I have just one glass left from the Scandinavian Crystal glasses one just had to have for dinner parties in the seventies, which included large wine, small wine, and these much smaller sherry glasses. The glass is much too fine even to wrap up and take to the charity shop. When I feel like a little glass of sherry, madeira, or marsala I usually choose this one.
No wonder I chose this little glass to display blooms of geranium Rozanne, and flowers from the Alchemilla alpina. Both plants are doing well after their long journey, and enjoying the sunshine.
I bought this plant back in 2015 from Cotswold Garden Flowers. I read that it is difficult to propagate, and this plant came from the original being divided. I have taken some cuttings non the less...When one has only a few blooms, there is time to look deep into them, and appreciate their specific formation and beauty.
There is not quite yet 'abundance' in my garden, but in Cathy's garden this week there certainly is. Her arrangement rejoices in the many blooms from her cutting garden. Do go there and see what colourful blooms she has chosen to arrange in her vase. I raise my glass to her and fellow IAVOM friends.
I have however noticed an abundance of flowers in my lawn...what with hot weather, going away, and other jobs, the lawn has been mowed infrequently. As a result the bees, bumble bees, and small flying insects have been having 'a field day'. Their little pollen sacks are full. White clover, bugle, daisies, hawkbit, wild marjoram, and self heal are the major contributors. There is also creeping buttercup, but I have removed most of this by hand and reseeded before I had realised that the lawn was at least fifty percent plants other than grass.
Selfheal - Prunella Vulgaris
I have even taken to raising the level of the lawn mower blades to keep the best patches blooming, and mowing round the hawkbit and marjoram. Rather than zap these out, I am for now proceeding with care.
My garden is going wild - a haven for wildlife I tell my rather critical neighbours!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with yours.
If I were your neighbour I would hope that some of your orange flower seeds would blow over to my lawn.
DeletePretty geranium. They're very short-lived in my garden so good for you for getting them established. Your lawn sound so much more interesting with the flowering additions.
ReplyDeleteI love a wild lawn - it is healthy and alive, as you've found, buzzing with winged visitors. I have several mini-meadows in mine. 'Rozanne' is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eliza...and to think I was going to zap the whole lot and have a pebble garden!
DeleteRozanne looks quite happy in the delicate crystal glass! I grew it in my former garden and have planted it in this one but it seems too hot and dry here to make it happy. Ditto with the Prunella I planted last year, also holding on by a thread despite being considered invasive in some areas to the north.
ReplyDeleteIts amazing to discover what you grow Kris, with different climates and conditions, its a question of finding out what is sustainable.
DeleteRozanne is a beautiful Geranium. I think wild flowers are much nicer than pure grass in a lawn - glad you can feed the bees!
ReplyDeleteOh a special geranium Noelle from a rather special nursery. I hope that the cuttings take.
ReplyDeleteI think I am chancing it with the method of propagation for Rozanne..but will try division later in the year, if all else fails.
DeleteI would drink a toast to Rozanne, it is justifiably a winner of plant of the year, due to being sterile it just keeps flowering.
ReplyDelete