Flower Crown on Monday

You may or may not know that it's Garden Day UK on 10th May. Generally this is an opportunity to get together with friends and family, wear Flower Crowns and enjoy your garden. 
This year, of course, the getting together bit is going to be tricky but we are still encouraged to make flower crowns and enjoy our gardens. Let's hope the weather is good. This was a weekend of two halves here. Warm and sunny on Saturday and then cold and drizzly on Sunday which took me by surprise. We might have to enjoy our garden through the window. 
Florists are doing tutorials and videos and I'm posting a few pictures on Instagram this week. 

I made this Flower Crown using a birch twig base which was just two twigs bound round each other. Then I added little bunches of flowers and foliage tied on with string. There are many ways to make crowns but this is very easy. 

I hung up the first one I ever made and it dried in situ on the wall. Eventually, after about 2 years, I threw it away when it was really too faded and dusty.  That's why I'm showing this one here as I thought I'd do the same. 

We'll see how it dries, if it's awful it's off to the compost heap.

Obviously I'm expecting everyone to be making crowns next weekend and to be showing them off next Monday. (It doesn't matter if you are in the UK or not!)
Join in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what every one else has found to put In a Vase on Monday.

Oh alright, here is a picture of me wearing it

Crazy tulips In a Vase on Monday

It seemed a shame not to share these mad Tulips. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I ordered them. 

They are definitely eye catching and the petals are gorgeous and look like satin. 

Some are cream and some are white so I'm not sure if there are two types here or a variation. 
The red and white are 'Estella Rynveld' and the others might be 'Flaming Parrot' but the markings don't look right so that's probably wrong. 

Enjoy. 

Join in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what is going in a vase around the world this Monday. 

Rainbow In a Vase on Monday

If you are on social media at all you might have notices rainbows everywhere as well as all the lovely pictures people are displaying in their windows. 
Here is my version of the rainbow with respect for all the NHS workers putting themselves are risk for us. 

I bought this funny little vase over a year ago but have not used it much. It seemed perfect for this idea tho does always look as though it's falling over. 
I was impressed that I was able to find all these colours, some of them are small but it is all coming on in the garden with more coming out each day. 

Included are anemone, wallflower, tulip, narcissus, euphorbia, parsley, vinca, comfrey, hyacinth, aubretia, forget me not and muscari.

It makes me smile every time I see it which is surely the point of why we do this. 
Hoping you are all well and finding plenty to do in your gardens. 

Join in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden and share your Vase on Monday. 

Yellows In a Vase on Monday

Absolutely no talent needed for this pick and plonk vase. 

The truth is I cut these Narcissus for a funeral arrangement last week to try and get them to open but they did not oblige so I get the pleasure of them. 

The yellow ones are 'Tahiti' from a J Parkers' mix called UK Grown Double Daffodils. They are a little bright but useful for impact. None of the others in the mix are out yet. 

The paler flower is one of many we inherited here so I have no idea what it is. 

I did mean to cut some other things and make a proper arrangement. I still might. I've been making the most of the dry weather to get on top of weeding and moving plants around. 
I hope everyone is well and able to enjoy their gardens. 
Join in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for In a Vase on Monday. 

Back to nature In a Vase on Monday

Here is a little vase of spring cheerfulness. 

 I used White Tete a Tete which I'd never heard of until I saw them in a catalogue. They are not as jaunty as the yellow ones but very pretty, none the less. 
Also a nameless wallflower, some pussy/goat willow buds, euphorbia and a white hyacinth.
All going together to make a pretty and beautiful smelling vase. 

I left a bucket of willow buds outside and when I passed it was buzzing with  bees. Just what we need to see at this time. Nature carrying on regardless. 

A few weeks ago I decided to buy in some British flowers for Mother's Day as I don't have enough of my own yet for bouquets. Flowering things are small so far. I ordered Tulips, Hyacinth, and scented Narcissus and used foliage from here - hence the willow in the bucket. All from British growers ordered through a hub. 
It was the right decision and I sold it all. It was a smallish order but I could have sold it all twice. Whether that was because people couldn't get together I don't know, but it felt good to be able to deliver bouquets (non-contact, of course) to people isolating in their own homes. 
Here is an idea of what one like:

So now it looks like a good week weatherwise. I'll be staying home except for essential journeys so perhaps I can knock the plot back into shape. First job though is tackling the red mite in the hen house. There are so many things I'd rather be doing!

Stay safe and well and I hope you can enjoy your gardens. Join in with Cathy and In a Vase on Monday at Rambling in the Garden. 

Our favourites In a Vase on Monday

Here is an actual vase of flowers picked from my garden:

The gardeners' favourite Hellebores. Last year I saw these plants on sale at a local budget shop. They looked pretty, I thought, and perhaps more robust than some Hellebores. I patiently waited until the plants were reduced and then bought a couple, as they were not cheap even in the budget shop. 
I've already been rewarded with weeks of flowers and popped a few in a gift posy last week. (The only one I've done so far this year). Now that the seeds are setting, I think it's save to cut a few. 
As usual some close ups:

Will I feel the need to buy more this year when they are in stock?

Thanks to Cathy for hosting In a Vase on Monday over at Rambling in the Garden. 

More buds In a Vase on Monday.

I hope everyone in the UK is ok and still standing after the storms. 
We are rather battered and windswept here. No real damage, thankfully and as usual there are people far worse of than us. 
Our plot is on a hill but it was truly like a marsh at the weekend. 

A few more pictures of my Magnolia twigs which I brought in two weeks ago. 
A few buds have opened beautifully. They look pretty for a day or two but don't last and then go brown. I had planned to take a picture of the vase again today but now it's dark so too late. 
A few more buds are swelling up, so I'll pull off the dead flowers. 

I'd meant to take pictures every day but that didn't happen. This last one is about as far as it got before going brown. 

Fun to have something to watch on the kitchen windowsill though. 

Thanks for visiting. I promise something different next week. For more Vases  on Monday visit Cathy ant Rambling in the Garden. 

Catkins and update In a Vase on Monday.

Morning everyone, I hope you are all still standing. If you are not in the UK we have been battered by Storm Ciara with strong winds and heavy rain. Mostly ok here I think, but marsh like again. I did enjoy the dry days we had last week. 

Here is a quick update on the Magnolia 'Stellata' buds in my vase last week. 

Some of the buds are definitely fattening up and showing a bit of white. How exciting! I wonder what else I can bring in. 

Today I have a few Catkins in a vase. I cut these last week so did not have to brave the storm. Yesterday was a dreadful day but meant I caught up with lots of indoor jobs. Today is not much better. 
Last week I was down on my hands and knees and really enjoyed seeing new growth and new life appearing all around. Hope for more colourful vases soon. 

You can see my Lonicera fragrantissima flowering away outside the window. I do bring twigs in but find it drops bits everywhere. 

Drop in on Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what everyone has salvaged to put In a Vase on Monday. 

Buds In a Vase on Monday

I've got a jar of twigs here. Not just any old twigs though, they are Magnolia 'Stellata'. It was planted here when we came and does not disappoint when it flowers for a few weeks in spring. 
I read somewhere, sorry I've forgotten where, that if you bring in a few buds they will open in the warmth. Hope so. 
The twigs are covered in lovely moss and Lichen so are very pretty to look at. I thought Lichen was a sign of clean air, I'd be very surprised as we live on a busy road but perhaps it is true as we have quite a lot. 

I managed a little weeding this morning before the drizzle started. Safe to say I am not keeping up with my January plan but this is a new month so new start. Perhaps a couple of dry days?

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

Springlike In a Vase on Monday.

Happy New Year. Hopefully you are all getting back to normal now and embracing the new year. 
I've started as I mean to go on by weeding my vegetable beds and covering the soil with anything which comes to hand. Mostly straw so far. 2 1/2 out of 6 were done this weekend. Garlic is in (I started it off in modules) and broad beans are coming along in pots. Most other things will wait as long as I can stand! Ideally mid February. 
I plan to make the most of this mild weather as long as it lasts. 

A simple vase of winter flowering Jasmine this week. It's so bright and springlike when everything else is grey. 

The vase is one I bought when out Christmas shopping for things for other people, it was so cheap I just couldn't help it. It was the very least of things I could have bought for myself. 
I look forward to seeing what everyone else has found for a January vase. 
Join in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see. 

On the Door On Monday

Not in a vase or in the house but rules go out the window at Christmas. 
I have a few bedraggled flowers and some greenery in the garden, I'll show some next week, but here is my Christmas Wreath:

  

I'm making a lot of traditional wreaths this week for other people but mine is a departure and evolved as it went along. 

I've made all the bases with twigs or prunings. Jasmine is good and also Elaeagnus. Willow too but I only use that when I make a half wreath and the willow will be on show. It's too lovely to cover up. 
It's easy to twist up the stems into a circle and tuck them in under each other. 

This shows how I did not prune the Elaeagnus this year!
I mostly don't add moss but I did with this one. It's from our shady lawn. 

Then I added some greenery and lots of brown plus a little pink and red. 

It includes - Lleylandii - green and variegated, Pittosporum, some other conifer, Sedum flower heads, poppy heads, Hydrangea flowers straight from the plant, Alder (probably), Rose hips, grass heads and another head possibly Echinacea, Buddlejia leaves, Caryopteris flower heads. 

I did use wire to wrap round at the end, as there were lots of small bits, but usually I use string and find it works fine on a traditional wreath. Here are my more traditional ones:

Thanks for visiting. Hop over to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what everyone has found to put In a Vase on Monday.  Thanks Cathy. 

Time for twigs In a Vase on Monday

It's December so slim pickings in the garden in the UK. 
I still have a few Chrysanthemums flowering and some even outside. Avignon Pink has not liked the rain but another one, which might be Porto Purple, is still flowering valiantly. 
I recently pruned/ trimmed some willows and here are some of the prunings in my vase. 

Most of these have pretty red stems and I will have the name somewhere but it might take some searching to find it. 
These willows are not particularly tall and I hope that by pruning I'll encourage more growth. I brought a few in and saved the rest for weaving/construction/supports in the future. 

We had a comedy  moment when one of our cats had a little play with the trailing stems. Mr C dived across the room shrieking 'Is there water in that vase?' and saved the day! I thought it was funny but he didn't and I had to move it. 

Cathy at Rambling in the Garden is working along the same lines this week. Join in here. 

Late colour In a Vase on Monday.

Along with Cathy, I have Chrysanthemums In my Vase on Monday this week. Join in here. 
I was sorry to miss last week's anniversary mini vases. I was away in beautiful North Wales enjoying the autumn colour. 

These are Avignon Pink and Tarantula Red.
I love them for late colour and they seem to be easy to grow. Last year I left them in my tunnel and green house until after Christmas, potted them up but left inside then threw them outside when I needed the space. I'm not sure when that was. Probably spring. They stayed in the pots until mid summer when I planted them inside again. Some are outside and have buds on but some have been destroyed by the continuing rain. 
I also took cuttings in spring which are very easy. 

And now the awful truth about me and vases. Here is jar (Mayonnaise, it's not even a vase) which has been on my kitchen window sill for about 4 weeks, maybe longer. The Phacelia at the back has doubled in size and the Persicaria has grown roots. Aim for this week is to pot it up. It also has very pretty white flowers on it. This is where I pop any odds and ends or broken stems and they just sit there. Are you shocked?

 Sometimes I take out the dead flowers! Sometimes not. Sometimes the water runs out. 

This is Avignon Pink which starts peachy and gets more pink as it ages.

Jewels In a Vase on Monday.

I think I've made progress this week in spite of the continuing rain. 
I made a good start with removing turf for enlarging my bed last week, then was distracted with other things. Mr C and I took advantage of the dry and sunny (at times) Sunday and finished the job. 

Today I moved a few plants because I wanted to get started but conditions are not very good. If every part of you is muddy it's too wet! I even liberated two plants which have been waiting patiently in pots. It's exciting to get on with it. 

I have a few Chrysanthemums in my vase today. These are actually a week old. I've just trimmed them and taken out a few ropey ones. You really get tired of them before they die, they last so long, which, of course, is why they sell so well on garage forecourts. 
I like to think mine are superior to those cousins. 

In here are Sheer Purple, Orange Allouise, Froggy and a Cream One Which is Supposed to be White. (But actually I love it). These are not colours I would usually put together but they are leftovers really.
Join in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for In a Vase on Monday.