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?
Isn't it amazing what you can find when you least expect anything! Such a large white flower is just right for brightening up the house in winter. Cosmos 'Cupcakes' sounded so intriguing I just had to google it.... wow! Hope you will share some pics of it in the summer. I am also going to try and be patient and not sow too much again, and I am going to try growing some Nicotiana for the first time this year.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to have anything flowering and this is nice and bright. I hope to be sharing 'Cupcakes'in a vase so we'll see how that goes. I don't have a great record with cosoms but I'll keep trying. :) Good luck with the Nicotiana.
DeleteThe hog weed flower is so pretty when we see it in a vase - and yet of course it must look just as pretty in its natural state if we can see past it being a 'weed'! But surely unusual to be flowering now? Removing them from my Mum's garden is always on the list of jobs when we go to my Mum's! Limonium is also on my list, along with other flowers for drying after seeing it on Christina and Chloris' blogs
ReplyDeleteIt is not that different to Ammi that we all crave. I don't know why it's flowering but I did see one flowering in a hedgerow too. I'm lucky to have a large grassy area/meadow so they can stay there and haven't made it into the borders so far. Blogs are a great source of temptation or a brilliant inspiration depending on how you look at it!
DeleteHogweed seems a terrible name for such a pretty flower, although I've heard that it can be very aggressive. It doesn't grow here so I've no personal experience with it. I'm sorry your weather is awful. It's great that you're finding diversion in seed orders. I placed some dahlia tuber and seed orders myself last week. Zinnias (including 'Queen Red Lime') made up the bulk of the seed orders but I ordered some sunflowers too, including a very unusual green form I've never seen before.
ReplyDeleteNo it's not a great name. It's growing out of the way so that is fine with me. I just have to shelve plans to do much outside and enjoy being in by the fire with books and hot chocolate. That sounds good for now. I hope you got all the dahlias you wanted and I look forward to seeing the green sunflower. That sounds intriguing.
DeleteYour arrangement looks so fresh and a alive - no easy feat at this time of year. I admire your garden resolutions and some year I also hope to stake plants before they start falling over and breaking.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is only a resolution at this stage and we know what happens to most of those...
DeleteLove the fresh look, and it is so early for the hogweed to be flowering. I admire your organisation...and look forward to seeing how your quinoa crop fares. I bought some earlier this year which had been grown near Bath and I think you have about the same climate. hi
ReplyDeleteYes I expect so. Apparently the plants get quite big. I find it easy to be organised in January and then it goes down hill from there.
DeleteI love your planting and planning resolutions! Staking early really makes a huge difference. I'm always amazed at what grows when my back is turned.
ReplyDeleteOh cosmos 'Rubinata' is a new one on me Alison so I will have to look it up :) I'm growing rudbeckia hirta 'Sahara' too for the first time and also trying the linomium suworowii again. My first attempt a couple of years ago was not a success. Your resolutions sound remarkably similar to mine especially number three.
ReplyDelete