have put in their vases, take a look at http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/in-a-vase-on-monday/2014/09/22/jumping-the-gun.

Hope you are having a good day.