After a few busy weeks, I return to posting about my little vase of flowers and foliage from the garden. Linking in with Cathy's post, for which she has rightly given a Gold Star, I think this week 'teacher's comment on my post may be: 'Writing too much?'. For this week's vase I have chosen for blooms a few stems of Corydalis solida subsp. solida 'Beth Evans'.
The foliage is Pittosporum Tom Thumb and Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Garnettii' with some silver leaved cyclamen hederifolium.
On Saturday morning I cycled off to the Rare Plants Fair at Wells Bishops Palace, with just the intention of looking around and seeing what was on trend as it were. Sadly I succumbed and did bring back a few plants to add to my Mille Fleurs effect Conservatory border, and another one which I may write about for my Six on Saturday. I had been working towards that effect without coming up with the 'Mille Fleurs Border' name which came to me this sprang after seeing the wonderful Fifteenth Century tapestry at Montacute House and having read the following week about James Hitchmough's spring carpet of flowers, in the march edition of Gardens Illustrated. I have gone head long enthusiastically, appreciating the effect of spring plants knitting together in a colourful carpet around the plants which will later emerg or do their thing later in the year.
The abundance of spring plants at the Rare Plants Fair on Sunday was a delight to see and in particular so many stalls had 'Beth Evans' and a few had other corydalis too. I can confirm that Beth Evans is definitely on trend this season as far as nurseries are concerned. I wasn't sure whether I felt pleased or not. I had tended to my Beth Evans since I first got my one pot in 2018 into giving me several lovely clumps in that border and had enjoyed it relative rarity. I had even taken the small bowl from the posing shelf to the HPS meeting where it won first prize in the planted up bulbs/corms category. This was just a last minute decision and had not been planted up with that in mind.
I love knitting, and threads of all sorts, not just enjoying reading about tapestries, carpets and textiles generally, even as much as following the thread or being interested in how one thing leads to another in the subjects which interest me.
The book from our WI book group in March which was discussed over a delicious lunch hosted by our member Maggie, was Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. I had to gallop through this book as I had left only a small window for reading.
I usually like to take my reading a little slower, and had it not been for the book club I would probably have ditched it around page 150 as for me I felt nothing was happening. I had read the Nightingale in June last year, which I greatly enjoyed, but was finding this book disappointing. I persevered...and getting up very early on the day of our lunch ie around five am, completed the book with tears streaming down my face! Today before deciding whether to post about this book, I thought I would look up a recipe for the little Pierogi which were made by Anya, and came across an excellent article on Macmillan's site, and will read this thoroughly and then reread the book.
Hi Noelle, Beth Evans is a beauty (I had some in my old garden) and the foliage you chose is pretty too. I know how annoying it is when something you think of as special suddenly pops up all over the place, but perhaps Beth Evans will only be a fleeting trend!
ReplyDeleteI read that book just before Christmas and had to close it while flying back from a UK visit for fear of worrying fellow passengers with my tears! It was a roller coaster of a story indeed.
You are so thoughtful regarding your fellow travellers Cathy. I would just find it embarrassing that I was crying. Maybe in Public an amusing book would be better perhaps.
DeleteI adore corydalis and planted Beth Evans almost 20 years ago in my old garden. It would grow beneath the 80 foot tall ash trees each spring. What a stunning color. And a perfect color for spring.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna, that must have been a glorious sight in your garden.
DeleteOh doesn't Beth look fine in a pot? I might try that myself - and perhaps I will think to pop her in a vase some time too. Pittosporum are such good foliage plants to accomany blooms in a vase, and the ocverall effect is lovely, Noelle. I was reading in one of the gardening magazines recently that you can clip them like box...not sure if I would dare though...
ReplyDeleteI think I need to look out Winter Garden although these days I am very careful about what I read on a train, having missed numerous stops (and then my main line train!) on the Tube because I was so engrossed in One Day (David Nicholls)... 🙄
I love of these exchange of reading ideas, and how kind of you to accept my comments on my reading.at the same time as IAVOM. I shall add One Day to my list!
DeletePretty Cordyalis, another one I love to see but can't grow! I am intrigued by the mille fleurs idea...hmm.. Amelia
ReplyDeleteThe Mille fleurs background was adopted in early medieval times in paintings, as decorations in highlighted calligraphy as well as tapestries.
DeleteI was very taken by the image of you jumping on a bike to head off to a nearby (or close enough) rare plant sale. I can't even imagine an opportunity like that in my part of the world - it sounds magical! I've tried growing various varieties of Corydalis in my garden to no avail. All have lasted no more than a few months (if that) and never returned. Yours is spectacular.
ReplyDeleteI could walk Kris, as it is less than a mile, but the bike is much quicker, and I have two large panniers and heavy things are easier on a bike. Yes I realise it is such a treat to be able to do this. The garden obviously suits corydalis, and yes they disappear quickly to return another year.
Delete'Beth Evans' looks most fetching indeed Noelle and it's good that she is happy both in a terracotta bowl as well as in the garden. Funnily enough 'Winter Garden' was one of my very recent reads. It took me a while to get into but I was soon absolutely gripped. The only other book by the same author that I've read so far is 'The Four Winds' which I would recommend. I will certainly read other books by her. My current Reading Group read is 'How Green Was My Valley' by Richard Lllewelyn. I read it before - about fifty years ago 😂
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna, Beth is in a plastic bowl. Recently the half pans in the terracotta have been conspicuous by their absence in garden shops. I'm always on the look out for them. Thanks for the recommendation of Four Winds, that might be added to be book club's reading list probably after a few months.
Delete