In a Vase on Monday - Mid March Storms

 

The last of the Daffodil: Rip Van Winkle, an old Irish cultivar are the stars of this week's arrangement.  They were 'rescued' after the very heavy winds and rains, and are well enough to make an appearance this week.  Echoing the form, a stem from Japanese Umbrella Pine Sciadopitys verticillata, a few long leaves from a crocus, stems of  Lonicera nitida 'Baggensen's Gold' and some darker green foliage of Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina the small leaved Myrtle.

I too have been through a storm: after a health scare this week which saw me having a ride across the Mendips to Bath, in one of those wonderful ambulances and several hours of checks, I am pleased to say that I was home the same day, and on the way to recovery.  A suspected heart attack and a BP of 237/93 meant there was no option.  The strange thing is, after the extreme pain in the chest in the middle of the night, in the morning I was feeling fine, and not being able to get through to my Doctor's for an appointment, dialed 111.  As we were on the phone, an ambulance was called, and they were on site within about 15 minutes. I now have my orders to phone immediately if something like this happens again, at any time even during the night.  I am now on medication and pleased to say the BP is moving in the right direction. I really feel for my poor hubby, and you should have seen his face when he came to pick me up. I think he suffered more than me! 

Gardening and flower arranging are definitely top of the agenda to help recovery, so there is little chance of me missing this opportunity to join my In a Vase on Monday friends under the very kindly 'Matron': Cathy.

'Sister' Anna has posted a review of an interesting book by Prof Fiona Stafford called The Brief Life of Flowers, which I have ordered from our library.

Six on Saturday - 13 March 2021

1. "Beware do not plant mint" in your border warning to all new gardeners or old ones like me who did know better, but fell for the romance of  mint by water.  I spent a good hour trying to get all the roots out.  Yes: plant it in a pot, or a bucket, but not in rich heavy clay.  It was a devil of a job, and I think I shall have to watch out for missed bits coming up.

2. A new Corylus has been placed where I dug out the ice damaged Phlomis.  I decided to go for a shrub which would look lovely in the spring, rather than keep on with one which I would always worry about its tolerance to low temperatures.  I have a couple of that same Phlomis in another border, which can be cut back and expected to rejuvenate out of sight. In any case they were much less affected.  

I had been wondering around the local nursery, with no particular plan in mind, when I was drawn to a shrub., I knew I would want to give it a go. 

With the Corylus avellana Scooter the stems are more upright than a twisted hazel with with angular rather than sinuous side stems, having a kinked look with little twirly side growths, and it looks just the thing for my early spring flower arrangements. 

3. During the week, it got to be too windy to sow seeds outside, and in the absence of a potting shed, the utility room was given over to the task. By writing numbers along the edge of the tray, I can keep a paper account of what is in each row of cells on the Bustaseed tray. The bottom container has no drainage holes, and with the clear domed cover, I have a little unit that can easily to moved and placed inside on the window sills. Obviouslycareful watering will be necessary.

On my recycled pot, there was room enough to write the names, as it may not be used again.

Four individual pots contain the cucumbers.

4. On one of finer days at the start of the week, I had my house plants outside, where they were inspected, preened, and had a watering from the base by standing them in a bowl of water with a diluted feed.  Back on its table in the conservatory Aeonium arboreum velour is ready to face the season, having grown from this in November 2019

to this in March 2021, about 16 months, it does give one a good display.  Again later this year, when it is time to bring them back from the garden, into the conservatory for the winter, the top rosette will be cut off, and planted into a gritty compost, and the rest of the plant discarded.

5. The pink primulas vulgaris, which I found growing wild on a friend's farm add that early spring splash of colour and  Primula 'Wanda' are starting to flower. 

Primula 'Wanda'

6. I have wondered before about bees taking nectar by piercing flowers, by-passing their fertilising job, after observing them doing this on my white runner beans over several years.  

I am currently enjoying a fascinating book called 'A Buzz in the Meadow, by Dave Goulson'.  I managed to borrow this from our local library in time before the latest lockdown.  David Goulson has a section on robbing of nectar, and gives a quote from Charles Darwin's  letter to the Gardener's Chronical in 1857:

"One day I saw for the first time several large humble-bees (sic) visiting my rows of the tall scarlet Kidney Bean; they were not sucking at the mouth of the flower, but cutting holes through the calyx, and thus extracting the nectar...The very next day after the humble-bees had cut the holes, every single hive bee, without exception, instead of alighting on the left wing-petal, flew straight to the calyx and sucked through the cut hole....I am strongly inclined to believe that the hive-bees saw the humble-bees at work, and well understanding what they were at, rationally took immediate advantage of the shorter path thus made to the nectar."

I had to refer to my Collins guide to the Insects of Britain and the Western Europe.  Access to the internet would yield pictures of course, but sometimes I just love to loll around with books only.

Dave Goulson's book, again with no illustrations, is a great way of getting to appreciate insects in our gardens, and should they ever meet I am sure the Prop and the author would also discuss their running: Each chapter starts with the timing of his morning run and some of his observations along the route. 

I am linking in with the Prop, and hopefully as well as running he will have some bits and bobs to share from the garden.

In a Vase on Monday - Spring Miniatures

This week I am showing a Mini Spring posy with items from my conservatory border.  Spring ephemerals  deserve a look in rather than be held back, as I am never sure what the weather or other natural forces can do to these delicate flowers.  Saying that the cyclamen have survived very well, some plants flowering since before Christmas.

In addition to two different cyclamen coum, leaves of Geranium Russell Pritchard, Pulmonaria Sissinghurst White, and a Spring of Pittosporum Tom Thumb which echoes the purple tips on Corydalis Integra's pale pink flowers.  This is a spring beauty which is new to the garden this year. If I am to mention props then the Doves wall hanging mosaic of two doves, was made by Helen Clues, who runs the Farthing Gallery in Kenilworth.  Mr S and I chose this as 'the present to our new home'.

 This weekly arrangement is dedicated to my friend Kay who originally gave me the Pulmonaria and which is a delight in the garden throughout the year.  I am joining in with Cathy at 'Rambling in the Garden': not only flowers, but a little story and props awaits us all.  We love to Flag up her arrangements, and this week I shall also post a link to our Gardening Club Facebook page. In addition you will find links there to many others who like me love to join in this weekly celebration of flowers from our gardens.

Six on Saturday - 6 March 2021

It has been a little drier and sunnier and some plants are requiring some tender loving care, various tasks are being added to the list, but removing some plants, and moving others around seem to be the main activity. Having just a small garden, it is the way I like to try different arrangements otherwise I would get bored! Six on Saturday is a great source not only for myself but by joining in with The Propagator and fellow bloggers, we get to learn, share, and just enjoy 'chatting' with other gardeners.  Some are superb photographers too, so visiting Jon's blog and whether you contribute or just 'ear's drop' is always interesting.

1. Chamaecyparis pisifera var. filifera  maybe ‘Filifera Aurea’,  it could be 'Golden Mop'.  It is a type of dwarf threadleaf cypress, with graceful golden foliage. 

 I must admit that the name is simply gleaned from the internet, having looked for plants with a similar form and colour.  I had been using some little snippets of prunnings in my recent In a Vase on Mondays, and given that I had several comments about it, I thought I would feature it this week. I've had it now for three years, it is a slow grower, which is one of its advantages in a small garden. I bought it from Graham at his Tadham Nurseries stall, this was the last one he had, and I forgot to ask him the name!

In the pot, the foliage drops down around the rim, and it tends to be moved around making different groupings.  Grown like this I am also able to turn it around to catch the sun, and gain a lovely golden colour all round. During the winter when most of the garden is quiet, this little shrub shines out.

2. I could have shown a picture of the Amelanchiers last week when I thought the buds were just starting to swell slightly.  

The trees in the front garden were 'builders' trees', planted around twenty five years ago.  Probably misshaped from the the start we have done a little pruning each year since we arrived. This week they ought to be shown, and this way I will have a way to compare different seasons and timing of the bud burst. They are about ten days later compared to last year.

3. When I received an email with an article about the crocuses coming out in Turkey this week, I read that there is a name for people who like crocuses it is Croconut .  I don't think I am one yet, but I do love them. I have three clumps of rather congested Crocus Barr's Purple looking like this:

There were four such clumps before I decided to dig one up, and split it in the green.  Another year will tell whether I did something foolish.  I thought they stand a better chance this spring with space and tlc to help them bulk up with more room. 

It would interesting to hear of your experiences. I'll probably do my 'homework' this coming week and may come across 'scientific experimentally proven advice'. If dividing in the green is an option then all the others may get divided if I have the time. The sticks are there to try and deter birds from walking all over the area.

4. Of the little consignment of corydalis planted out this spring, this is one of the two new Corydalis integra. It has formed a lovely tall (for corydalis) flower spike with many flowers, with a couple of good side ones coming up. I'm rather pleased with this variety, and quality of the plant: thanks again Andrew.https://kindheartsandcorydalis.co.uk

 Corydalis Beth Evans continues to unfurl and the corydalis are following on very nicely in the same bed, where the snowdrops have finished blooming. This is one of several clumps which I have gradually increased in that bed from the original plant.  I seem to have got the conditions just right, or maybe they are just easy to grow.

5. This is my first Cyclamen repandum, only recently acquired.  I shall be looking for a cool shady place for this one. The flowers are still in bud with their petals genteelly twisted,  ready to leap up from its pirouette. 

6. These primula are so bright, I have had to tone down the colour a little and in turn the leaves look a little yellower. I could never get bored of this primula, which is why I cherish it and nourish it as it requires: it gets split and replant regularly in soil enriched with compost, otherwise I think they would just flower themselves to death. They flowered before Christmas, and are again ready to send up several flower spikes per plant.  

In a Vase in Monday - St David's Day

 Happy St David's Day.

St David is revered  as the Patron saint of Wales, he helped to spread the word of Christianity, and founded around 12 monasteries in his lifetime, and whether he set up the Monastery at Glastonbury within sight of our home, is debatable, but what is sure is that he did visit.

 He also helped to suppress Pelegrian heresy, where people believed that original sin did not taint human nature and people are capable of choosing good or evil without divine aid.

I am of course a heretic according to St David, only sometimes invokeing divine aid, and would most probably have followed Pelagius.  However it is not to say that I wouldn't admit to taking on good teaching from philosophers, saints and anyone I come across with good ideas. I love the one of St David's sayings:  "Do the little things".

This has become a well-known inspirational saying in Wales. One of the little things I like to do is join under Cathy's open arms, on this weekly Vase of Flowers from our gardens. 

Being St David's Day and I am using daffodils which is the national flower of Wales and often worn on St David's day.  The daffodil is an old heritage Irish cultivar called Rip van Winkle.  The greenery is made up of leaves of Mahonia 'Soft  Caress', leaves of Arum Italicum, and leaves of a dwarf false cypress.

If you can manage anything even something small: take heart and rejoice.