" Round abouts, along the lanes there be wild flowers a plenty" my English Grandma was a great connoisseur of them and roamed the lanes and paths of Lincolnshire, and could take one to all sorts of 'secret places'. Mr S & I have been walking out and spotting drifts of primroses and also many other wild flowers. A few wild English flowers growing in the garden and in flower at the moment are primroses, violets and cowslips.
The little vase today contains some delicate 'wild flowers' originating from distant lands. They retain the gentle light form of wild spring blooms and because of their beauty and ability to adapt to our climate and soils, have become garden additions, without any necessity to improve or hybridize.
The pink flowers of Cyclamen repandum with their long twisted petals is a native from the shores of the northern Mediterranean; Dicentra Cucullaria also known as Dutchman's breeches comes from woodlands in Eastern North American, and Corydalis ochroleuca aka Pseudofumaria alba with its ferny green leaves a perfect accompaniment. This last one is native to the north western Balkans and northern Italy. It was introduced to Britain long ago, and listed by John Gerard. Alison gave me this a couple of years ago, and I am delighted to find that it is now finding its own special places in the garden.
This week, still on zoom, I am meeting up with friends to share our thoughts of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I will give it a good rating, and loved the humour and pace, but I had better have a recap of the last few short chapters as I got carried away at the end, and may have missed some of the intricacies, in my rush to get to the end.
That's a pretty vase of bright flowers - perfect for the breakfast table! I looked up The Thursday Murder Club - looks like a fun read! One reviewer says it was written by a 'celebrity writer' - I've not heard of Richard Osman before but I love a good murder mystery so will add it to my list!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet and (seemingly) delicate collection. Ironically I've never been able to keep Dutchman's breeches happy in my garden--a beautiful plant.
ReplyDeleteThe Dutchman's Breeches gets an awful lot of cossetting, and it is a miracle to be that it comes back. I have two pans now, so I am going to risk putting one lot out in the garden.
DeleteThe Thursday Murder Club was serialised on Radio 4 a couple of months back - maybe still available on podcast? I listened to all the instalments back-to-back while I potted up all my dahlias.
ReplyDeleteYour little vase is such a joy today with all its teeny semi-natives, and I am glad to hear they are all doing well in your garden. Thanks for sharing them. How is Alison doing these days?
The podcast did not last long. I was not quick enough but I enjoyed reading the book. I must catch up with Alison, last time we spoke she was busy with her flower farm, with all the seedlings etc.
DeleteYour wild flowers are beautiful, Noelle. I adore the Corydalis - I've tried several plants in that genus but have yet to have one survive to bloom a second year. I read that book several months ago and remember that I enjoyed it. Osman apparently has a follow-up due out later this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris, I think we just have the right sort of weather, though at the moment it is so dry, I have been careful to water them and give them a little feed, before they die down, so that they can fatten up their corms.
DeleteI didn't know Dicentra was Cordyalis? I used to see them in the woods where near my hometown..wonderful. I love the small vases with delicate flowers.
ReplyDeleteI've looked it up and I have amended to only Dicentra in the text above. They are 'relatives' or rather in the same family. I find the Bleeding Hearts, corydalis and the Relatives Book by Mark Tebbitt et al very clear at explaining them, but some of it is very 'scientific'.
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