IAVOM ~ 'Dancing In The Moonlight'

 In my vase this Monday are three narcissus stems. I dallied as usual but finally placed my spring bulb order at the beginning of September last year.  My order included a twenty bulbs of narcissus 'Moonlight Sensation', new to me and which just have to be the floriferous narcissus that you could ever wish to encounter. I'm delighted with them. There are just three stems in my vase. There are up to seven pale cream lightly scented flowers per flowering stem. I'm still making my mind up about the scent. She has a sister called 'Sunlight Sensation' which I might be tempted by later on this year. As the name suggests it is more of a bright yellow in colour than 'Moonlight Sensation'.

The cool April weather we have experienced has extended the flowering life not only of this beauty but other early spring flowers as well. It is allegedly warming up this week so we might finally enjoy some real spring weather. I certainly have had problems with germination in the greenhouse this year with slow, erratic and in some cases no germination at all of some seeds. I'm about to make second sowings of amaranthus caudatus, phlox 'Cherry Caramel' and rudbeckia 'Sahara'. The latter I would be most upset to be without but so far have only four seedlings. I don't think it's down to the compost but down to the low light levels and below average temperatures. Has anybody else experienced problems?

Thanks as always to the lovely Cathy who blogs over at 'Rambling In The Garden' and provides us with the opportunity to share our vases each Monday, whatever the vagaries of the season.

IAVOM ~ Pink Champagne

 

It's another Monday and so a fresh vase is now residing on the kitchen windowsill and will brighten my view when I'm at the kitchen sink. In my vase this week are :

• Ranunculus - I'm improving when it comes to growing ranunculus but still haven't got it right. More stems were wonky than straight and I struggled to find three to stand up nice and straight in a vase. These were planted in a tray back in the autumn and have been grown under cover. I must admit to neglecting them a bit and perhaps should have moved them in to individual pots not long after sprouting so must try to remember this next time. They were bought as ranunculus' Champagne' - a mix of coral, peach and salmon colours but I think that somebody forgot to tell them and they have all produced ruffled pale pink veined flowers. Not a colour I would choose but still pleasant enough.
• Accompanying the ranunculus are a couple of stems of lunaria annua variegata alba, also known a variegated white honesty, which conveniently self-seeds each year. As well as shining in early spring and attracting pollinators, the papery seed-cases make for effective Christmas decorations either in vases or used in seasonal wreaths.

The vase is a relatively cheap and cheerful purchase from the florist just a few doors away from my hairdresser. I'm kicking myself as I forgot to pop in to the shop last week when I had a hair appointment to see if there was any new stock. Oh well I will just have to call next time.

Thanks as always to Cathy who blogs over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for hosting. It's much appreciated and I do look forward to peeking into other vases every week.

 

It is still trying to remember that it is spring here with the weather still trying to find an improving and steady pattern. Still more seeds have been sown, there has been some potting up, my tomato plug plants have arrived and this morning we planted some seed potatoes before the inevitable rain descended. I hope that you enjoy your week and that you are able to spend some of it in the garden.

Wordless Wednesday ~ RHS Harlow Carr

 

IAVOM ~ Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

 

This week's Monday vase is a simple concoction of three flowering stems of amelanchier lamarckii. I snipped these in advance on Friday having seen the weather forecast. Yet another named storm 'Storm Kathleen' battered us over the weekend with gale force winds and more in the way of heavy rain. Surely it must cease soon - this seemingly never ending pattern of grey and rain. I do hope so.

Last week the amelanchier had a spell looking subtly glorious in the limelight with it's starry white flowers and soft coppery foliage. Today it looks somewhat bedraggled and it has definitely lost a substantial amount of blossom. However pear blossom and crabapple 'Red Sentinel' have taken on the baton in the blossom stakes. Apple blossom is not far behind.

My vase is the teeny tiny vase which has featured in vase posts before. It's that small that I'm unable to find the twin vase that I bought at the same time! A search party will be launched shortly.

Thanks to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' as always for her hosting skills whatever the season or the weather. It's much appreciated. 

IAVOM ~ 'April Come She Will'

 It has been a decidedly spring- like Easter - blue skies, sunshine and warmth here until today. True to form the weather is now in typical bank holiday mode and it's raining. At least we were able to enjoy two consecutive completely dry days. It seems an age since that last happened. Fortunately I picked some flowers in the dry of yesterday to sit on the dining room table namely :

• narcissus - there are two different varieties here but I'm not sure what they are other than one might possibly be 'Tresamble'.
• A nameless white hellebore which has seeded in profusion. I spent some of yesterday afternoon removing the seedlings.
• A single flower of hellebore x hybridus (Ashwood Evolution Group) Yellow Double that himself treated me to this year for my birthday.
• Muscari - again I know not which variety. 
• A couple of the lovely little crocus 'Firefly'. These have flowered late but then they were planted later in the autumn. 
• Finally a couple of stems of the thug that is lamium galaeobdolon variegatum. It does look attractive in it's spring glory but oh what an absolute nuisance. I think that our hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' would use the term 'devil plant' to describe it. Thanks Cathy as always for hosting.

Whilst I was cutting my flowers I noticed that I must have nicked my index finger which was dripping a trail of blood. I had to to stop at that point but later returned and added three stems of pussy willow to give a bit of height to the back of the bowl. I forgot to take another photo at that point. I have to confess that the pussy willow were shop bought especially for Easter.

Here spring has well and truly sprung and all of a sudden that list of jobs to be done both outside and in the greenhouse is lengthening by the day. Seed sowing is in full gear now and this afternoon it's the turn of cosmos and sunflowers to be sown. I am sweating about the so far no sign of germination from the larkspur (despite the seed packet having a spell in the freezer) and disappointed by the appearance of only two snapdragon seedlings. I hope that they have some friends keeping them company in soon. The remaining sowings look promising and no doubt the greenhouse shuffle will ensue before long. I hope that spring is treating you all kindly too or if you're in the southern hemisphere that you are lapping up mellow autumn days.

Postscript - my trip to the greeenhouse this afternoon revealed one emerging larkspur - it was invisible this morning 😂