In a Vase on Monday – Perky Pat!

I actually created this two weeks ago, but have failed to find time to post it!  I was inspired by this fabulous David Austin rose ‘Pat Austin’ (named for his wife) and created the arrangement around her.

I added in the Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, also currently flowering with Pat in the Bronze Bed, 

and also Cerinthe for contrast.

Also flowering in the Bronze Bed was a large self seeded Honesty.  Although it’s white, so not remotely bronze, I’ve ignored it for so long that the flowers have turned to beautiful fresh green seed pods, so I cut a number of stems for this arrangement and then hoiked  the plant out.

It’s so lovely to be back with Cathy and the rest of the IaVoM crew.  I’ve missed you.

In a vase on Monday – rosy posy

I posted a vase of roses here for my 27th Wedding Anniversary, and this one’s for my 31st on Wednesday.

I couldn’t run to the silver bowl used on the previous occasion as it needs a clean and I was running out of time and light!  Instead I’ve used the glass trough, used numerous times before.  However, this time, if you look carefully, you’ll see I’ve put in some chicken wire as otherwise the top heavy blooms would fall straight out!

There are four different varieties roses.  This first one is an inherited one by the steps which sadly I don’t have the name for – it smells divine – 

next, Pat Austin, who also featured in the vase a fortnight ago,

next Korizont

and lastly, the wonderful Jubilee Celebration.

With thanks to Cathy who hosts all out Monday vases.  Why don’t you pop over and see what others have in their vases this week?

End of month view – May 2018

I arrived home yesterday for the first time in ten days, and the change is absolutely extraordinary.  I’ve used the word ‘bonkers’ before about the garden in May, but this year it’s more bonkers than ever.

I popped out in my lunch hour today to take these photos, but haven’t had a chance to do even a minute of tidying (or lawn mowing), so hopefully you’ll excuse the rather dishevelled look.

Bearing in mind that due to a sequence of lovely trips away I’ve only spent three non working days at home in the whole of May, it’s amazing it’s looking as good as it is.  Having said that, scratch the surface, and you’ll see there’s an awful lot of work required and PLENTY of serious weeding.

Let’s forget all that for the minute and take the usual tour.

Sadly there’s still no decking but I live in hope it might be there for the end of June.

I’ve replanted the Pelagonium ‘Surcouf’ at the front of both the pots as they were all lost this winter.  Luckily I had taken some cuttings, as I’d hate to be without the glorious fuchsia pink blooms to keep (Clematis) ‘Princess Diana’ company.

At the right hand end in front of the decking (well where the decking should be!) the Mulberry tree we had in a pot in Richmond and brought to the island ten years ago is finally finding its feet and looks like this year might bear proper quantities of fruit.

I had a mad planting out session two weeks ago so finally there’s something to see in the Veg Bed.  The flower at the front is Peony ‘Coral Charm’, bought going cheap at the end of last year.  I’ve planted it here for cutting, but clearly I’m some way off a bunch!

The rather odd combination of Agapanthus and strawberries is full of promise.

In the left hand Swing Bed there’s a rather mad combination of poppies, roses, geraniums and sisyrinchiums.

and in the left, a similar mix, but with a rather handsome lupin thrown in.

The Grass Bed is in desperate need of attention – not least a change of name!  As you can see, nearly all the Stipa tenuissima which previously lined the back of this bed, have died over the winter leaving just a couple of wispy memories.

The majority of the bed can now be cleared as it’s full of faded forget me nots, bulb foliage and (eek) mare’s tail.  However, I’m not sure what I’m going to plant instead, and I can’t decide what to do about replacing the Stipas.  Hmm.

I treated myself to these poppies at the local garden centre and I popped the chicken in amongst them.  I just adore poppies and I’m excited there are so many buds to come.

This bench sits behind the Mid Century Bed and is normally ignored (and never sat on!) but I like the effect with the Rosa Seagull in full flower above it and the paired cans.

Here’s the Mid Century Bed with plenty of roses, foxgloves and more poppies.
In the Drive Bed I’m chuffed that some white foxgloves I only moved from the Mid Century bed a fortnight ago, have survived and flourished.  The rose here is the same plant featured in the two photos above, but on the other side of the fence.

This (inherited) rose scents the steps up from the drive, providing a lovely welcome.

At the western end of the garden, looking the ‘shady way’ (actually south, but shady due to the magnificent oak) we can see the tapestry of shrubby planting.  Unfortunately I didn’t get round to pruning any of these this winter, so they’re all looking rather shaggy, but I’m pleased with the purple/green/purple/green repetition.

Looking the other way, to the much sunnier Bronze Bed, you can see the roses and Geums featured in my last Monday vase.  

Heading back towards the greenhouse takes you past the barrow,

the unpelleted (and thus chewed) hostas,

and various seed trays hardening off and in desperate need of planting out.  (The ones on the left below are stocks which sadly look unlikely to survive).

Talking of not surviving, my Winter flowering sweet peas which were planted out sooooo late, have not done well at all, and a number have not survived the transition to the greenhouse beds.

Happily the tomatoes are a lot perkier.

as are various tender flowers still waiting for their chance to shine outside.

And to finish, just look at this Leptosermum.  I was thinking over the winter it had got rather leggy, but all is forgiven now!

With thanks to Helen at the Patient Gardener who hosts our EoMVs.

 

 

 

 

 

In a vase on Monday – Pat’s back!

Suddenly the garden has awoken, and even some of the roses are joining the party.

One of my absolute favourites – Rosa ‘Pat Austin’ – had a number of blousy blooms, which I just couldn’t resist.

To these I added two Geums (no I can’t explain why I need two orange Geums, don’t judge me!)

The first is ‘Totally Tangerine’ which I added to the Bronze Bed last year.  It really is the colour of a Jaffa orange and therefore a bit harsh for Pat, also situated in the same bed.

The second one is ‘Mai Tai,’ a softer, peachier orange and therefore a much better companion for Pat but, illogically, is situated in a pot on the other side of the garden!  At least I’ve been able to bring them together in a vase.

To all this orange, I added a bit of lime in the form of Euphorbia Polychroma.

It really was lovely cutting and plonking a few zingy blooms in the sunshine.  Thanks for hosting this lovely meme Cathy!

Why don’t you pop over to Cathy’s blog to see what others have chosen for their vases today?

In a vase on Monday – three seasons in a day – and thwarted Thursday!

Let’s start with late spring, exemplified by sweet peas, together with the Panicum ‘Frosted Explosion.

Followed by summer, with Malope trifida ‘Alba’, Cosmos ‘Psyche White’ and Nicandra physalodes (Shoo-fly).

And autumn, with a mix of Dahlias, Salvias, Cosmos and late flushing roses (Pat Austin and Munstead Wood). 

The arrangements above were all created on Saturday, which sadly was too late for Thursday’s island birthday celebrations for the OH.  

We were having dinner in a local restaurant, with drinks at home first.  I’d hoped to arrange flowers for the house, and had even wondered about taking some little arrangements to the restaurant.

Sadly, thanks to a signal failure and swans on the line (yes really), my attempts to get back from London by early afternoon on Thursday were badly thwarted and I got through the door at around 6, with guests arriving at 6.30.

Obviously a sane woman would have forgotten the flowers and gone and got changed, but not yours truly.  No, I went running around the garden gathering a great armful of blooms and was still shoving them in a huge vase as the first guests arrived…

The result, photographed a day later, looks rather sad, but I promise it did look a little better on the night (and a little less flat in the middle).  

With thanks to Cathy who hosts all our Monday vases.

In a vase on Monday – Basqueing in orange!

Just a quick, late one today to share another ‘table trio’ and my new table runner made in the Basque region and bought last week in Biarritz.

I deliberately bought a runner (and napkins) with an orange stripe as the long table sits right next to the Bronze Bed and so the orange flowers feel completely at home.

Why don’t you pop over to Rambling in the Garden to see what others have in their vases this Bank Holiday Monday?

 

 

 

In a vase on Monday – Orange overload!

Finally some time this weekend to fiddle with flowers!

I spent a lovely hour making a few arrangements including the kitchen one above.  Sedum heads were joined by an exuberant mix of  Dahlias ‘Zundert Mystery Fox’ and ‘Happy Single Date’

as well as Rosa ‘Pat Austin’.

More Dahlias was plonked in the relatively new small glass trough – ‘Roxy’ and ‘Hillcrest Royal’ together with Cosmos ‘Rubenza’

And lastly, a trio of sherbet pink blooms for the long oak table.

These contained a random mix of bits and pieces to accompany the Rosa ‘Jubilee Celebration’ including a few odd sweet peas (‘Prince Edward’ the dark one below), Antirrhinum ‘Orange Wonder’, Panicum ‘Frosted Explosion’, Diascia personata

together with mint leaves and even a peachy Pelargonium.

As ever I’m joining Cathy at Rambling in the Garden who hosts the IaVoM meme.  Why don’t you pop over to see who else has been fiddling with flowers today?