It's Monday again and time for a vase to mark the start of a new week. In today's vase is a pick plonk mix of scented plants, some more pleasantly scented than the others :
- Astrantias - two varieties of this hardy perennial - one unknown and the other the dark red wine flowers of astrantia 'Gill Richardson', which has become a favourite along with astrantia 'Burgundy Manor'. The astrantias have been in flower for a few weeks now and will soon be cut back in anticipation of a second flush of flowers. The smell of the flowers reminds me of a damp face flannel which isn't the most pleasant of aromas so any vase containing them requires careful positioning.
- Two vivid purple and magenta blobs of dianthus barbatus 'Oeschberg', which I grew from seed a couple of years ago and will be sowing some more in the coming week. The seed only arrived in the post earlier this afternoon. Their scent is intense. Isobel Bannerman in her book 'Scent Magic' describes it as 'happy and typicallly of cloves and warm baking'. The flowers last for a good while.
- Some philadelphus also known as mock orange blossom. This shrub came to me as a cutting from my parent's garden years ago and I've never known which variety it is. It lurks on the outer edge of the garden looking insignificant for most of the year but bursts into clouds of beautiful white blossom every June. It has now reached about fifteen feet in height and causes himself some grief, as he has to duck under some of the lower branches when mowing our sad excuse for a lawn. The flowers are scented but I find the scent slightly overpowering whilst himself thinks that they smells like honey.
The vase was one that my mother had and passed on to me when she stopped using it.
Thanks to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' who encourages to share our vases every Monday. I'm looking forward to seeing what is other vases today and will no doubt be adding more plants to the wish list as I do so. Wishing everyone a happy month ahead!
What an absolutely beautiful vase especially the Astrantias personal favorites of mine.
ReplyDeleteThat jug makes a perfect vase, Anna. I SO envy the Astrantia, which I tried - and failed - to grow in my climate. The noID Philadelphus flowers are nice too. I planted a P. mexicanus here but it's been relatively disappointing and could end up in my compost heap if it doesn't get its act together one day soon.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting and lovely mix, Anna - I was surprised with the colour of your 'Oeschberg', as mine is much darker than that and not as pretty as yours. I picked some of my white Sweet William for a vase for my place of voluntary week a few weeks ago and it was still going strong two weeks later - I wonder if this will do the same? I wondered recently if I could fit a philadelphus in somewhere, especially as I had seen a dwarf one mentioned. Thaks for sharing today
ReplyDeleteOh, this is one of the prettiest arrangements I've seen today--the elegance, the colors, the combination, and the vase...lovely! Happy IAVOM!
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are beautiful, but ooolala, that vase...Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh, that is so pretty Anna. I do love Philadelphus and we had a beautiful old one at our last house - it was huge, but had virtually no scent. Your description of the smell of Astrantia made me giggle! The flowers are so nice, you'd think nature would have been kinder and made them scented too! I have been going around my garden sniffing flowers this spring, to find more scented plants for my new bed. It is surprising how many actually do smell good, even if not 'advertised' as being scented. Sweet Williams is an excellent idea and looks lovely in your vase.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty. I love astrantias but I never noticed that they smell of wet flannel. I'd go and sniff mine but it's raining again.
ReplyDelete