It's soggy and grey out there this morning and either rain and/or leaves have been showering down with some gusto. The willow in the background is slowly shedding it's leaves but there is a silver lining in that some of them fall on the other side of the wall so we do not have to clear them up. The next few days promise to continue in the same vein weather wise with another named storm forecast for the middle of the week. Still a few tenacious flowers are clinging on and one or two are positively thriving including dahlias and the stalwart hardy geranium that is 'Rozanne', who so well deserves her award of winner of the RHS Plant of the Centenary at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show.
In my vase this week are :
- A single stem of dahlia 'Molly Raven' whose praises I've sung loudly before now.
- A stem of antirrhinum 'Madame Butterfly Watermelon'. This was grown from seed back in March and has not really thrived. It seems to be producing more flowering stems now that we're reaching the end of the season than it did in the summer. However it might be more floriferous next year if it comes through the winter.
- A couple of sprigs of pittosporum 'Silver Ball'. This was new to me earlier this year and the plan is to keep it in a pot and to try to keep it in trim. Apparently it's a plant that lives up to it's name forming a ball like shape.
Thanks as always to our hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for her gentle encouragement to pick a few flowers and share them whatever the weather is up to.
Here there might be a long enough break in the clouds for me to get outside to top up that green waste bin - tomorrow sees the penultimate collection of the year and there is still a little space inviting me to fill it to the brim. In the greenhouse there are some hardy annuals that are ready to be potted on so that will be the next job. A garden visit with a friend is on the cards tomorrow weather permitting. I hope that you all enjoy your garden activities this week.
Pretty dahlia. And a wonderful gift this late in the year. I am amazed at the variety of Pittosporum you seem to have in the UK. Are they coming from New Zealand? I think I read that about Tom Thumb, another I have never seen here. Amelia
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where pittosporums originate from Amelia so must do some research 🤔 It should certainly provide some interest during the winter.
DeleteLove the dahlia and watermelon colored antirrhinum....beautiful with the foliage! Rainy, grey and raw outside here.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna. Sorry to hear that your weather sounds much the same as ours minus the raw aspect. Hope that you get some sunshine soon!
DeletePittosporum foliage is such a good year-round asset, isn't it? How tall does this one grow? It makes a good job of supporting the dahlia and antirrhinum in your pretty ribbed vase. I decided against autumn sowing antirrhinum this year as my early spring sowings did so well. Hope you still manage your garden visit tomorrow - where do you hope to go?
ReplyDeleteI can't remember how tall this pittisporum grows Cathy but I'm intending to keep it small 😂 The garden visit will be to Arley Hall to peruse the autumn colour but only if it stops raining which is looking dubious.
DeleteA pretty dahlia with snapdragon to match! These season-end vases are such treasures, for we know summer's abundance is over until next year. Hope you get a few sunny days this week. Eliza
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words Eliza 😀 Yes sadly summer's abundance is now done and dusted but there's next year to make plans for. No sunshine as yet but we live in hope.
DeleteThe dahlia and the snapdragon make a lovely pastel combination, Anna. I just picked up a 6-pack (plugs) of snapdragons from the garden center to fill one empty space vacated by a dahlia this morning. It's really too early for them here - our very warm seasonal Santa Ana winds will dry them out quickly if I'm not careful (and maybe even if I am) and the variety available to me isn't rust resistant but fingers crossed I get some enjoyment from them anyway. I wish I could take some of that rain off your hands!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kris 😀 I will keep my fingers crossed for your new purchase tp plug that gap. Dahlias can take up a lot of room can't they? If only I could send you some rain!
DeleteA pretty combination, Anna. I like your use of pittosporum foliage and must try to add that shrub to my garden again. The dahlia is charming.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit and comment Susie 😀
DeleteWith that lovely low winterish light the textures and colours shine out. That Pittosporum looks very pretty too. I like shrubs in pots as moving them around can give different effects depending on the time of the year.
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly a dull cloudy morning when I nipped out to take the photo Noelle but dry. Yes pots can be handy for shifting about although arthritis in one hand means that I don't do much of that these days. Still deciding where it's likely final resting place will be though 😂
ReplyDeleteThe dahlia and snapdragon go so nicely together Anna. I do hope the snapdragon survives the winter for you. It is always a matter of luck here too. Pittospsorum that grows into a ball shape sounds really nice. Sadly they are a bit too tender for us here, but I do love their foliage.
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