In a Vase on Monday 12 June 2023

 In a week where it has felt we were in a Mediterranean Climate with hot days, very warm nights and still no rain here, it feels right that my first vase come from my dry front garden where because of the conditions, it is very much Mediterranean type plants that thrive.

It all started when I knocked over an allium head when I was trimming the golden lonicera balls.  Then I went on to snip a few other bits: yellow flowered Phlomis fruticosa 'Bourgaei'. Centaurea Montana Alba, Centaurea 'Silver Feather', stems of Linaria Canon Went, and finally at the top pink flowered Phlomis pupurea Matagallo. When I went to visit Beth Smith and her beautiful garden leading down to the sea: Foamlea, with the Phlomis fruticosa 'Bourgaei' plants, she wondered whether I might be interested in growing a larger collection of Phlomis, of which she had been National Collection Holder.  Well with this weather it may be that I do consider a few more Phlomis for the garden.

However the last of  the first flush on the Rose Grace has yielded a little bunch.  I decided to give the plant a good cut back as 80% of the flowers were over, and this way the second flush will be on a well shaped bush. The Vase is one my father brought back from Japan many years ago, and was my mother's favourite, and with her birthday just gone bringing it out was in remembrance of her. 

For our WI Book Club we have been reading A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne.  There was a bit of a 'frisson' around the fact that some of the characters were male homosexuals, however our meeting in June has been postponed, but I can say that I found it lived up to the description on the cover.  I would recommend it. Mr S thought it was a little long winded and felt the denouement lacking somewhat.

A second book. that I am about a quarter of a way through. is The Garden in the Clouds by Anthony Woodward, I have got to the part where they are manoeuvring the old almost derelict railway Guard's Van up a steep Welsh Hill.  This was one of the books recommended during our In a Vase on Monday Zoom get togethers earlier this year.  It is beautifully written, and I too would endorse it.

As usual these vases of flowers are posted on a Monday to join in with Cathy was the 'designer' and leader in chief of this weekly meme.  Over there if you wish to following her guidelines you may link your post, or just view other vases from people who love to garden, or even if you have 'gardeners' and like to pick your own flowers.