In a Jam Jar on Monday

A quick posy to take to a friend, all popped into a small jam jar for travelling in the car.

I also took a (re-used) bag of pea-shoots with a few nasturtium flowers

The pea shoots were grown from a cheap bag of Marrowfat Peas that I bought at least 3 years ago. I started by sowing them in rows (22. July), but I didn’t know if they would germinate so I also thickly scattered some

The peas all came up and have been fantastic. I have had loads to give away. Two of my grandchildren who are quite fussy eaters, especially where vegetables are concerned, just love to pick and eat as they go past. I take them little bags of pea shoots when I go to their house and they sit and munch their way through as if they are eating a bag of crisps!

I’m cheering on the inside.

Next year, I will scatter sow them but not quite so thickly.

Last week I pulled out a few plants and have sown a row of Wild Rocket, which is just beginning to peep through.

Joining Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, for In a Vase on Monday.

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Phygelia

on a plate

on Monday

Joining in with Cathy and her happy band of gardeners from all over the world for ‘In a Vase on Monday’ 

and

Cee’s Flower of the Day 

Lime Green Vintage

At the moment I am immersing myself in the colour called Lime Green mixed with oranges and other autumnal colours whilst I crochet the Karoo Vintage Mystery Along.

Going with the Vintage theme for my Vase this week, there are a few elements in the picture all bought in the 1970s:

A Timothy Whites vacuum flask, still going strong. Who remembers Timothy Whites? A High Street chemist shop taken over by Boots in 1968,  the trading name stopped being used in 1985. The cup that went on the top has been lost but the flask still keeps water hot for a good long time. It sits by my kettle to house excess boiled water to be used for washing up etc.

The green floral table cloth (more lime green in reality) is a huge 2.5m diameter circle of Laura Ashley fabric bought as a Second from the Laura Ashley shop in Bath on a lovely pre-children shopping trip with friends. It has been brought out to cover trestle tables at many a family event over the last 40 years or more.

The bright green cloth with turquoise stitching trim was bought from Habitat in about 1978.

The bright orange metal jug with white flowers was made in (former) Yugoslavia and given to me by my Mum who found it on a market stall.

In the jug is a plant which I like the look of because of its bright pink bits – but I guess it is a weed. Do you know its name? Can it be used for anything?

From my garden:

A pot of lemon balm sits waiting to be made into a lovely refreshing tea.

The figs have been plentiful and glorious this year.

I’m delighted to have found a salad crop that does not get eaten by the sparrows – pea shoots! Thank you to Postcard From Gibraltar for inspiring me to try these – they are yummy!

I am growing them in a waist high Veg Trug outside my front door (Zone 1 in Permaculture)

My daughter thinks the new shoots look as if they are waving and dancing

here they are having a party!

Apples are plentiful but all blighted by the wretched codling moth.

Pears are looking good this year.

Joining in with Cathy and In a Vase on Monday.

Happy Gardening!

In a Vase on Monday: Flower Festival

There was a Flower Festival going on in the church in our village this weekend, on Friday I met my wonderful 85 year old neighbour on her way to the church with flowers picked from her garden. I just had to take a photo, she looked so happy and summery, she gives me hope for the future!

 

And this is how she arranged her gorgeous homegrown blooms

with a reference to ‘Watership Down’,

the theme for the Festival being ‘All Living Creatures’.

It has been hot, hot, hot here and the coolness of the inside of the church provided a welcome respite

There were some ingenious interpretations:

The Owl and the Pussycat

with the ‘sea’ of hydrangeas and the silvery moon dangling a pig with a ring in the end of its nose made me smile!

As did the Very Hungry Caterpillar

and the Jungle theme

with a lion’s head!

There was an elegant window sill of cats

and one with a watery theme

and can you guess what this next creature is???

I’ve no idea what I would do for this theme – what would you do?

Outside in the churchyard, we sat in the shade and cooling breeze chatting and drinking cups of coffee. There were masses of gorgeous homemade cakes on offer, but I managed to resist.

The Plant Stall was glad of the shade and the passing trade

Then it was back to my digging ……… yes digging!

I know, crazy in this heat but I have to do things when the energy and time is available – I have had a whole boundary bed cleared (the one on the right in the picture below) and I am waging war on bamboo and bindweed. But first the laurels, hawthorn and bushes had to be cleared

It helps to have a son-in-law with a tractor to take away the debris and to be able to hire a couple of strong young lads with a stump grinder!

More about that another day.

My own vase is just a quicky, gathered for a friend I went to see on Saturday night.

Phygelia, honeysuckle, astrantia, and lemon balm, all hastily popped in a jam jar decorated with washi tape

Joining other gardeners from around the world in Cathy’s lovely ‘In a Vase on Monday’ gardeners gathering. Always a highlight of my blogland week.

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

In a Vase on Monday

It’s Summer! No more fires, so I can cover the top of the woodburner with a few crazy objects

From left to right

Back Row

Pink Watering Can

A few years back, after helping put together 3 weddings and numerous Christenings, it was about to be my 60th birthday – I was planning a big event for ME! The theme was to be English Country Garden, I bought tiny colourful plastic  flower pots in which I was going to serve chocolate mouse (earth) with pop cakes flowers in them, I bought a garden arch through which guests would enter the village hall, I intended to cover it with crocheted flowers, The drinks were going to be poured from brightly coloured watering cans …………..

woah!

Then my son and daughter-in-law annouced the impending arrival of twins – guess when they were due ON MY BIRTHDAY!

All plans for a big party were (happily) dropped – but I still have the watering cans!

And my children gave me a wonderful surprise birthday party in September on our family holiday. So all was very well!!!!

The can holds Jodie’s Forever Flowers and astrantia.

Orange Giraffe

I know you have seen the Giraffe before (from Chive), I hope you don’t mind her making another appearance. I’m very fond of her and her headgear today is a white perenial foxglove called Snowy Mountain.

I bought the seeds at Chelsea Flower Show.

I grew 6 for myself and gave some to friends – they were beautiful in the first year – last year, gorgeous I was thrilled with them. All but one has died, the one I have left is pathetic, it has this one flower spike. Oh dear!

Painting by Kaneda Hanaki

I saw this painting when I was in Japan. When I got home, I contacted the gallery to see if it was still available and it was! I love its quirkiness.

Front Row

Self-Hardening Clay objects:

Hedgehog with bead eyes: Made by Little Miss M

Pineapple 1 made by Little Bro

Pineapple 2 made by Bog Bro

Crocodile made by Miss E

Candlestick

Made by Devon ceramicist Ross Emerson

~~~

 

Joining the Garden Party at In a Vase on Monday.

 

 

 

In a Vase: Irises

I am still completely captivated by the irises in my garden

The scent is so delicious! I wish I could bottle it up and send it to you.

Just imagine putting your nose to this gorgeous thing and getting slightly heady from the pear drop-like scent

Cutting them seems almost a crime, but having the scent indoors to walk past is a real treat

They are with Weigela and Nigella and some of the bottles from last week

I’m besotted by their shape and sculptural form

and can’t stop clicking

 

My favourite so far ~~~   Title: Mother and Child.

Joining Cathy’s In a Vase on Monday meme

and

Cee’s Flower of the Day