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: for an open garden

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August, garden visit, in a vase on Monday, NGS, sunflowers, sweet peas, yellow

Yesterday I opened my garden for the first time for NGS. This was an ambitious plan on my part as the garden was a paddock when we arrived in 2014. There was nothing here thanks to the former residents, a herd of goats.

In 2018 I have battled with a wet, cold winter which left standing water on my low-lying, clay soil as recently as April, followed by the driest Summer for 57 years.

Then, on the week of opening my garden, Thames Water decided to shut the lane to my house and put diversions in place. The final insult however was that the forecast was for rain!

The (NGS yellow) sunflowers were a market purchase to greet visitors on arrival and decorate the tea room aka the garage.

Sweet peas and dahlias in various shades of pink which I grow at work for Ali. I brought some of these home to decorate the tea tables.

I am pleased to report the afternoon was a great success: the rain held off, lots of people visited and perhaps most fun of all was that our very own Cathy joined by the Golfer came along. Cathy as we know is very knowledgeable about plants and floated around the garden chatting to visitors, answering questions. Meanwhile the Golfer did a sterling job, stood at the top of the lane waving traffic down towards the parking.

It was a really good day and I thought my garden did alright by the visitors. We raised just under £1400. Thank you to everyone who came.

Thank you to all my lovely helpers

The charities supported by NGS provide crucial care.

In memory of friends lost:

Paul

Heather

Jez

Jo

Joel

Domonic

Danny

And for those currently undergoing care

Lucy and little Daisy, Get well soon!

In a Vase on Monday. Thanks for reading. 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.

In a Vase on Monday: minatures

Tags

Astrantia 'Roma', cornflower, Dahlia mignon.mixed, Empress of India nasturtium, in a vase on Monday, minatures, nasturtiums, persicaria, sweet peas, Verbena bonariensis

The first of my cornflowers have appeared, and the little dahlias have opened, and the nasturtiums are finally flowering, so I just had to choose these for my vase today. 

The crinkle espresso cup/ vase is handmade by Stevenjameswill   I have placed a small frog in the base to hold the tiny stems in place. 

The lovely  named Empress of India nasturtium is such a good colour  next to the blue cornflower. 

To these I added Verbena bonariensis,  astrantias and persicaria. I do not expect them to last long but today they are brightening my kitchen window while I wash up. 

Pop over to Cathy s blog to see some lovely vases today. 

At work today these are the sweet peas I have grown for Ali.

In a Vase on Monday: Christina’s flowers

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garden flowers, in a vase on Monday, Suffolk, sweet peas

I have just arrived for a few days break in Christina’s cottage. Her garden is a picture and the house was full of little pots of flowers. As there is a hay fever sufferer in our group I have put the flowers outside.   The sweet peas are deep purple, the quiet version of that name. 

All so pretty. Then outside the door is a large jam jar type glass vessel and I really like how it is strung up. 

What a good idea unless the wind gets up I suppose. 

So these are my borrowed in a Vase on Monday to join Cathy. Have a good day all. 

Wordless Wednesday: Sweet peas grown by Norman

Tags

garden flowers, Lathyrus odoratus, sweet peas, wordless wednesday

Grown by Norman, picked by Dorris