In A Vase On Monday ~ 'Purple Haze'

A friend texted me this morning to say that as we should have been meeting this morning for our reading group monthly meeting and perhaps we should swap notes of what we are all reading. In fact it had not even registered with me that it was the last Monday of the month. Apart from everyday being much of a muchness I have mislaid my diary. It's funny how I'm missing it even though I've got nowhere to go. Anyway her text certainly reminded me that it's Monday so went out into the garden to cut a few snippets for this week's 'In A Vase On Monday'.

In my vase are :

• Iris reticulata 'Scent Sensational' - this was the last of my little irises to flower. It certainly lives up to its name as I can discern the scent without crinkling my nose too much.
• A head of anemone blanda - this has been in flower for a while now with flowers still to come.
• A sprig of pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain'. The predominant colour of the flowers is blue.
• A couple of sprigs of a blue flowering vinca minor which are doing their best to hide in the background.

The little bottle is one of a collection of five different colours, a present from my sister a couple of years ago or so.

I see that our lovely hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' is sharing spring flowers today along with a gem with a most topical hidden message. Do pay her a visit if you haven't already.

IAVOM ~ Daffodowndilly

Daffodowndilly

" She wore her yellow sun-bonnet

She wore her greenest gown;

She turned to the south wind

And curtsied up and down.

She turned to the sunlight

And shook her yellow head,

And whispered to her neighbour:

Winter is dead"

- AA. Milne 

It's a quick pick and plonk for my contribution for this week's 'In A Vase On Monday' - all daffies reflecting the beautiful spring sunshine and warmth we have enjoyed over the last couple of days. It has certainly proved most welcome in these troubled times. In my vase are 'Tête- à -Tête', my all time favourite 'Thalia', 'Jenny' and new to me this year the little 'Snow Baby'. 

My vase is standing on its regular outdoor perch of a perimeter wall. Some feet below the wall runs a surface water stream. Over the years I have been guerilla gardening and lobbed some ''Tête- à -Tête' bulbs over the wall. This is a glimpse of some of the resulting clumps that have sprung up. They have not been covered with compost but have gone on and done the business regardless. The white daffodils were there when we came along with clumps of snowdrops. Their colour and shape are very reminiscent of 'Thalia'.

With thanks as always to dear blogging friend Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for so kindly inviting us to share our vases each Monday. I hope that you all manage to see some sunshine this week.

In A Vase On Monday ~ Pensive

So many questions - ifs, whens, hows and whats will be running through our minds at the moment so it is most reassuring and calming to carry on with some familiar activities. My flowers in this weeks 'In A Vase On Monday' are a few little violas. I only wish that I could convey their scent.

Just before Christmas when I still had my hand in plaster after a fall we went do a little shopping at a local discount store. I was looking for a few pots to plant some bulbs in or rather for himself to plant some bulbs in. The mission was successful concluding with the purchase of a few plain terracotta pots as well as a trio of blue glazed pots. Before we entered the shop my eyes were drawn to a display of trays of bedraggled looking violas with the odd one or two bravely in flower. They were priced at 50p for a tray of six plants - a bargain I thought so a couple made their way into our trolley. Imagine my delight when were going through the checkout that the price had in fact been knocked down to 10p a tray. My bargain purchase of the year!

They stayed in their trays longer than was desirable but have since got their roots down in pots and are smiling. Thanks as always to our dear hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for providing a welcome sanctuary in troubled times. I hope that all my blogging friends are well and stay well 😘😘😘

Wordless Wednesday ~ Iris & Friend

IAVOM - A Late Winter Posy

A most chilly wind greeted me when I ventured out to pick a few blooms for this week's 'In A Vase On Monday' but the sky is blue, the sun is shining and it's not raining! In my vase this week are the usual late winter suspects in the shape of :

Cardamine quinquefolia - an early flowering perennial which spreads out in a ground hugging pool of lilac. It will start to disappear soon and remain invisible until next winter. Some years it's foliage has been peppered with little holes but this winter it has remained unblemished. Maybe it has liked all the rain we have had throughout the autumn and winter.

Sprigs of a winter flowering heather. I've no idea of what variety they are. They were chosen and planted by himself and seem be pest and disease free.

Pulmonaria from one of the seedlings that appear by magic every year quite often in places that surprise you.

Narcissus - the flower at the back is 'W.P. Milner and the smaller is 'Elka'. Elka's innards fail to a pale creamy yellow as she ages.

A late flowering snowdrop - 'plicatus Augustus' I think. Most of my snowdrops both in the garden and in the greenhouse have gone over now but there are still a few welcome latecomers to the party.

With thanks as always to Cathy over 'At Rambling In The Garden' who stalwartly and generously hosts this meme whatever ever the weather. I've just had a peek at her post which is full of instant sunshine. Do take a peek there if you haven't already visited.