I'm later than usual: I've been busy doing other things. Here is the quick arrangement of items I had picked yesterday. I am sure lots of others will have joined Cathy already. I've had a peep at Cathy's arrangement and I am charmed by her little prop this week.
On Sunday, Mr S came out really to start me off, on cutting back the variegated ivy growing on the side fence. There was so much to cut back, just to make more room to move along the narrow path, The Ivy had matured and sent up flowering stems, mainly on the sunny outer side. Those have been left for the bees, and later no doubt the berries will be much needed winter food for the birds. On the shady side they still have to be cut off so are the mainstay of the arrangement this week. White Solanum laxum album, and purple Salvia amistad complete the vase. After posing here in the low autumn sun, they were made into a posy with raffia, and passed to one of our NHS heroes who lives in our close.
This morning I cycled into town to do our shopping, when I had to complain to three people leaning across me in the supermarket, which made me hot and bothered. Its not as if there were many people, or that there was no room, surely if people are so hurried, they could ask one to move!
On a more successful note I have been working on my first Sweet enriched sourdough. Including the overnight fridge rest, these have taken about 42 hours from start to finish, and as I write this these beauties are on the cooling rack. Two different babkas one with date, orange and sesame seeds, and the other walnuts and spices, both with butter and sugar. The little buns are samples!
Off now to have a cuppa and a sample.
The green foliage is perfect with that dark purple salvia and the white ties everthing together. Very beautiful. The baked goods look delicious. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThe large loaves are in the freezer now, which are not that large! We shall have one out for the weekend.
DeleteSorry to hear that your shopping trip was stressful Noelle. A most attractive vase of flowers. I love that salvia. I'm trying to loose weight so am not looking too closely at those most delicious looking buns .
ReplyDeleteBest concentrate on the flowers then! I find myself gravitating towards growing plants that slugs steer clear of, and Salvias are off the menu as far as slugs and snails are concerned.
DeleteI love the white Solanum. English ivy is invasive here but that doesn't mean I don't have a lot of it. Most of it covers the upper portion of my back slope, where nothing else grows and I can't readily navigate so it remains and I just try to control it there. Sorry about the grocery store crunch - that's a common problem here too.
ReplyDeleteThe right plant in the right place, sounds like your ivy is just the trick to give you cover there. I find variegated ivy, in its various cultivars, a useful evergreen.
DeleteA lovely arrangement, Noelle. I really admire the white Solanum, it looks well with the variegated ivy and blue salvia. Your baking looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteYour vase initially looks foliage-dominant, but then you realise the impact of Amistad amongst it, all softened by the solanum, and can see how effective it is - so pretty and I am sure your neighbour will be delighted. Hope your babkas prove to be delightful too!
ReplyDeleteThe babka tasters were superb for breakfast this morning. Both the others are in the freezer.
DeleteA most beautiful combo, Noelle. I've planted this Solanum in a pot this year and saw it in town recently but as a huge shrub. Hopefully one day I shall be able to pick some for the vase :) PS: The little chaps on my photo are fire salamanders.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful creatures to find on your walk, Annette, they certainly stand out. The Solanum does grow quickly, and I am already having to keep it constrained by good pruning. Looking forward to you posting your flowers.
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