In a Vase on Monday - Bright Sunshine and calling all senses

 Unless you have been underground, and thank goodness for all those heroes who rose to the occasion and saved young lives, you will have not failed to have noticed that in many areas of England we have had very hot and dry weather.  Since coming to live in the Mendips I have met and been told about many cavers who love to explore the underground territory under our feet.

 Last week, we did have one downpour, but not even enough to even coerce any green to reappear in the brown grass.  Even the wells in the Bishop's Palace are having a struggle to fill with water.

I hate to think what our water consumption has been.  Buckets of water have been ferried from spent washing up water and other activities to keep a few plants going.

Bright colours call out across the garden, and the flowers are buzzing with bees of all types, as well as these we have other flying insects and butterflies.

I bought three Tithonia plants when I went for a tour of the old Mendip Hospital Cemetery a few weeks back and one of them is already in flower.  They are really bright, and the center of the flower complex.

Sunday morning saw a gardening friend Jean and I volunteer there, clearing and planting wild flower seeds.  We worked in the shade, until the sun as so high, we started to fry!

 Also starting their blooming season are some annual rudbekias which have been standing the strong sunshine very well.

The bronze fennel flowers add a little softness, and I managed to persuade myself that the night time hoard of moths feeding on the Verbena Rigida would not miss a few stems.  I knew about them because when I started to turn the hose onto the plants when it was very nearly dark, I heard the moths rise up as they flapped their wings to get away from the spray.

Three stems from the yellow Japanese Grass Hakonechloa complete the arrangement.

Usually I wear gloves in the garden, but inside when I was arranging the flowers, my sense of touch came to the fore.  The rudbekia leaves and stems were as rough as sandpaper, but the stem of the Tithonia was soft and velvety:  what a huge contrast.  I started to feel the material...and experience the differences such as stiffness and pliability.  

I suppose that this season all plants that come through will be an achievement.  I for one believe that Cathy has achieved wonders keeping her garden open for visitors, and good for her for acknowledging her first arrangement of zinnias as a mark of achievement.  Do go and look to see them.