greentapestry : IAVOM ~ In The Pink

Monday 19 October 2020

IAVOM ~ In The Pink



The post title accompanying 'In A Vase on Monday' this week is a reference to both the colour of the flowers within as well as to my return to my usual self. Thanks to all of you who offered good wishes and a speedy recovery after my last post. I really fall down with a good whack so although there was fortunately nothing bruised or broken I was very stiff and ached for a good few days afterwards. Fortunately normal service has been more or less resumed. I have enjoyed pottering about in the garden this just gone mild and dry weekend. I've surprised myself by making a start on planting my bulbs and actually enjoying it for once. I often manage to delay this task until early winter (quite often sporting numb fingers whilst planting) but there is no stopping me at the moment. A box of bulbs from Peter Nyssen arrived last Monday and inroads have been made into them. The tulips will have to wait until November though. I think that I'm relishing this task this year as last year bulb planting was out of bounds for me with my dominant right arm encased in plaster. Himself planted whilst I directed which I'm sure you will agree is not quite the same.

I've moved my vase indoors this week as my usual vase perch has had its leafy background decimated for now. The willow tree has just been pollarded again after some eight and half years or so ago since its last encounter with the tree surgeon. There were too many branches encroaching in the direction of the roof. In my vase this week are just the two specimens :
  • Lathyrus odaratus 'Gewndoline' - I dismantled the remaining sweet pea wigwam yesterday and there were still a few defiant flowers clinging on. Most of them were too moth-eaten to pick but I thought that these few deserved to be cherished for a day or two longer. ' Gwendoline' is one of the strongest sweet peas I've grown, always performs well and has superb long stalks for use in vases. She is also highly scented which is a must. All my sweet peas were sown in the middle of March and only really got going in July.
  • 'Panicum capillare 'Sparkling Fountain' is the second component in the vase.  This half-hardy grass was started from seed sown in the greenhouse on 5th March. The inflorescences really do sparkle on sunny days and it has grown well in pots this year although it is going over now. I think that it is possibly my favourite out of the handful of grasses I grew from seed this year.
Thanks as always to the lovely Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for being the perfect hostess. I hope that everyone has a good week and makes the most of the daylight before it goes! 

15 comments:

  1. Oh dear! I missed that - so sorry to hear you fell, wishing you a speedy recovery. Your delightful, soft pink posy will definitely make you feel better. Didn't know Sparkling fountain, it's lovely. Take care xx

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    1. Thanks Annette - improving by the day ๐Ÿ˜„ 'Sparkling Fountain' is rather pleasing.

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  2. Hurrah for the return of your usual self, Anna! Glad to hear there was nothing rtuised or broken and having stumbled off a wobbly ladder today I know how easily we can be taken by surpise and of course we are not getting any younger! Lovely to see your Gwendoline remnants today - she is a must for me next year, as she did really well on her first outing. Mine are long finished though. Love the grass with it too, sadly my similar variety did not perform for me ps I am now copying this comment in case it disappears again!!

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    1. Oh not Cathy - what were you doing up a wobbly lader? Hope that you are ok. 'Gwendoline' is most reliable and I too will be growing her again. Good idea to copy the comment. I usually do but it seems to be whenever I forget that my comments disappear into the ether and I have to start again.

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  3. So pleased you are in the pink now Anna. I know that going out into the garden, and getting stuck in is a great antidote, and the movement and fresh air help. The sweet peas and grass are very pretty together.

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    1. Yes couldn't agree with you more Noelle - diving in to some sort of gardening activity invariably helps me to forget my aches and pains and I'm sure that the moment helps too.

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  4. I'm glad you've mended and that you're able to get out and enjoy your garden while the weather's good, Anna. I'm bowled over by the fact that you still have sweet pea blooms. I love the sparkling Panicum you used, which reminds me of Panicum 'Frosted Explosion', a plant I tried (and failed) to grow from seed here.

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    1. They were the very last sweet peas Kris and I didn't sow them until the middle of March. Then again our cooler summers help to prolong the flowering period. I've grown both grasses now and think that just to confuse us that they are probably the same plant albeit with different names ๐Ÿ˜„

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  5. I usually grow Gwendoline, too. Your sweet peas have really lasted well. Glad to hear that you are feeling much better.

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    1. 'Gwendoline ' has rapidly become a favourite Sue ๐Ÿ˜„ Thanks for your good wishes.

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  6. Glad you are feeling better, falls are no joke. I love your sweet peas and panicum, sweet indeed!

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    1. Oh many thanks Eliza. Falls are certainly no laughing matter especially the older you get.

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  7. I love to see improvised vases being used, there’s such a simplicity about them. Your choice of flowers is perfect for the little bottle vase.

    I have only managed to pot up a few small pots of Iris reticulata - I’m so behind with my planting and now we’re into a prolonged rainy spell. It’s not looking good for planting anything right now. I hope you manage to get yours complete - and without any more accidents!

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  8. Thanks Catherine. The vase is one of a trio of old school milk bottles bought on holiday in Rye a few years ago now. It's been rather wet here too with yet more to come this weekend. I've managed to pot a few more bulbs up in pots in the greenhouse this week and am looking very carefully where I put my feet when I'm in the open.

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  9. Glad you are feeling better Anna. Your late sweet peas are healing for the soul if not physically and make a great little posy for this time of year. :-)

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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

Namastรฉ

- Anna.