It has been one of those days which have not gone according to plan. The day should have started with a trip to the allotment to plant some more French beans and a couple of summer squashes. However we were foiled in our attempt to enter the site when the key would not open the main gate. Himself deduced that there was something metallic blocking the keyhole. Whether this turns out to be the remnants of a broken off key or the unsuccessful attempts of somebody trying to break in remains to be seen. I was hoping to use one of two allotment wildings in today's vase but have had to pick from the garden where everything is growing more quickly now that we've had some copious amounts of rain at long last. The biggest rainfall came on Saturday night we had the most dramatic thunderstorm accompanied by torrential rain. There are more thunderstorms predicted for the next couple of days but I'm pleased to report that all is quiet at the moment. In today's 'In A Vase On Monday' are :
- Kalimeris incisa 'Queen Charlotte' also known as the Japanese aster. This perennial summer flowering aster came home with me from the Southport Flower Show in August 2014. It is an easy going perennial. I now have two patches although one seems less robust this year. Time to divide again I think. As well as the lilac form there is also a white form which I would like to grow.
- A couple of heads of foxgloves - these as self seeders originating either from the white or cream forms that were growing last year.
- Some stems of astrantia - I don't know which variety this is. It's been in the garden for years and I'm not sure even of where it came from but I love it.
- More of the orlaya grandiflora which I've grown from seed sowed in September last year. I'm most taken with this. I sowed another small batch at the end of May just as an experiment and these are just beginning to germinate now.
- Some of the perennial toadflax or linaria purpurea which seeds about a bit too much although interestingly it's pink sibling 'Canon Went' does not have the same annoying tendency.
- Last but not least a spriglet of consolida ajacis' Alba' commonly known as larkspur which was also sown last September. I had hoped to include more than one spriglet today but the inclement too hot/too wet weather had other plans in store for my blooms.
The vase is a the bottom of a tea making receptacle which I bought when we attended the 'Terracotta Army' exhibition at the World Museum in Liverpool in October 2018. I've not used it for tea making - in fact I don't drink tea but the table where the vase is photographed is where we often sit for liquid refreshments when the weather is good. We seem to have sat out there a lot this year down to a combination of the weather being so good and also of course because we have been at home so much of the time.
Thanks as always to our steadfast hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In the Garden', who is going to be out and about delivering tussie - mussies or nosegays to her friends this week. A lovely idea.
Oh how frustrating about not being able to get into the allotment - I hope ut is soon resolved. How often would you normally go there at this time of year? You have nevertheless been able to collect a range of very pleasing spriglets from your own garden, making a pretty pastel display in your vase. Kalimeris sounds a useful perennial to have. How do you overwinter your larkspur? It's something I generally forget to sow. We have had some short downpours and some rumbles of thunder, but nothing like your rainy experience it seems
ReplyDeleteYes it was rather annoying to say the least Cathy but all sorted now. In 'normal' years I would be there two or three times a week but fewer visits this year. My larkspur spent the winter in the greenhouse along with all my September sown annuals. I'm not sure whether I would have planted them but my poorly hand put pay to any other ideas I might have had.
DeleteYour daisy has some very good-looking companions, Anna! Astrantia is another of the plants I covet and can't grow. (I've tried twice with zero success on both occasions.) I envy you the rain too. I hope you manage to gain access to your allotment without much further trouble..
ReplyDeleteOh that you Kris. I would imagine that astrantias would find it too hot in your garden but then you can grow fabulous plants that I can only dream of. We were most delighted with the rain as you can well imagine.
DeleteThat Aster and the astrantia are so perfect. I could do with something fresh and delicate like that at this time of the year in the garden. It is a little in the Doldrums at the moment. Love the vase too....
ReplyDeleteThank you Noelle. You are always welcome to seeds or divisions of either next spring.
DeleteI don’t drink tea either, a fact that amused some French hosts at a bite that we once stayed at. Even funnier as one of them never drank coffee.
ReplyDelete😂😂😂
DeleteShould say gite not bite - autocorrect sneaking in there
DeleteI hope the allotment problem is sorted out soon Anna. How annoying for you. Still, it meant you had extra time for yourvase and it is a splendid one... love the Astrantia and the summer aster. I must look for something like that for my summer flower beds too. Larkspur probably wouldn‘t like a hot dry garden, but I am tempted to try it after seeing this white one.
ReplyDeleteYes it thwarted planting plans Cathy and there were very few opportunities last week to get there between one thing and another. I'm not sure how larkspur and heat would get on but worth a go.
DeleteIt was lovely to stumble across your blog and find it full of flowers. Such beautiful ones too. I drink tea but never use a tea pot, so mine have been repurposed for vases as well.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Tonia. Thank you for your visit and kind words. That sounds like a good use of any redundant teapots 😄
ReplyDeleteI love the daisies and friends all loking so fresh and pretty.
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