I’t’s been a scorcher of a day here in Lancashire. It’s cooling off now and we can here thunder rumbling in the distance but there’s no sign of any rain so far. I’ve just picked a bunch of flowers. There’s nothing quite like cutting flowers from your own garden and this evening I’ve chosen plants that I’ve grown from seed.
I chose Foxgloves because I was hypnotised by them in the shade this morning I think! In the picture above you can see them growing in front of my garden studio with Hesperis. I added a few Hesperis/Sweet Rocket and some lovely long spurred Aquilegia/Columbine then finished off with a few Ox-Eye Dasies… only a few because using too many makes the bunch a bit stinky! The limey-yellow foliage is Euphorbia oblongata and I cut a few Alliums too.
These Foxgloves and Hesperis are biennials. Sow them this summer then they will flower from May onwards next year.
What I love about these plants is that they are all so easy to grow. From a small packet of seeds I always get masses of flowers so there are plenty in the garden and for cutting too. Luckily I managed to cut them, pop them in a vase and take a few pictures just before the sun disappeared behind the trees. I love these long days!
I think I’ve just about made it for In a Vase on Monday at Rambling in the Garden.
Has the rain stopped and the sun come out in your garden this week?
Happy Gardening! Gillian 😉
Nothing tickles me more than stepping into the yard and finding new blooms to cut. Such a simple pleasure.
I agree Lulu! Thanks for popping by.
Such an exuberance of color! Isn’t summer wonderful? 🙂
It is Eliza!
That looks such a happy bunch of flowers! , a beautiful mixed bouquet.
Thanks very much Christina.
A lovely vase full of gorgeous flowers! We had sunshine too – and NO rain yesterday for the first time in ages. It’s been very thundery here for over a week now.
Thanks Cathy! It’s quite the opposite here. No rain for what seems like weeks and the garden is so bone dry that the earth is starting to crack open in places.
Love the way you have caught the flowers in the slanting light. The blooms are just perfect on their own, and together in the vase a tribute to your gardening and arranging skills.
Thanks Noelle. I must say that although I’m good at growing, arranging flowers does not come easily to me. I could probably do with some training!
I so envy your ability to grow foxgloves. Sadly, they aren’t hardy here. Like so many others, I have tried to push the boundaries, but no luck.
Beautiful pictures of lovely mixed blooms. Everything looks so lush and softly pretty.
Thanks very much. So sorry you can’t grow Foxgloves Leah. You are most welcome to enjoy mine!
Certainly sunny in Birmingham – We’re not used to this!
For once it looks like we’ve come off best with this weather system. I’m making the most of it whilst it’s here!
What a glorious vase, Gillian – I was thinking what a great example of ‘country flowers’ they were and then remembered what your blog was called…! They really are a wonderful selection and perfect for a hot June day. It has been similarly dry here although we have just had a very light shower (early Weds evening) which was very welcome but I think we are back to hot and dry again tomorrow. Will you take up your sweet rocket after they have finished flowering this year? I have some which are flowering for their second year but hadn’t grown them before so I don’t know how much life they still have in them
Thanks Cathy! I sow Hesperis each year because I find that plants are much more vigorous in their first year flowering. You could always try leaving some in to see what they do in your garden then you’ll have your existing plants and they will self sow too. (very long thin seed pods)
Thanks for that Gillian
I loved these photos when I saw them on IG. Absolutely beautiful and so quintessentially English. You capture this look so well!
– xx
Thanks very much Kate…nice of you to say!