As many pots as possible have been moved to areas which have shade at least part of the day. White horticultural fleece is acting as sun screen on tender lettuce and beetroot, even so, they are very thirsty. In the absence of water I thought maybe a vase without water?
The last of the Allium Christophii have been cut leaving my whole collection of succulents basking in the sun.
However, since I have been watering just to save newly planted areas, this morning just a few shouted out...enough, take us inside!!!! Early this morning I was able to cool the house down to 22 C with all the windows and door open, before the sun rose. By 9 am this week's arrangement was ready
Four elements: Fern Burgundy Lace, Clematis Vienetta, Centaurea Montana Alba, and Verbena Rigida.
Clematis Vienetta
Centaurea Montana Alba
A vase can be a teapot, and with a little tea ball from The Exotic Teapot Company
and a little boiling water...a flower in boiling water, but it did not come from my garden: green tea, marigold and rose. Its given me the idea to make some of my own using Lemon Verbena as the green part, and maybe other flowers for the centre.
Finally bug of the week......
I believe these to be two lesser stag beetles. Mr S found this in the area which we are preparing for the seating area. I buried lots of old logs in the ground towards the back of the borders near the wall when we first moved, so I hope that they will be happy there.
What do I remember of the Summer of 76? ...easy to drying nappies..All daffodils were over when baby and I returned home at the start of March....and no rain till mid October. My father visiting from the tropics found it too hot!!!!! Now I worry more for farmers, fire fighters, heath land, wild life etc....
What do I remember of the Summer of 76? ...easy to drying nappies..All daffodils were over when baby and I returned home at the start of March....and no rain till mid October. My father visiting from the tropics found it too hot!!!!! Now I worry more for farmers, fire fighters, heath land, wild life etc....
The purple and white is a delicious combination, very cooling too. I look forward to seeing the results of your tea experiments.
ReplyDeleteDried flower bouquet tea ball...someone has done that for sure!
DeleteThat's a beautiful arrangement, I love the Clematis especially. I hope we all get some rain soon.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your weather....but that vase with the stunning clematis is gorgeous despite the drought. Like the seed heads too and that reminds me to use more of them now too.
ReplyDeleteSeed heads and grasses are so attractive. Sometimes when I am deadheading in the garden I often spend moments admiring the form.
DeleteOh I like all of these, Noelle - the waterless vase of alliums, the pretty contrasts of your second one, and the teapot vase, although the latter two certainly look more refreshing than the first! In Lancashire, the 76 heatwave did not start till about now (I was married on July 3rd) and the second part of June was very wet, but then again, rainfall was always much higher there! I had to smileat the thought of your father finding it hot :)
ReplyDeleteAt first he did not want to admit it...he wore his safari shorts but then had to doft his long socks, and wear flip flops and sit in the shade. I still carry that picture in my head!
DeleteI hope the hot and dry conditions are only a freak event, Noelle. I can tell you from experience, this isn't something you want to face yearly as we do in my part of the world. Still, you managed nicely with both your vases. I absolutely adore than Clematis!
ReplyDeleteNoelle, here's wishing you some happy rains very soon. I love that allium and also all of the flowers in the other vase--an unusual, but striking clematis.
ReplyDeleteOh you have had rain - well a few spots more than us anyway :) I like both your dry and wet vases Noelle and was briefly convinced that the clematis was a zinnia. I didn't realise until recently that fleece could be used as sun protection so that has been a most useful discovery. I morphed from full time student to full time work in 1976 so remember the shock of adjusting to a new way of life and the summer vividly.
ReplyDeleteI had not known about it... I was putting on my white blouse which gives me quite a bit of protection....then I remembered the unused fleece in the shed! It really works.
DeleteI love your arrangement! That clematis is so unique! I've never seem a white Centaurea montana before...beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very good border plant, very silvery leaved.
DeleteLove the Clematis, I have not seen that one before. The bugs are cool. I agree about the butterfly! Hoping for rain for you.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful clematis Noelle.
ReplyDeleteI just made a note in my book to research the Clematis Vienetta because it is stunning!
ReplyDeleteThanks...it is the second season it survived the snow. It is growing away in a large pot. It had over 30 blooms. I am dead heading it, and hopefully there will be a second flush soon.
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