In a Vase on Monday - Beauties and Thugs

A larger vase than normal is needed this week had me hunting around the house.  Most had arrangements of dried flowers, but I spied amongst my Pewter collection in the kitchen the deep and wide pewter biscuit barrel.

The White Centaurea Montana Alba is a 'low effort plant'. I was reading an article by Jack Wallington In the April 2026 Gardens Illustrated, and it struck me immediately that White Centaurea Montana Alba falls into the group of surefire plants that grow in many conditions, don't need pruning and don't need staking. I just cut it right down and it pops back up with more flowers throughout the year.

Slightly more effort is this double white Hellebore, which is now green and forming seeds.  With only one flowering per year it is a slightly different league to the Centaurea. The stems keep firm at this stage and I rather like the detail.

The thug this week are the Spanish Bluebells, which I have been in constant battle with since we moved here.  I try to cut the flowers as early as possible in the season as well as pulling up and trying to remove the bulbs. Otherwise the garden would be overrun by them.

As usual I'm joining with in Cathy to celebrate the act of cutting a few flowers from our gardens, and talking about them on our blogs. 

Six on Saturday - 11 April 2026

We had two days of very warm weather and now the temperatures have dropped again.  I have a few more seeds to sow, and yet the garden remains the same size, the question as yet unanswered is where will they fit in. Several of us are linking in this weekly meme together.

1. I've grown several Phlox to date, but currently have only two. Phlox bifida 'Ralph Hayward' I have shown several times over the past few years is doing well.  I took cuttings last year and have put them in bowls this year.  The Phlox bifida 'Alba' looks very smart on one of the tables.

Phlox bifida 'Alba'

2. We found a local wood to walk to this week where the white wood anemones were growing in large swathes under the mixed woodland deciduous canopy.  I learnt this week that the little yellow plant that I bought in 2024 from Long Acre Plants at The Bishop's Palace Rare Plant Fair needs similar conditions, whereas it is growing in the sunny rose bed.  The bronze of its emerging leaves is a lovely contrast for the flowers that have already emerged.  The sad thing is that the slugs are rather partial to the blooms. 

Anemone x lipsiensis Pallida

3. As well as Anemones in that wood, there were loads of the simple lesser celandine, and that leads me nicely to show this lovely double form of Ficaria verna. Like the Anemone, this one is summer dormant.

Double form of the celandine

4. I was very fortunate to receive a fine clump of the hose in hose Primula vulgaris' Mount Juliet'. With a little careful slicing I have three plants, and have learnt both from Caroline and my old copy of Primulas Old and New by Jack Wemyss-Cooke that these need a soil made hearty by the addition of manure! If anyone would like to recommend any other publications which I could get second hand, please leave a comment below. This week I was lucky to find three sacks of horse manure. Mr S has a bad back at the moment, and I was so elated to find the manure just round the corner, that I even managed to lift the sacks and stack them in the car boot.  It is the first half a mile the car has done in over a month!

Primula vulgaris' Mount Juliet'

5. I was sent the wrong bulbs!! I ordered and was invoiced for 10 Fritillaria michailovskyi but, from the picture, I can tell was sent the wrong ones.  Instead they look very much like Fritillaria acmopetala which Pottertons also sells. Only half of the bulbs have come up, but that may well be the wet conditions this winter. I think in future for  small bulbs such as these, I shall buy them at the fairs in the green, when I can see them in flower. It is starting to grow on me and I like the 'common' name pointed petal fritillary.  

Fritillaria acmopetala

6. Of the dwarf Irises I had, only one of those is left.  Blame me for sure, as I probably allowed other plants to crowd them out.  Iris pumila Dark Purple Fuzzy DBI has the most purple of purple flowers on its stout short stems.  I still yearn after Knick Nack, and ought to make a call out to friends that I shared many divisions with. 

 Iris pumila Dark Purple Fuzzy DBI

That's the end of this SOS, the garden calls to me: I have seeds to sow, divisions to make and plants to move....

When you go down into the woods today - Park Wood Wells

Earlier this week, along with a good sized contingency from the Wells Tuesday WI, I went on a memorial walk which was planned as a circular walk from The Bishop's Palace in Wells.  Some members chose the shorter version, and I along with a few decided to make the whole circuit, but found that we had to made a short cut and took a path through a little piece of woodland.  We were in a hurry at that stage, but I could tell that it would be well worth a return visit.

Mr S was easily persuaded that for this week's date day, it would be a walk out from home via The Bishop's Palace to view their primrose bank, and enjoy a drink there and then to these woods.  The previous week we had had a muddy walk through Tor Hill woods but had been disappointed that we could not find any wood anemones. To think we have lived in this area for several years and had walked and cycled many times along the Strawberry Line, but had not been aware of the beauty these woods hold.

I only got out my phone during the last few minutes in the wood, and saw many different wild flowers. These are just a very few.

English Bluebells in patches

and in swathes

Greater Stitchwort

Wood anemones

Wood Spurge 

Euphorbia amygdaloides

and Yellow Archangel

Lamium galeobdolon

I am sure we shall be returning and enjoying this small patch of woodland.

Six on Saturday - 4 April 2026

Happy Easter to you all.  Saturday is the day when a few of us garden bloggers join together to share six things from our gardens, and join together over at Jim's, where should you choose to join us you will find guidance on how we go about it.

We have had a couple of glorious days this week when spending time gardening, or even just sitting with my beloved enjoying coffee in the garden wearing just a couple of layers has been possible. 

1. Each time I go into the garden I am drawn to Ribes × beatonii, to admire its flowers: they remind me of the colours of the centre of a ripe peach when you remove the stone, colours ranging from peachy yellow to red.

Ribes × beatonii

If it was good enough for Broadleigh Gardens it was certainly going to join the few shrubs I have.

2. I moved this clematis right up onto the gravel by the conservatory so that I can watch the many large bumble bees that seem to effortlessly fly straight to each hanging bloom. Clematis alpina Blue Dancer in its pot is a real beauty, and it came to me and grew from a tiny plant .

Clematis alpina Blue Dancer

3. Henton Gardening Club gave members three daffodil bulbs donated by the Wessex Daffodil Society, and we don't yet know the name.  If it remains cool and remains in good condition it may make it to the show on 12th April.  Even so the club is having a little competition, and we are to enter a picture.  Tomorrow I shall try and take a picture against a neutral background.

4. The Galanthus ‘x valentinei’ in the front garden are particularly good at forming large seed pods, and there is a little patch that catches all the Amelanchier leaves in the autumn, through which the little snowdrop seedlings emerge each year, and this variety seems to grow to flowering size within two years.  As they ripen I shall move some of the seed pods there. From planting the first little pot of maybe two or three bulbs around nine years ago, a now have a good number of clumps.

Snowdrop seed pods

5. In the front garden I also have some species tulips and this little grouping is a delight.

Tulipa Whittalii Major.

6. This week, we have had a lovely variety of butterflies and moths such as the Peacock, Brimstone, Orange Tip Butterflies, and surprisingly a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.  This pair of Ladybirds are enjoying the softest of leaves on the Phlomis fruticosa Bourgaei and they were not the only ones!

Several SOSers may from time to time like to ask, to offer or to share seeds and bits and pieces from their gardens.  This past week I was delighted to send and then receive packed in the same box a few choice additions to the garden, which have now been planted out.  Many thanks to Phlomis Chloris for the  Viola sulfurea, R. Brazen Hussy, a little piece of Veronica perfoliata and a bit of her precious dwarf iris from the Gargano in Italy. I look forward to caring and bringing on these choice little plants. This week I have planted seeds received such as Aquilegia and Marigolds and Rudbekias received last year. 

Six things from my garden - 28th March 2026

Arriving home yesterday, after a few days in Cornwall, I just had to get into the garden and was able to do some gardening.  We were so pleased to see large patches of the lovely wild primrose growing to the very edge of the coast and I start with week with similar yellows. Next week after the clocks have changed there will be more time in the evenings to get out there.  With six things from the garden to share, I am joining in with Jim and several other gardeners.

1.  Primula 'Treborth Yellow' which I bought in 2024 from Pottertons is doing very nicely.  It is quite a small flowered in comparison with those bright things currently being sold in garden centers, but it is a beautiful yellow in the garden.

Primula 'Treborth Yellow'

2. For a pretty lemon, I couldn't fault Primula vulgaris Belarina Lemon Chiffon when I saw it on Long Acre Plants  stall at the Snowdrop Festival earlier this year. It has a green ruff and double flowers.

3. Looking far more natural is Primula Elatior, again one I bought last year from Long Acre Plants.  It looks lovely amongst all the other spring flowers in the conservatory bed.

4.Again in the Conservatory Border is another spring beauty, called Pulmonaria 'Diana Clare'. The original plant was a gift from Brenda.  It came as a small plant and I have been lucky that it is settling down nicely now in the garden.

 Pulmonaria 'Diana Clare'

5. Another blue in that same border is this little blue flowered bulb: Scilla Sardensis.  I planted them as bulbs which first came up in 2023, so they too seem to have settled down.

Scilla Sardensis

6. In the front garden the Amelanchier is out in full bloom.  I believe it to be a week or so early.

From my small back garden - Six on Saturday 21 March 2026

 Our current leader for this weekly six things from our gardens was on Gardeners' World yesterday and everyone who watched the programme saw the Camelia specialist Jim.  This morning as we come together for our weekly chinwag, we know he will still be the kind and generous host that he has been.  So I shall be linking this post to his.

1. Last year I bought these lovely tulips as plants rather than bulbs just for their lovely rich golden yellow form, planted them and didn't expect them to come up another year and yet they have.  I didn't even show them last year or noted their name.  However they may well be Tulip Praestans Shogun.  Later I shall scrabble through the bed and check to see if there are any labels. Yes it was T Praestans and I did write about it last year!

2. Not all bulbs do well or shall I say they may not have been planted in the right place or given the correct attention.  Out of the beautiful White Thalia daffodil bulbs just this one remains.

White Thalia daffodil 

It still has thoroughly charmed me, and having read a little further about it, I have a little planting combination ideas and hope to set that up for next spring.  

3. A short distance from Thalia in the shady border and some seedling of the original white Dicentra Spectabilis trying to grow through the Fatsia japonica Spiders Web.  When I planted out the Dicentra the Fatsia was smaller.  The Fatsia will continue to grow so this is another moment when I need to think of when and where I shall move the Dicentra to: a problem of gardeners of small gardens who have too many plants!

4. A star on the far edge of the gravel garden is this Ipheion 'Alberto Castillo' planted a few months ago.  It is bigger and brighter than the others in the garden,

Ipheion 'Alberto Castillo'

5. I have a few Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon' and find each spring as the soft purple leaves emerge to form a low dome, it gives me such pleasure and is finding some attractive combinations as it does here at the foot of the Cornus Midwinter Fire.

6. I have a number of violas in the garden and as they self seed, I tend to leave some to see what form the flower will take.  This garden hybrid resulting from insect pollination is a little gem in the gravel garden. I can see a cross perhaps between Viola 'Bowles Black' and Viola Corsica.

I did go to the Plant Fare at the Bishop's Palace in Wells, and after a few windy days maybe Gill's message got blown away, but I left an gardener's halo for someone else to find.

I didn't buy much: a pot of Allium Millenium, a pot of purple sage which I have already but wanted a fresh plant 'immediately' to plant in the back garden as it is my favourite for cooking with, and an impulse last minute plant which I will perhaps regret: Persicaria campanulata, should I plant it or should I bin it?

A Vase of Nodding Tulipa Sylvestris

This morning I picked all the lemony yellow tulips from a pot and decided to also use the clippings of the maple which had been slowly opening in this very vase.  As I walked back with the tulips wondering what else to include,  my notice fell upon the green and yellow foliage of just the right hue on the Chamaecyparis a dwarf threadleaf cypress. 

We have enjoyed looking out at the two pots I planted out with Tulipa Sylvestris on the garden tables for a couple of week.  The Tulips have swayed in the wind but remained unscathed by the hail storms but with their sinewy stems they would look far better in a more natural planting scheme, so this week, I shall relocate the bulbs.

I'm linking this post to Cathy's blog for the In a Vase on Monday get together She talks about clouds and books on clouds.  I too am a  lover of clouds and very much enjoyed the book she mentioned 'The Cloud Spotters Guide'.

Six on Saturday - 14 March

 It is going to be a trot or more likely a gallop through six things from the garden this week.  As I write this after 4 p.m. having spent the morning busy in the garden after coming back from the market, and the afternoon walking out into the countryside. Rules and guidance should you wish to note things from your garden too and join in is over at Jim's where I shall be linking this post to.

Well it was a surprising start start to the day as I looked out at the blue skies, but down below there was a frost and I had not taken anything in.  

1. Last autumn I planted a few Snakes Head Fritillary in pots and a few weeks ago once I could see where other spring beauties had been planted, into the borders they went. I have both the white and purple checkerboard varieties.

Fritillaria meleagris

2. Nearby the dark leaved  Irish polyanthus with  burgundy-striped pink flowers Primula 'Dark Rosaleen' has survived the winter.

Primula 'Dark Rosaleen'

3. Canna Tropicana came out of the shed a couple of weeks ago and braved the frost, but with another one possibly on the cards for this evening, I am going to have to move it back.  Also it looks as if next week during one of the sunnier days, I shall have to empty out the post and divide the many shoots.  I'm going to have a go growing in straight in the soil this year.

Canna 'Tropicanna'

4. A few years ago I was delighted that this little violet Viola labradorica had perched a ride in one of the pots from  my last garden.  There are quite a few around the garden now.  The richly coloured dark purple leaves make for a great little plant, whose seed is spread by ants.  They are already active in the garden.

Viola labradorica

5. Another violet which has been full of bloom is Viola odorata 'Kim'  I have now have several good clumps minus one which I removed from the conservatory border as it was outgrowing its space, which I wanted for some different plants.  This one seems to have selected its own spot along the edge of the path, where it does not have much shade.

Viola odorata 'Kim'

6.  I have a little dwarf Forsythia which really needs to have a different sort of year, any suggestions as to what I ought to do to increase flowering next year would be really welcome.

Tomorrow it is the Rare Plant Fair in Wells, the garden is full, but being just a short cycle away, I will not be able to say no to a visit!  

White Split Tin Loaf

This month's loaf from Bake with Jack Homebakers' Club lesson was looking back to a loaf of old.  During the online 'lesson' we had quite a bit a history and what different yeasts have been used over the centuries.  Although I have made bread with sponges before I had never seen it being done, and had not realised how well to mix the liquid and yeast mixture bringing in the surrounding flour until it was a thick paste.  Jack explained that this was a technique giving extra time and hence taste and this could be used with almost any dough.  In future I shall have all the ingredients ready and start this part of the process early in the morning.

I then had the dilemma of what loaf tin to use. I didn't have the shallower rounded loaf tin that Jack used, and my various tins and those above are just a selection I felt were not quite the right size.  I have what was bought as 1 lb and 2 lb aluminium loaf tins from Silverwood.  Ages ago I realised that certainly for the type of bread I baked they needed more dough, and this was confirmed simply by measuring the volume using water and comparing them to my reliably 1 lb and 2lb loaf tins.

In the end I  used my 1lb Silverwood loaf tin for the dough which weighed 862g when mixed. Another recommendation from Jack was to make a baking parchment sling to line the tin, which certainly removed the fear of the loaf sticking and made it easier to remove.
 

For 500g flour there was the addition of 10g sugar and 25g butter, which certainly gave a wonderful aroma and colour.  I have often used milk in a white loaf but here there was just water. As instructed I used the bread knife to draw the cut and I did this right to the level of the tin.  Then there was a further rise of 15 minutes before going into the oven.

The  loaf is excellent and here they was absolutely no egg needed to achieve that glossy golden crust.

I rarely make a white loaf these days, and there are already things I want to make with this such as a lovely toasted sandwich, pain perdu and a good bread and butter pudding. Next time I shall definitely double up the recipe to bake two loaves. 

Whilst looking for the history of the split loaf tin I came across a blog with a whole list of recipes with history too, which I shall most probably dip into from time to time.  The Bread Club 20 Blogspot.

In a Vase on Monday - Botanically inspired

Botanical drawings are beautiful and fascinating and shows the beauty of structure and details of plants. I love them and from time to time like to try my hand at studying and drawing specimens.  Yesterday whilst gardening I decided to remove the 'rogue' tulip from the garden table pot, and just plonked it a vintage apothecary bottle.  I thought no more of it until this morning when some of the blooms had opened.  We are having a strange day with mists swirling around, and the subdued light was perfect for this species multi headed Tulipa turkestanica.

This 'In a Vase on Monday' get together is the creation of Cathy, and just follow this link if you would like to learn more, and even join in.

Tulipa turkestanica

This morning as I walked through the dining room, I realised the copper stock pot and a large platter needed cleaning, then I realised the sideboard was overloaded with dried arrangements. I had started to clear some of them when I realised that they could also feature this week for In a Vase on Monday.

I knew that I would be wanting this tall narrow vase soon, and for several months it had been just the right height to show off the dried stems of Allium carinatum  subs pulchellum.

Allium carinatum  subs pulchellum

Needing my pie dish, the dried poppy heads were next to be spread over the garden.

Dried Poppy seed heads

With the ones which I had rescued from the garden last year, I tied into a little bundle which I have now moved into the conservatory.

All that is now left is the vase containing other flowers which I picked from the garden and dried last year. 

I think most of them featured last year in vases.  Just as some people like artificial flowers, I rather like dried flowers during the winter, reminding me of the beauties of summer.

Tulipa turkestanica closeup

When I see a multi headed tulip now I am reminded of the time years ago when we visited my uncle Noel.  He was a great prankster and had that reputation from a youngster.  When we arrived he took us straight into the garden to such us his prize tulip....there it was: a multi headed red tulip, a sole one in a bed of other straight up 'traditional' tulips.  Of course we could not reach it to inspect it or even see it that clearly, and we all just creased up at the joke, absolutely no one believed him and thought he had planted an artificial bloom.  Knowing what I know now, it was no joke, it was indeed a multiheaded tulip.