IAVOM ~ Brush Strokes

 

Monday has rolled round again and time to join in with 'In A Vase On Monday'. A trio of occupants in this week's vase. They are :

• Viola cornuta 'Brush Strokes' - grown from seed sown in the greenhouse on March 7th. They are mix of colours with some flowers more stripey than others. I've not made my mind up about them yet but will sow the remainder of the packet in late summer. They are described as a short lived perennial so we shall see.
• The fabulous fluffiness that is lagurus ovatus commonly know as 'Bunny Tails'. Again these were March sown. These along with fennel and lambs ears must be amongst the most tactile of plants you could wish to come across. The perfect plant for for children to stroke whatever their age.
• A sprig of mentha x gracilis or ginger mint - the flower is attractive enough but I grow it more for its striking green and gold foliage.

It's a bright and breezy day and thankfully much cooler and less humid than of late. We've also had a fair amount of rain in the last week or so so not so much in the way of lugging around of the watering can. My right arm is delighted. Green bin filling duties are calling me and once done I look forward to vase visiting later on today. Thanks as always to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for hosting.

IAVOM ~ Walking On Sunshine

 

It's Monday again and time for a vase on what is a rather warm and sunny day. Fortunately though we had a good thunderstorm accompanied by a couple of hours or so of rain on Saturday - our first rainfall for about three weeks. There was much rejoicing followed by a mollusc hunt come darkness. As you can imagine there was a bit of a party going on. In my vase this week are : 

• A flower from rosa 'Lady Emma Hamilton' who has just begun to open this last week. She is one of the roses that I can smell so is especially appreciated.
• A couple of the annual orlaya flowers which are hiding themselves at the back.
• Spikes of the restrained pink linaria 'Canon Went', which unlike it's purple relative doesn't seed everywhere with abandon.
• Some foliage from a physocarpus. I'm not sure which one.
• Astrantia major 'Gill Richardson' group which I think along with 'Burgundy Manor' are my favourite astrantias. The red ones always seem to take a while to get going but this one is now three years old and has now really taken off.

With thanks as always to Cathy who blogs at 'Rambling In The Garden' and who enables us to share our vases each week whatever the season. 

Here it is too hot for any serious gardening until perhaps this evening. Even then I think it will just be a gentle stroll round as I have come down with a summer cold, have lost my voice and don't have much energy. The green bin may well go up the lane tonight ready for tomorrow's collection without it's full quota of garden waste 🥲

IAVOM ~ Snow In Summer

A trio of different stems in my vase this week picked in a yet another shower of willow catkin snow. It's difficult to go venture out at the moment and risk opening one's mouth for risk of swallowing some of the fluff. The back of the house is becoming reminiscent of Miss Haversham's abode as cobs of snow congregate on the window sills and cover the decking. Oh for some rain to dampen them down. Our prolonged dry sunny spell continues unabated by even a gentle shower. Hopefully the annual shedding should be over soon. In my vase are :

• Aquilegia - this one gate crashed it's way into the garden this year. I'm not sure yet whether it's a case of live and let live or whether it will be going into the green bin.
• Briza media or quaking grass. I wonder why I have sown seed of this earlier in the spring when it has popped out as usual in various spots. During winter there's no sign of it so maybe it's a case of out of mind until it's time to think of seed sowing.
• A stem of rosa glauca - although the little pink flowers are pretty enough it's the buey/grey foliage of this rose which is it's most attractive feature. I like the red veins too. You may see some greenfly on the bud plus a smidge of willow snow. There seems to be an abundance of aphids in the garden this year and there is much squidging going on.  I don't know whether this is down to a lack of the insects that might nibble on them or another factor. I wonder if other U.K. gardeners have noticed an increase in numbers?

Thanks go as always to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for hosting. I'm looking forward to seeing what delights are in other vases. Here it's too hot for me to venture out in the garden until this evening where as always there are jobs to be done including what seems to be a round of never ending watering. Until then there might be time for a bit of gentle sitting in the shade and listening to an audio book. Hope that you enjoy your gardens this week.