In a Vase on Monday - Still flowering

Just like Cathy who hosts this weekly gathering, it seems to have become a habit to mention the weather: low light, a gentle stirring insufficient to dry anything off  but frost free, is what we are experiencing today and it seems set in ,with the 'promise' of rain for a few more days,

The front garden is only just past 'the twinkle in my eye' stage.  All of the components this week are courtesy of plants from there.  Agapanthus Charlotte which I featured on SOS continues to amaze.  Only planted out in September, they have continued to flower.  The flowers on Agapanthus Charlotte do not set seed, but we shall see how the plants perform next year.  The downside is that already the pollen of the agapanthus is affecting me, so this is probably the one and only time it will be picked for IAVOM.

A few stems of Lonicera nitida 'Baggensen's Gold from plants I established two and three years ago, and a leaf of a hardy geranium which had blue flowers complete the small arrangement. I found this hardy geranium growing amongst bluebells in the front side border, growing very poorly, and over the last two years moved bits.  There are nice clumps now established between the Lonicera which border the parking space.  I have spent a little time trying to identify it, but have now given up.  Gold star to anyone who helps identify this geranium.  Whilst trawling different pictures of autumn coloured leaves of hardy geraniums I came across Geranium 'Orion', which I have now added to my list of plants to look out for next year. 

A Bird in the Hand - Chicken with prunes in red wine

I'm often inspired by friends' recommendations, so when Mandy revealed her 'presents to herself' and one of them was 'A Bird in the Hand' by Diana Henry, I added that book to my Libraries West list.  I had an email this week to say that it was in.  Having brought it home, I have been dipping in and reading recipes during the waiting for the coffee to cool times etc.

Before I go farther, I must say thank you to Mandy and other friends real and blogging ones too who share their finds, through a conversations caught when meeting up with friends in the street or at other gatherings etc.

I've cooked with prunes before, usually a gamey affair, and also cooked with red wine, but I wouldn't have considered using these with chicken.  As the chicken went through its various stages, layers of flavour were added.  The final touch was the herb crust.

The only thing I added was some lemon thyme from the garden, just because I had it and love thyme and chicken.

I'll be ordering this book...and removing a couple of older books from the shelves.  The only recipe so far that I probably won't be cooking here is the 'ginger beer can chicken' as we don't barbecue, but it sounds fun and maybe I would like to try it. I may suggest we cook this during the Summer as part of our WI gourmet club.

Six on Saturday - 23 November 2019

Here in South West England we have escaped the floods, but it has still been exceeding wet.  The design of the back garden with gravel paths and stepping stones is paying off, as I have been able to go out and pick herbs and do a little gardening around the edges.

One
In the gravel area the Eryngium Silver Ghost looks safe enough from excess wet.  After having been given the seed by John Massey earlier this year, it was sown straight onto gravel and after emerging early spring it has been growing on except for being a little nibbled by pest unknown.  I had so much seed from the couple of seedheads and after I had cleaned and sorted the seed had sufficient to share with a number of friends.

Two

We have had our first frost which left a white glaze over the rooftops, and slowly the leaves are turning and falling.  I have two Ben Sarek blackcurrant bushes in this bed, bought in February 2018.  Instructions on fruit growing advise that the stems are cut back low when planting.  Nothing wasted here, and from these I took cuttings and earlier this year I planted up all the rooted cuttings near Gooseberry corner.  I would like to keep this area clear for growing salads and other little bits of veggies, so after I have picked the fruit this summer, they will be dug out.

Three

The Acer continues with its glowing bright leaves, but today I could discern a little bare twig so it must have its place this week, as it may well be bare next Saturday.  Acers in neighbouring gardens are also putting on a great show this week.

Four

The smallest shrub in the garden is still growing in a pot, and I think it will remain a pot shrub. Hebe Buchananii Minor will take about 10 years to reach 10cm x 15cm.  I first acquired it early 2017.  I think I would need tweezers and a magnifying glass to take and make cuttings.

Five

Contrasts in colour, form and texture can help bring interest even when flowering is over.  Here Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon' has bounced back after a trim and with its flat matt purple colour is contrasting nicely with the adjacent silver and green variegated leaved  Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver'.  

Six

Still flowering in November are the three Agapanthus Charlotte.  This is a sterile cultivar and doesn't set seeds.  These are planted out in the front garden which is taking on a 'Mediterranean' theme.  I planted them quite deep, and will be heaping up the bark over the crowns.  Maybe it is risky leaving them out,  let us hope they come through.  Had I known at the time of buying them that they are borderline hardy I may not have bought them.  I think these will feature next week in my In a Vase on Monday post.

Its off to see what the Prop and other have posted this week.....soggy sagas for sure.

In a Vase on Monday - November Beauties

Every November seems to be different....the slight touch of frost last night has had a patchy effect, and shown up where the most protected parts of the garden area.  A few flowers have managed to come through unharmed.

Grace with her beautiful apricot blooms has been a fabulous rose this year.  Joining her are Fuchsia Tom West from the plant that wasn't frosted and Solanum laxum 'Album' which seems to go on flowering forever.

With IAVOM and contributors to Cathy's weekly gathering, we also have flowers from more exotic and warmer places, I'll be admiring a few of these shortly.  Cathy's post shows some Phantastie chrysanthemums.

Parsnip Soup

Arriving home yesterday, a couple of 'things' lay outside our front door.  Home grown and fresh, and having been an 'allotmenteer' I recognised  freshly dug parsnips.  Even with the multi branching roots which they are not really meant to have, I knew they would be tasty.

After a certain amount of brushing and cutting off the long thin bits to get all the mud off, they were ready, but for what?  Its cold and so what better than a cream of parsnip soup.  Butter, onions, parsnips with skin on, milk, water, sage, salt and pepper, nutmeg,  and blue cheese, and toppings of roasted hazelnuts more sage and half and half butter and olive oil.

Lunch today, and enough for another lunch for two for another time.  Thanks to our neighbours for passing on supplies from relatives.