Our weather roller coaster continues. Last week I was rummaging for summer tops but this week they are back in the wardrobe and it's cold! I had to come back in for a hat yesterday and I really don't like hats and only wear them when absolutely necessary. I looked like a Weeble, I was wearing so many layers.
On the plus side the damp weather is good for the plants I've put out. Nothing tender but lots of shrubs, herbs and perennials. It means I don't need to worry about watering them for now.
Also the garden is burgeoning. The brief spell of warm weather and all the rain has done wonders and all the trees look fantastic in their new leaves.
Again it is possible to pick a large bunch to bring in without picking every flower. I don't often pick tulips as I like them in the garden but I have quite a few this year so I could spare some Angelique. Actually, you only need a few tulips for huge impact.
I have a large Antrhiscus 'Ravenswing' growing in my poly tunnel. I should have moved it sooner but now it is very large and about to flower so I collected a few of the gorgeous dark leaves to see how they do in a vase. I think they tone down the pink a little.
I'm also trying some Symphoriocarpus foliage to see how that lasts. I have quite a lot in a hedge.
Some white honesty flowers and dark wallflowers complete the vase.
Do visit Cathy at Rambling in the garden for plenty of interesting and intriguing Vases on Monday.
I agree with Cathy that wallflowers can be difficult. They are messy plants and sometimes the colours are dreadful. However, I do usually grow some from seed. This year half are in my cutting patch and some are in a border. The seed was a mix of colours and I think in future I'll seek out one colour or colour blends.
Here I've used a dark red and pale lemon yellow wallflower with whitebells, Ballerina tulips and Spirea and Wigela foliage.
My exciting news is that I have been on a floristry course for the past two weeks. One of the many things I learnt was how to make a proper hand tied bouquet. You can see the spiral here.
This is one reason I have not been much in evidence for the last few weeks, I found it difficult to keep all the plates spinning. I hope to reveal the reason for doing the course in the next few weeks. As if one needed a reason to be surrounded by beautiful flowers every day! Hopefully I'll get time to post some of my creations.
Here are the wallflowers and tulips. I'm less keen on the bright yellow and orange.
I saved this plant from last year as it's so pretty but the plant does not look great.
As usual I'm joining in with Cathy from Rambling in the Garden for In a Vase on Monday.
I think it's fair to announce that spring has arrived. As we begin the second week in April, that is not a moment too soon.
The leaf buds on trees and shrubs are breaking and, of course, the weeds are growing. That is a good sign and persuades us that perhaps the soil is warming up.
I have seedlings everywhere and am in a constant round of checking, watering and moving on to the next stage. Most things can't go outside yet so it's a case of juggling space. All worth it though!
We've had scaffolding up around the house and when it came down, I found these hyacinths flowering out of my view. They would have been bulbs bought for flowering in the house last year and planted out. I was pleased to see white as I usually buy blue. I collected some foliage of bay, ivy and cotoneaster and a sprig of Lonicera fragrantissima.
Finally I added the jaunty narcissus. I'm not a purist when it comes to daffodils and will welcome any splash of yellow offering to cheer us up. I don't know what these are but they have fat unruly centres. This is the third year I've planned to divide them and spread the joy so maybe third time lucky.
See who else has made a vase for Monday with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
