In a Vase on Monday - Asters

This springtime we were far more focused on getting jobs done in the house...so it was an easy solution to grab a couple of modules of small plants...the ones that come in eight with a little handle on the top.  I planted the little annual asters out into larger pots to bring them on,  and prepared a narrow border along the drive, digging in some compost and giving the ground a dressing of fish blood and bone.  The ground sighed with relief: I felt that this was the first time it had had some TLC in many years.  

The plants grew stronger, and were finally planted out Mid May.  They are now coming into bloom.  Its the first time I have grown annual asters...here is my vase of the first blooms.  The vase is cloisonne, and the embroidered mat is from Madagascar...both collected by my mother on her travels.  When I was choosing where to pose the flowers I remembered my mother saying flowers are 'doubly beautiful' in front of a mirror.

With heavy showers, I have been nipping out to cut blooms, and rather than have them rain stained, I have been giving bunches to neighbours.  Down out little cul de sac...there are several of these in Vases this week!

Instead of pink, Cathy is celebrating the golden sunshine with her selection this week.  So do and catch a glimpse of the wide ranging blooms she has this week, and also those of others who link into IAVOM.

Sourdough Pizza Base

This is one of our bakes for July from Jane Mason's Book: Perfecting Sourdough.  I had been refreshing my wheat sourdough ready for a couple of white loaves...and had enough to start off the mix yesterday morning.

The recipe says mix 60g wheat sourdough, 140g white wheat flour, 1 tbsp fine semolina, 90g water, 3 g salt, just mix and leave to rest for 12 - 24 hrs. All you then need is some olive oil for dressing, and an assortment of toppings.   Just how easy can it get?  I had planned to make the pizza for lunch today...but once one has Pizza on one's mind, I could find no further inspiration for supper.

Having roasted two large pointed red peppers, in the 'dying embers' of the oven's heat from the sourdough loavews, there was no accommodating the 12 hrs wait.  Four hours short, the dough was dressed with pesto, all the red peppers, red onions and garlic which had not long come out of the oven, with a large gloriously soft and juicy Laverstoke Park Farm Buffalo mozarella which I had bought that morning, torn and spaced oven the top.

With oven set at its highest setting...it wasn't long before supper was ready

I felt this beauty needed to dress for dinner...with some green basil torn from the Kitchen windowsill herb.

I'm already thinking of alternative toppings.....

Repotting Haworthia Tessellata

I've been watching the Haworthia in its salts encrusted pot and wondering whether it was in need of repotting.  Its been trying to flower all summer...trying to.... because for one reason or another I have been pulling out the extremely long flower, as I felt it would be better making side shoots rather than trying to reproduce through its flowers.  It has been in the same pot now for four years since I bought it at The Shrewsbury Show.

I wrote about my little Haworthia Tessellata showing its very long flowering stem, and have since found some posts which are very informative such as this one: http://www.plantsrescue.com/haworthia-venosa-subsp-tessellata/ and Dave's Garden, which is often useful too for many gardening problems.

With some of the very old lower leaves removed, they were repotted in new compost with added grit and perlite, and a pinch of slow release fertiliser.  On the top is a light layer of grit, which I think adds an attractive background to show off the plants.

I shall refrain from much watering over the next couple of months, and try to keep it in good indirect light, and hope that it will be happy for the next few years.

Lytes Cary Manor

What could be nicer that a trip out to a local National Trust property on a Sunday afternoon.  With my friend Vickie down from London for the weekend...after a lovely lunch, we ventured out along the green and undulating countryside to Lytes Cary Manor.    It was our first visit too, though we had drawn up into the car park this winter for a driving break and coffee from our thermos, but, in future, when travelling close by I shall be sure to engineer a stop during opening hours just to see where they are with their garden.

The house is lovely...parts are very old, there is fine furniture and tapestries, BUT

their garden is fabulous....it is not very big, you could get round in about half an hour, but if you like plants, and like garden design, and you have the time, and the weather is fine....you could go round two or three times and continue to find interesting plants and planting combination to admire.

Just a few pictures of only some of the interesting plantings and views:

these Veronicastrum virginicum 'Album' plants quite close to the front of the border punctuated the overcast day, giving not only great structure within this white border, but also gaining much admiration from other keen gardeners.  I also the whorls of grey green leaves, and the stout and upright growth.  I'm adding these to my list of plants for the new garden!

 Rushing back to get to the tea rooms....with heavy rain on the horizon....Mr S and Vickie threaten to leave me behind...but I shall be returning soon to the gardens!

Summer Visitors

Even though we are a long way from being 'straight' after our move, have still our best china in boxes, and have umpteen projects in the pipeline to bring this home to what we would like it to be...our best friends and family are happy to come and take us as we are...and we are overjoyed to have them visit and show off our new County.

Last weekend my cousin visited and we attended an open day at the Wells Almhouses...They have some attractive courtyard gardens

From their chapel I give you the Angel of the Day:  St Matthew as found in some floor tiles

To one side are seats with a stone canopy...they made for a charming place for sitting and watching the world go past.

We went on to visit the Bishop's Palace and this week there were some interesting performers from unusual 'hot house specimens'

To the large Indian Bean tree in full flower....

and a spot of posing for Angel of the Day

As well as walks up Ebbor Gorge, with visits to the Cathedral and Vicar's Close, the market etc and many opportunities for dog training...Pat and Breeze had a great visit...