Of all the months in the year November has still to persuade me that it has any attractive features. The fact that the last weekend of October sees the clocks move forward plunging us into darkness before the afternoon is done does not help it to get off to a good start. I know the month is still in it's infancy but so far we have been plunged into greyness with little or no sign of the sun reappearing this coming week! My post title this week is a reference to both my annual November grouchiness as well as a reference to the weather conditions when sailing ships struggle to make any progress. Such grey weather comes hand in hand with very little or no wind. Away from the doom and gloom of November and on the plus side it has been dry, relatively mild and there has been an opportunity to do some gardening.
In my smallest of small vases this week brightening up November are :
- A single albeit slightly fading and bedraggled flower of the hardy geranium 'Rozanne' which is an absolute star in my book. It has been in flower since early summer and is only just petering out now. A couple of years ago she hung on to some flowers into the second week of December. The Royal Horticultural Society has deservedly given her a well deserved Award Of Garden Merit. As well as being long flowering, she is vigorous and so far has been pest free. The bees love her too!
- Some flowers from a dainty little hardy chrysanthemum name unknown. I admired her in a friend's garden and she kindly gave me a couple of cuttings last year. I looked forward to seeing her in flower last autumn but last year's flowers were all munched up by goodness knows what. This autumn though she is in flower and is making a nice little clump in a container. From a distance the flowers en masse look white but when looked at more closely they have a pale pink hues.
- A little sprig of evergreen pittosporum tenuifolium 'Siver Ball' which is growing in a container.
As always a big thanks to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' who whatever the months provides us with the opportunity to share our vases. It is much appreciated. Do visit to see what Cathy and other participants have in their vases this week.
I think you've done a great job of putting a shine to your November garden with that arrangement, Anna. It maybe small but it's mighty! I love Geranium 'Rozanne', which I grew in my former tiny garden but, regrettably, it didn't like my current one
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words Kris. I'm sorry that 'Rozanne' isn't obliging in your new current garden as she is such a gem.
DeleteI hope you put your clocks back and not forward as you (no doubt inadvertantly) suggested in your post, Anna! 😁 I also hope November does not prove to be a complete downer for you, although I agree it is proving very grey so far 🤞 Thank you for making the effort with your little snippets - I never think to cut geranium, but at this time of year anything flowering is material for a vase. Your chrysanthemum looks sweet too - I wonder how easy it would be to find a name for it? Is the vase textured, or is that an optical illusion?
ReplyDeleteOooops - the grey must have been responsible for my error Cathy 😂 Still grey here and not a peek of sun since. I think that finding a name for the chrysanthemum might be a challenge - it was a snowdrop I would rise to the occasion.
DeleteHi Anna. What a gorgeous Chrysanthemum that is - so glad it flowered for you this year. Their late flowers are a godsend in November aren't they. And Rozanne is still going strong here too, even after a couple of light frosts. Although 'vigorous' is perhaps an understatement! LOL! I do hope the sun comes through again for you soon. It is the same here although we did see the sun for about an hour yesterday. I am trying to distract myself from the November gloom with a book and some 'spring' cleaning - the house gets neglected in gardening season!
ReplyDeleteYes such late flowers are a blessing Cathy 😀 Good to hear that your 'Rozanne' is still clinging on. She is certainly a large plant and a good do'er. Still no sunshine here not even a glimpse but no rain. I'm wrapping myself up well and pottering about but reading and housework are taking up more time too 😂
ReplyDeleteRozanne is fabulous and I love that it is so late flowering. I saw it planted with nerines and hesperantha a few years ago at John Massey's garden at Ashwood. It made such a gorgeous display. That's a pretty little chrysanthemum.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to find flowers now althpigh the comos is still going strong
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