Just one floral offering in today's Monday vase in the shape of single stem of leycesteria formosa, also known by the common names of Himalayan honeysuckle or pheasant berry. It's quite plain for most of the year but lights up in autumn with its dangling claret flowers tipped with white. It is an easy going shrub which just gets on with things and is recommended for shady gardens and woodland areas. This is a seedling child of my original plant. As well as the berries self-seeding it can be propagated by softwood cuttings. At the base of the vase a few conkers that have recently fallen from the horse chestnut at the top of the lane and were quickly picked up to thwart any squirrels with devious ideas.
The vase is new and an unexpected purchase. Plans for himself to drop me directly outside the hairdresser's salon in Chester for a recent appointment were quickly changed when my hairdresser texted me before 8.00am on the day of my appointment. He imparted the information to say that the road where the salon is was going to be closed to traffic for a few hours because a military parade was taking place later that morning. We decided to park at a Park & Ride facility and then make our way in. I had my hair cut, himself saw the parade and then we made our way back to the car but firstly a pit stop. Not far from the hairdressers is a florist which sells huge houseplants at eye-watering prices but I had espied a display of glass vases in the window at affordable to me prices. I persuaded himself to let me have a quick browse in the shop on our return to the catch a bus and emerged clutching a couple of green glass vases. I discovered that there was a small room at the back of the shop crammed with a rainbow of vases of all sorts of shapes and sizes. A veritable treasure trove. I will be returning!
As always thanks to our Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for her stalwart hosting every Monday which is much appreciated by fellow bloggers.
What a lovely day you had, and quite right that all poshed up with new hairstyle that you then made the most of your morning. What a find, I am sure you will be posing this one frequently. I loved growing leycesteria formosa it is such an interesting plant, which I don't have at present, so seeing yours is a treat.
ReplyDeleteIt was a productive trip Noelle but we didn't linger. Never mind - I still felt better for a hair cut and happy with my new purchase 😂
DeleteDo you always head to Chester for your haircut? Is it a treat for you? What an interesting morning you had with an unexpected outcome - were they matching green vases? The leycesteria looks so pretty and your description of its preferred location has set me thinking I could easily find a place for one here - thank you! And the conkers - how lovely are they?! 😊 New season conkers all smooth and shiny and glowing, and safely gathered in away from the squirrels. I was pleased when one of my young Thursday charges asked if we could go and get some conkers from the village field one of the days - I was well chuffed! I picked up a pocketful of them last year, and they took their own home with them - mine are still here in a hand turned wooden bowl
ReplyDeleteI've had my hair cut in Chester for years Cathy - a legacy from my younger days when I used to go there regularly at weekends with friends who lived there. One of them recommended a hairdresser and that was it. The leycesteria is attractive at this time of year but pretty much non-descript for most of the year. The stems are a positive feature though and remind me of bamboo. Conkers are indeed most beautiful and what an exciting occupation conker hunting can be for little people 😀
DeleteThe Himalayan honeysuckle is a very interesting and flashy flower. I'm glad your last-minute change of plans yielded pleasant surprises rather than a series of hassles.
ReplyDeleteIt was a case of every cloud having that proverbial silver lining Kris 😂
DeleteWow, your Leycesteria formosa is exquisite and very interesting. I've never heard of it. The way the bracts are arranged reminds me a little of shrimp plant, Justicia brandegeeanawhich, which grows well for me here in South Australia.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of justicia brandegeeana either so that's one for me to look up 😂
DeleteYour Himalayan honeysuckle is so pretty! And the new vase too… wonderful to find a place where different vases are sold. Sounds like the changed arrangements proved beneficial after all!
ReplyDeleteYes the last minute change definitely had something to recommend it at the end of the day and I'm now looking forward to a return visit 😂
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