Astrantia

A crown for the goddess Astrantia.

With her attending angel.

I have been following Floral Forager on Instagram, she also has a website.

So inspiring! She makes wonderful headdresses and this is where the idea took me.

I sought out the frame after seeing these wonderful creations at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2016. I can’t remember exactly where I got the frame from now, I think it was from an Etsy site –  it might have been this one: Geckomeister.

The angel etched in a glass block – how do they do that??? comes from St David’s Cathedral shop. I bought one for each of my grandchildren as a christening present.

I’m joining Cathy for her IAVOM meme, where we pop something in a vase (ahem) from our gardens and share our arrangements with other gardeneners all over the world.

You can see my more conventional arrangement using Astrantia here.

Yesterday I had the utter joy of going to the Rare Plant Fair at Sculpture by the Lakes

 

I bought 3 plants

An alstroemeria, a trailing snapdragon which sounds almost too good to be true and some quaking grass.

My daughter chose alstroemerias as the main flower to decorate the marquee for her wedding reception so they have a special place in my heart – I hope I can grow them – any tips?

Also joining

Cee’s FOTD

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North Dorset

On Wednesdays, after school,  I take my granddaughter Miss E to her Gym Class. In the winter I am happy to sit for the two hours with crochet and a flask of tea, listening to podcasts on my iPad, but yesterday was such a lovely evening, I dropped her off and drove on for about 10 minutes and went for a walk.

 

Is this a Six Spot Burnet moth?

Joining Cee’s Flower of the Day.

In a Vase on Monday

Spring!

These lovely narcissi smell of spring. My daughter’s new home was once a Market Garden and the house sits amidst a field of these gorgeously uplifting bright blooms.

She is currently looking at how she might sell some of the flowers and/or the bulbs, so any hints and tips you might have would be gratefully received.

I have put them with cerinthe from my own garden, which seeded itself last year and survived the winter.

They sit in a metal jug which was made in Yugoslavia and bought for me by my Mum from a market stall. The crocheted pansy doily was made by my step-grandmother who I adored – she taught me many handicrafts including Hardanger embroidery. You can see the culmination of a wonderful Sew-Along over on Kathy’s blog – so pretty.

I am joining in with Rambling in the Garden’s ‘In a Vase on Monday’ meme.

Also joining Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Edit:

I just had to add this from my garden just now

Amelanchier against a blue sky – Sprinnnnggggggg!

In a Nest on Monday

Hellebore and Hebe in a Lost Garden.

This little hebe is the star of the show in my garden at the moment, I just love it’s pink tips.

The hellebore sits in one of last year’s blackbird’s nest found in the loganberry which is trained against a wooden fence.

The crochet mandala is a pattern by Helen Shrimpton, called Lost Garden and inspired by the Lost Gardens of Helligan. It will be a blanket.

I had a play with the photo to create a more vintage look

Which do you prefer?

Do you think either would make a good greetings card?

Pop along over to Cathy’s Garden blog and see what gardeners all over the world are putting in a Vase this Monday.

Edit:

I’m adding a close up for Cee’s Flower of the Day

In a Vase in December

Brigthening up the grey December days, these are flowers from the pelargoniums I brought in from the garden at the end of October. They are flowering again.

They sit colourfully in the vase with Euonymous.

The backdrop is my current crochet work-in-progress. The Amanzi throw by Jen Tyler.

Worked in Stylecraft Special DK and a 4.5mm hook.

Joining in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

and Cee’s FOTD

 

Wordless Wednesday: Dark Beauty

In a Frida Vase on Monday

My son-in-law was helping with a house clearance this week and he rescued this vase for me, isn’t that lovely of him!!! And my daughter said – “a Vase for Monday!”

I immediately thought the vase had a Kahloesque look about it. You might already know I am a big fan of Frida!

An opportunity to get those candles out again.

Does anyone know what the mauve flowers are – they seed themselves freely around the garden?

I am thoroughy enjoying the heady scented mix of honeysuckle and philadelphus.

And philadelphus is my entry for Cee’s Flower of the Day.

There is a Frida Kahlo exhibition on at the V and A at the moment – I hope to go and see it, but it is hard to think of getting on a train and travelling to London whilst we are enjoying such glorious sunny weather.

Do you have anything to pop in a vase this Monday – if so do join in with Cathy over at Rambling in the Garden – such a fun gathering of gardeners.

I must just share another beauty of a sunset we had last night

Venus