It's Snowdrop time In a Vase on Monday

It's time!
I'm sure we've turned a corner here. Buds are forming, bulbs are shooting, the days are getting longer - we have a long way to go but I can see there might be an end to this winter. 
For now we have the wonderful snowdrop season. One of the most amazing things about them is how they just appear. I looked for them a few weeks ago and there was nothing and then suddenly they are in bloom. 

These double Snowdrops are growing in a hedge and are only accessible by crawling through it but it's so worth doing. I moved a few last year and I plan to move a few more this year. 

I know I'm repeating myself but Mother Nature does that too so I'm in the best company. Last year I showed them off on this mirror and here they are again shown with Vinca minor leaves. 

That is how I found a slug clinging to one. 

Finally here is a pot of Iris reticulata growing, as MrC rightly put it, in spite of me. I never managed to re-pot them or even weeded them but here they are flowering their socks off in a rich purpley blue.  

If you have something to put In a vase and show off visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to join in the fun. 

Tiny treasures In a Vase on Monday

I could see this Osteospermum from my kitchen window so I did a tour to see what else might be flowering to go with it. 

I found some yellow viola growing in a veg bed
Ceanothus which I had noticed outside my bedroom window, 
Vinca major - always so blue
One Erodium,
Zalusianskya ovata - the little white one, or night scented phlox if you prefer. I've mentioned this before but it is such a wonderful little plant. This flower was picked from a pot in my polytunnel. The pot had Tarragon growing in it and this seeded itself and took over. 
and some Artemesia 'Powis Castle' to enhance them all. 

Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what everyone else has found to put In a Vase on Monday. 

Conscious of the fact that I go on about the weather very often, I've posted some photos here to show that it really is very beautiful at all times of the year. 
The very best thing about living in the country, and this country, is the changing seasons and the weather which goes with them. 

 I took a few pictures of this crow against the pink evening sky, then he just turned his head at the right time. He is a regular with one damaged foot. We call him Mr Crow.

Winter sunrise. 

Beautiful even on a misty, cold and foggy day.

There is still some green amongst the grey. 

Though I long to be wearing fewer than 4 layers and have vases of my own flowers in each room, for now I have to enjoy pleasures of this season. Time passes so quickly that we shouldn't wish it away. 
Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your day. x

Weeds In a Vase on Monday

I went looking to see what could possibly go in a vase this week and found Hogweed flowering. Only one and not the giant poisonous one' happily, but common hogweed. 
I collected two dead grass heads and a few twigs of Lonicera fragrantissima to add to the flowers. It has a faint whiff of perfume but I hope it will get stronger on the plant over the next weeks. 

Here is my vase with the wreath from last week still enhancing the kitchen. 
Do visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what delights everyone has found for their vases this week. 

There was a bitter north-east wind on Sunday. It was strong and cold and made outside work very unpleasant, in spite of the beautiful sunshine, which was a shame as I'd planned a few things to get on with.
After the necessary outside chores, I cleaned some seed labels and had my annual seed sort. 
I try and  do this before ordering any more as it's all too easy to forget what you already have. I found at least two things I've already doubled up on by buying in the Autumn. 

I'm in the process of making a list, it's not quite as long as Chloris' but it easily could be without self control. (Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you didn't have any self control).
My seeds are now sorted alphabetically into two shoe boxes one for flowers and one for vegetables. Then I sort them into months for sowing.

I've received about 7 seed catalogues in the post. At least 3 of which are unsolicited. I certainly won't be ordering from more than 2 but the pictures are very beguiling and a girl can dream. 
These are a few things I'm going to be growing for the first time (as my list stands now):

Cosomos 'Cupcakes' 
Cosmos bipinnatus - 'Xanthos' - yellow and 'Rubinato' - dark red. 
Helianthus annus - 'Vanilla Ice'
Linomium suworowii - Rat tails or pink pokers
Rudbekia hirta - 'Sahara'
Salvia farinacea- blue and white mixed I'm hoping these will be good fillers in a vase. 
Zinnia 'Queen Red Lime' 


Not forgetting the vegetables:

Chilli 'Lemon Drop'
Quinoa
Agretti 'Roscano' an interesting sounding salty salad/stir fry leaf. 



My garden resolutions:

I will stake early and properly
I will water carefully
I will not sow or save more seedlings than I can sensibly manage

Oh and finally, I won't be starting seeds any time soon. I will be patient. 

Happy planning. What will you be trying for the first time?

Off on a tangent on Monday

This is not quite in a vase but desperate times call for clever ideas. I saw a tiny wreath on Instagram so I wanted to have a go. Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for In a Vase on Monday.
Here it is hanging outside:

And in the kitchen:

I was quite pleased with mine until I looked back at the Instagram picture. Mine looks clumsy compared to this exquisite creation but I will now be on the lookout for little

things to save for this kind of project. 

This was my first attempt, but not my last, and a fun thing to do on a winter afternoon. 

I will let you see the inspiration as long as you promise to like mine too. It's here. 

MrC laughed and said he thought a 7 year old had made it for me, which I thought was rude. 

I used winter flowering jasmine for the main wreath plus one red willow twig. 

Nicandra skeleton seed heads, dead Lawson Cypress, some other kind of conifer, moss, rose hips and Leycesteria flowers. 

Most things are wound together and held in place by the Jasmine and will power but I did add a small amount of florist wire. 

If you would like some philosophy to go with it's Out with the Old at the top and In with the New at the bottom. 

Happy New Gardening Year everyone and may the year be everything you'd wish for. 

Thanks for visiting. 

x