Brightening up a Dull Day

All from my garden: Pheasant Berries, Kaffir Lily, Achillea, Phygelia and Marigold.

I was having a clear out and came across this amazing quartz crystal I bought many years ago in my hippy dippy days!

Joining Cathy for In a Vase on Monday.

 

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In 2 Vases on Monday

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

Schizostylis (Kaffir lily, Hesperantha), Cuckoo Pint (arum) leaves and self sown Antirrhinum

In an orange charity shop vase and little square vase from Chive

Joining Cee’s Flower of the Day.

The vases were filled to be put in the spare bedroom, getting ready for my sister to come from London to stay for the weekend.

She was coming to celebrate our Mum’s 89th birthday, so I thought I would add a photo of a wonderful family gathering we had about 20 years ago.

Our Mum has dementia. She wasn’t really aware that her 3 daughters, one granddaughter and 3 great-grandchildren were there. However, she seemed to enjoy the attention, she smiled when we sang Happy Birthday.

I said, “Mum it is your birthday today, how old do you think you are?”

She seemed to be thinking for a while and then said “Ummm ….. 25”

Here’s a picture of my beautiful Mum, when she was about 19.

She opened the cards the children had made for her and enjoyed eating the cake. The chef at her Care Home put so much thought and creativity into the cake inspired by a teddy bear Mum has.

We were all amazed when he carried it in with the candles lit. It was delicious.

Little Miss M particularly loved eating the ears!

October Birthday Blooms

It was my daughter’s birthday yesterday, so I picked what my garden had to offer. A rather strange mix of colours, but definitely autumnal.

They sit in a metal jug that has ‘Made in Yugoslavia’ printed on the base – a bit of European history as Yugoslavia no longer exists. What a complicated story that piece of the world has.

I have included leaves of Liquid Amber and the berries of this shrub

Can anyone tell me what it is? Cathy?

Joining Cathy’s garden party over on Rambling in the Garden which a such a wonderful celebration of flowers in bloom all over the world

I included Pheasant berries

Lusciousness!

And self-sown asters

which are a-buzz with flies and bees at this time of year

I’m hoping someone can identify this bee

Murtagh’s Meadow will know, I’m sure.

I’ve learnt from her website that many bees are identified by their bums! – so here it is..

The butterflies love it too

And at night I see little pale moths flitting around it. My front garden is a mess by my neighbour’s standards but it really is a wildlife haven and I love it.

I had to include one of my favourites, Schizostylis – has this got a prettier common name?

It’s fairy’s skirt of a flower deserves a better name. I love the twist of the bud

and the tint and pattern of the stalk carrying the waiting blooms.

Today she is dancing in to Cee’s Flower of the Day.

 

~

 

Vase on Monday – Pink, White and Blue

In the empty Sparkling Saké (yum!) Bottle is schizostylis, still battling on against the storms and Tiarella Sky Rocket, which I think is supposed to flower in the Spring and has become very confused by our mild October.

Tiarella also in the little dish, which was given to me as a present in Japan. It is the custom to give exchange gifts as visitors depart. I bought the Tiarella from a stall at Winfrith Open Gardens to support the Butterfly Conservation in Dorset.

And joining it is some pink berries from what I think is a pink Symphoricarpos or Snowberry, but you might know better – anyway the bees absolutely go mad for it in late summer.

They sit on a sample of some tie-dye I did whilst I was – guess where! – hmmm –  hope you are not getting bored with references to Japan!

I had never had sparkling saké before – it is delicious and as easy to drink as lemonade, but at 16% proof one needs to be a bit careful.

It is a challenge to take a good photo today as it is soooooo dark here.

Joining in with Cathy’s In a Vase on Monday

Just in case you would like to know everything on Society6 is 20% off with free worldwide shipping at the moment. Here is a link to the Wild Daffodil Shop.

Vase on Monday – pink and green

For Cathy’s ‘In a Vase on Monday’ here is my hint of a link to the country I am going to for my next holiday – eek! I’m very excited!

Can you guess?

Set in a lime green bowl made by a Welsh potter.

Pink schizostylis and parsley flower heads.

Also joining in with Cee’s Flower of the Day