greentapestry : In A Vase On Monday ~ Sugar & Spice.

Monday 20 July 2015

In A Vase On Monday ~ Sugar & Spice.


It's back to base for this week's vase which is a mixture of allotment meets garden. Absence from home has seen everything fast forward, so there were lots of surprises on our return from a beautiful and tranquil French beach, where our camper van has been resident for a short time. This week's vase ingredients are :

  • Alchemilla mollis or lady's mantle which despite its prolific self seeding habits I would not be without.
  • A few sprigs of golden oregano which grows on the plot.
  • Antirrhinum 'Black Prince' - grown from seed and planted both on the plot and in the garden. This was obviously camera shy but one stem is visible on the right hand side of the photo. This has most attractive dark foliage and I'm hoping that it might overwinter.
  • Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer' - I like the way that each flower of this plant is slightly different in both pattern and colour. A division plant was kindly given to me year's ago when I admired it in the garden of a cottage that we stayed in when visiting the Malvern Show.
  • Allium sphaerocephalon this is a really reliable easy going bulb which flowers after the larger alliums are done and dusted. Its only drawback is that any seedlings can be mistaken for grass when they first come through the soil. 
  • Dahlia - I think that this is 'Arabian Night' but the label has gone west. It came through the winter at the allotment but came home to be potted up and receive some tender loving care before returning back to the allotment for the summer. It has really bulked out this year. 
  • Dianthus 'Green Trick' which is fabulously frothy. I fell for this when I saw it in Sarah Raven's catalogue and after being initially disappointed when they sold out I was delighted to get an email to tell me that it was back in stock. I ordered three plug plants which I've planted at the allotment. They are just beginning to come good now and the plan is to try and overwinter some cuttings. I don't think it can be grown from seed but would be pleased to find out that it could.

My vase this week is an old golden syrup tin hence the reference to sugar in the title. It normally houses a houseplant which is currently in intensive care. The spice is a reference to the flower colours and there are also spices round the base of the tin, remnants of a winter potpourri which are about to be jettisoned. Finally a stem of humulus lupulus aureus also known as golden hop has wrapped itself round the tin.

Thanks to Cathy from 'Rambling In The Garden' for offering us a platform to share our vases on a Monday. Such a cheerful and colourful start to the week!

37 comments:

  1. Now that's proper recycling - I've always liked the golden syrup tin. Actually, I've always liked golden syrup - loads of it on porridge.

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    1. Raspberries with mine recently Rob but golden syrup or maple syrup come winter.

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  2. Sumptuous and fine mix Anna and glad to hear you had a fine time away :)

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    1. Thanks for your comments guys. We had a good break although it already seems ages ago!

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  3. It's a frothy confection, Anna. I love that Dianthus, which I haven't seen anywhere here. The Dahlia is wonderful too.

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    1. Yes frothy it is indeed Kris and I'm glad to say that almost a week on the vase is looking almost as good as day one.

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  4. Absolutely lovely. I think they all work so well together and the Golden Syrup tin makes a great vase. Glad to hear you had a great holiday.

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    1. Thanks Jo. The golden syrup can may be harnessed into action more regularly along with its fellow empty treacle tin.

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  5. Oh I really love this Anna...the tin is perfect and the colorful flowers perfect for summer...orange and deep burgundy with that chartreuse green!

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    1. The word for the shade of green of the dianthus was evading me Donna - thanks for supplying it.

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  6. A gorgeous colour combination, I agree with you about the allium, not as showy as it's biger cousins but fab all the same :)

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    1. This allium is much more sedate Rona but although subtle it still makes an impact when a few of them are grouped together. I also like the fact that it's more late on the scene.

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  7. A fun arrangement today. That rich red dahlia is amazing and I love that frilly dianthus.

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    1. It was fun putting it together. Thanks for visiting and commenting.

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  8. I love your colour scheme Anna, it is so rich. A gorgeous dahlia and the snapdragon is a perfect match. I love the green dianthus. I grew it last year and I found it great for flower arrangements.

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    1. Thanks for your comment Chloris. It's the first year I've grown the dianthus and it will definitely be on the list again for next year. I'm hoping to get enough cutting material but if that doesn't materialise I will treat myself to more plug plants next year.

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  9. Yes, lovely indeed - and I like the spices next to the tin too, such a subtle addition. The hop is a graceful prop too. I had Green Trick plugs last year but didn't do very well with them which is a shame - on this year's form they would have been stupendous I expect :( I had forgotten how much later A sphaerocephalon was as I had planted several more last year but there was no sign of them till most of the other allium had finished - although mine are still not quite purple. Thanks for sharing - glad you had a lovely holiday & will email you again shortly

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    1. The spices came as an afterthought Cathy but they enjoyed their brief moment in the limelight before heading for the bin. Out of my three dianthus 'Green Trick' plug plants only one is really thriving. The other two look a bit sickly although they arrived looking happy and healthy. I've fed them with a seaweed feed and I hope that will do the trick.

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  10. A bright, colourful vase and informative post Anna.

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  11. I'm taken with the green Dianthus but won't be able to find it here, I'm sure. I really like the colourful effect of the flowers you've chosen and the tin - lovely memories of sticky puddings!

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    1. I do hope that the dianthus eventually makes its way over to Italy Christina. That tin and its companion treacle tin invoke some pudding memories for me too. Treacle tart was a childhood favourite.

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  12. love your vase this week

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    1. Welcome and thank you for visiting and commenting.

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  13. A beautiful combination of colours, thanks for sharing, Anna!

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  14. Refreshing colour combination, Anna, and the Dianthus is smashing and reminds me of sweet chestnut.

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    1. There's a most distinct resemblance Annette :)

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  15. Lovely display and the golden syrup tin reminds me off my grandad. He used to have it spread extremely thickly on bread each night after his dinner.

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    1. Now that's a naughty but oh such a nice way of rounding up a meal Angie. Glad to have prompted some good memories for you.

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  16. Very pretty! I love how informal it is. Those are always the best. :o)

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    1. Oh thank you for your comment and compliment.

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  17. Aren't the different but subtle changes in the golden syrup tins interesting. Your choice of zingy green and bright colours with excellent blooms and foliage, makes for a tasty arrangement.

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    1. Thanks for visiting and commenting. The tins have changed subtly over the years but they always appeal to me and certainly stick out on the shelves.

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  18. This is gorgeous, Anna! And good to know that spherocephalon alliums flower later - I'm just planning where to put recently purchased alliums and now think I may need to get hold of some spherocephalon bulbs to extend the flowering. Thanks for the tip! Caro xx

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All your comments are much appreciated and treasured. I wil try to reply to everyone who leaves a comment, but it may take me a few days, especially when I start spending more time in the garden and at the lottie. I know that you will understand :) I am sure that I will also visit your blog if I have not already done so. If you have any specific questions I will either reply to them here or you can email me at : thegreentapestry@gmail.com

Namasté

- Anna.