Monday 27 May 2019

In a Vase on Monday - Soft and Rich

Cathy who hosts this meme has a very early bunch of sweet peas this week.  The colours remind me of sugared almonds and the wonderful jar I had as a birthday present from my son.  One or two a day meant I several weeks of enjoyment.  Fresh flowers may last a day or two, or maybe even longer...growing them in the garden brings many benefits!  Of course there is the benefit of sharing and also seeing what other people are contributing.

With a very early morning session in the garden on Sunday, my eye was drawn to the long rich purple flowering stems on Verbascum phoeniceum violetta.  It had been in the ground for less than two weeks, having come home with me from Malvern Spring Show.  Whether or not I was right to do so, I decided for the sake of the plant that I would cut down the flower spikes to allow the plant to develop roots and leaves instead.  Half of me thinks this was foolish as the lower flowers were fertilized and could have given ripe seeds later.  I've also read that they may not be perennial, so I may only have a few days in which to enjoy my dark beauties.



A perfect partner in this twosome are stems of Ballota pseudodictamnus.  I feel that with its grey furry leaves it is a perfect soft partner for the sumptuously coloured verbascum.




Before it unfurls its dark petals, the verbascum keeps its petals beautifully folded in tiny hexagonal cushions.


The good news is that this twosome appears not to be eliciting allergic reactions, so will be remaining in the vase for a few more days!  This morning being Monday, they have their heads up and making a fine display.

15 comments:

  1. I love the hexagonal cushions! Fingers crossed that the Verbascum returns next year!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That rich color of the verbascum is amazing. Hope it continues to do well for you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That verbascum is a favourite of mine and is looking great next to Ballota. Very short-lived though but worth resowing. Thanks for the tipp with the metal detector, just got to find someone who owns one!;) Missing my secateurs. Happy June days :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love dark flowers and your Verbascum looks lovely against the silvery foliage!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I wish your beautiful verbascum a happy future in the garden. Meanwhile, enjoy your vase of it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Cathy. On Tuesday, it is still beautiful, and the buds continuing to open up the stem.

      Delete
  6. A very lovely combination, very simple and yet elegant. Maybe yet it will send up new shoots angdgive you more flowers later.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A purple verbascum? I must investigate this so thanks for introducing me to it, Noelle. Those little cushions are a delight, aren't they?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes everything about this plant is to like. I notice that one can buy seeds, so if my plant succumbs, I shall send off to Special Plants or even visit Derry in person to have a look around her garden at the same time.

      Delete
  8. I grew that same Verbascum at one time myself. It was short-lived here but it's a lovely plant. I hope yours lives long and prospers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My white verbascum seems to live on nicely...so hopefully Violetta will give me a second chance!

      Delete
  9. Love the violet and grey fuzzy! Glad you aren't allergic. It has a long summer to reseed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sadly I cut off all the flower spikes, so am hoping it throws up a few more, and will keep the seed. Thanks for the idea.

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. Yeah!!!! Like a silk hanki folded up...

      Delete