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: 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.

Silent Sunday: first, second, third

Tags

Borage, favourites, in the garden right now, June, Rose "Lark Ascending", rose a shropshire lad, Silent Sunday

In a Vase on Monday: petals

Tags

Cosmos sonata dwarf, Dahlia Labyrinth, Dahlias, in a vase on Monday, rose a shropshire lad

The wind is getting up as predicted. I suspect like many of you I spent a large part of the day yesterday in the garden. I picked these precious last few flowers.

How delicate petals seem at this time of year. Too soft and gentle to withstand rough weather. Too colourful, too pretty, against other plants which are drying out and brown. On my kitchen window sill sits a pot of Burts Bees almond and milk hand cream, it brought to mind an old TV advert for a certain cream where a brown dried out leaf sprang back to life. Now imagine if that were possible. 

Other petals are these Cosmos dahlias and roses. 

So colourful. 

So delicate. 

Pretty

This is Dahlia Labyrinth.

Let’s hope the weather is not too drastic. Pop over to Cathy to see what other vases are around this week. There are sure to be plenty of lovely flowers to see. 

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

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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.

Wordless Wednesday: Freezing

Tags

frost, frozen rose, rose a shropshire lad, wordless wednesday

A Shropshire Lad, frozen in time

Tuesday View: 4 October 2016

Tags

bench, Catalpa, oak sleepers, raised beds, rose a shropshire lad, Tuesday View

Today a large raised bed around the side of the garage was built.

As is often the way with plans, they had to be altered slightly due to a large slab of concrete some 25cm deep. The upshot of the revised layout? A residual sleeper. 

I got on with cutting the grass, keeping out of the way while work progressed. The border has had a bit of a clear, the grey Achillea has been dug out and the Alchemilla mollis has been cutback.

As you can see these pictures were taken at the end of the day, the evening light illuminating the three Horse chestnut trees.  It has been mild today and sunny but there is an edge to the wind to remind us that is October.

Summer is hanging on, the continual flowering rose A Shropshire Lad is looking good against the rather lime toned foliage of Catalpa. 

The Hornbeam hedge is coming together, as well, a hedge.

So back to the left over sleeper. Well while cutting the grass it came to me, a bench! 

Or to be precise, two benches.

A good days work, thanks. 

In a vase on Monday: progress is rather pink

Tags

Astrantia 'Roma', Dahlia Arabian Night, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, Persicaria amplexicaulis Firetail, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', rose a shropshire lad, Verbena bonariensis

Monday is here again and I am sharing a seasonal mix of what I think of as an early summer bloom, Astrantia Roma, summer roses and autumnal dahlias. Such is our weather

These were all planted this year and I am very pleased with progress. The astrantias were slow to pull away but once they did they have more than tripled their size. Such a charming cushion of a bloom, perfect for a vase and an essential for a garden border to my mind.

The roses are A Shropshire Lad and Gertrude Jekyll . Both are David Austin roses, both are pink and both smell divine. This is their second show of flowers.

The Dahlia Arabian Night is a stunner, dark velvet perfection.

Added to this little group is Percy. This Percy is Firetail, Persicaria amplexus Firetail and Verbena bonariensis. I am happy with this little group and hope you like them too. Have a great week and be sure to check out the Monday vases with Cathy at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2015/