greentapestry : In A Vase On Monday ~ May Breeze

Monday, 14 May 2018

In A Vase On Monday ~ May Breeze


 No, there's not even the slightest hint of the phlox 'May Breeze' in this vase but rather it was last night's wind that lent itself to the title of this post. It became more than a breeze at one point catching the tallest flowers in the vase, causing the vase to wobble about rather alarmingly. At this juncture the vase was grabbed and immediately bought it round to relative shelter on the well used table by the back door for its photo session. In my 'In A Vase On Monday' this week are :

  • Tellima grandiflora purpurea - well that's what I think it is. I don't call buying it so it either sneaked a ride in with another plant or was present in soil that came into the garden. It's a quietly pleasing subtle sort of a plant although it does self-seed a bit too much at times.
  • Geranium phaeum - no name for this one. It is a seedling and is some shades lighter than its neighbour who I think is geranium phaeum 'Lily Lovell'.
  • Narcisssus 'Petrel' - the late flowers are result of planting some of my bulbs rather late in the day. I imagine that it would normally be over by now. The multi-headed flowers are on the shy side with their heads held down but their scent more than makes up for it.
  • Polygonatum x hybridum - commonly known by the more appealing name of Solomon's Seal. This is one of my spring favourites. The only downside is that it does go a bit tatty as the year progresses
Lastly the pink cow parsley like chaerophyllum hirsutum 'roseum' also known as the pink hairy chevril. As well as the attractive heads of lilac mauve flowers the foliage is feathery and fern like. An added bonus is that the foliage is also deliciously apple scented. It's one of my favourite late spring flowering perennials, being easy to grow and seemingly pest free.

The stoneware vase is a new addition coming home with us after a most enjoyable visit to the Malvern Spring Festival last week.


Thanks always to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for her stalwart hosting come rain or shine.

Postscript ~ some sad news since publishing this post. The remarkable gardener, writer and plantswoman Beth Chatto died yesterday. I've been fortunate enough to have seen her breathtaking stands at The Chelsea Flower Show and her garden at Elmstead Market. Her writing has provided with me much joy and information over the years with one of her books inspiring my blog title. Thank you Beth for for all the joy you have given me and thousands of others.

27 comments:

  1. Oh I loved seeing such a delicate mix of flowers in your vase....the white mixed with pale purple is such quintessential spring!

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    1. Thank you Donna. Yes they are definitely very much spring colours.

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  2. What a pretty pastel mix this is, Anna, and the chaerophyllum works so well with the gearanium which is very pale for a G Phaeum - I wonder what it is? Do you not have touble with sawfly on your polygonatum? I have tried to remove mine because it is regularly destroyed but they keep coming back! I found nibbled (ie stripped) leaves on one of my gooseberries today but no sign of any sawfly which is very odd... Is your new vase an inkpot, or just reminiscent of one?

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    1. It is just a seedling of some description Cathy - phaeums range in colour from very, very dark purple to white. This is just somewhere between on the scale. I've occasionally had sawfly damage on the Solomon's Seal but fortunately it tends to be the exception rather than the rule. They are indeed nasty pests - my two gooseberry bushes at the allotment were once demolished overnight. I don't think that the vase was an inkpot in a former life but if it was I wouldn't have liked to have knocked it over if full of ink :)

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  3. The colour combination is lovely. I especially like the pink cow parsley. Did you grow it from seed? Sad news about Beth Chatto.

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    1. Thanks for your visit and comment Sue. The pink cow parsley can be sown from seed although I bought it as a plant. I would be more than happy to send you seed later this year if you are interested in giving it a go.

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  4. Your beautiful arrangement is as delightful as a cooling summer breeze. So sorry to hear of Beth Chatto's passing.

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    1. Oh thank you for your kind words Peter :)

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  5. Oh, your vase is so beautiful and the flowers so delicate; I love it! I heard about Beth Chatto's death on Twitter, and while I was not very familiar, I can tell by the many tweets that she was well loved by many gardeners around the world

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    1. Many thanks for your visit and comment Magnolia D. Beth Chatto's books are certainly worth a read if you've not come across them. She was a most remarkable plantswoman and her books are a mine of information :)

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  6. Your new vase is gorgeous and the flowers this week so springlike. I am deeply saddened by your postscript. I too was very influenced by Beth's garden and books; my island beds here owe a lot to her dry garden. I wonder what will happen to her garden; I remember reading that her family weren't really interested.

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    1. Oh thank you Christina. It is most sad news indeed. One of her granddaughters Julia was running the nursery so let's hope that Beth and Andrew's creation continues to flourish perhaps under Julia's stewardship.

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  7. As there's a considerable breeze blowing through my own garden, I can appreciate the challenge of keeping your vase upright for its photo opportunity, Anna. I love the cow parsley element - it adds an airy feeling to the arrangement. I too am sorry to hear of Beth Chatto's passing - her book on her gravel garden has had a prominent place on my book shelf for many years.

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    1. The vase nearly went for a burton Kris even though it's relatively heavy. The cow parsley is deliciously frothy. I wandered over Beth's gravel garden many moons ago at Elmstead Market. An absolutely stunning creation of colour, shapes, scent and sound (bees on the wing).

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  8. I love the blue and white and now I need the pink cow parsley!

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    1. Can send you seed of the cow parsley if of any interest Alison :)

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  9. Very sad news about Beth Chatto. What an inspiration.

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    1. Yes it was sad news Alison. What a life well lived and what knowledge and love of plants generously shared with so many people.

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  10. What a delightful, subtle mix of foliage and flowers, Anna. No wind here but rain, rain and more rain. Beginning to wonder if my roses will open up in time for the open day end of the month. It's been a funny year but at least everything looks lush and green. Have a good week xx

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Annette. Oh no rain is good but all those plants and us need some sun in the mix too! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for your roses. A funny old year here too and we're not even half way done!

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  11. The colour combo is so gentle, quite relaxing to look at, lovely!

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    1. Oh thank you guys. Not too relaxing I hope :)

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  12. Oh, that is sad news about Beth Chatto. It didn't make news here in Germany. I do love that pink cow parsley! Did you grow it from seed? Solomon's Seal is something I have always wanted to grow and for some reason never have... Lovely shade of G. phaeum too. :)

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    1. The pink cow parsley came to me as a plant Cathy but it can be grown from seed. Always happy to send some in your direction :)

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  13. Really lovely shades here. I love the pink 'cow parsley' too

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    1. Oh many thanks for your visit and comment - it's much appreciated :)

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  14. Such a pretty arrangement and I love the vase. I love umbellifers and pink ones are just dreamy. Beth will be much missed.

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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.