Welcome to this weeks in ‘A Vase On Monday’, when I am linking up with Cathy at Rambling In The Garden to join in with her challenge to find something from the garden to put in a vase every week.
I have to start this week with a big apology – I am very conscious that I have been ignoring my blog to the point of neglect over the last two weeks – I am sorry if I have missed comments that you have left and I feel very bad for missing this months Cutting Garden Review. The truth is that I have been so busy over the last month that I just have not found the time to sit down and write or keep up with any blog reading – for the first time in the last few years I have been offline on an almost constant basis.
June has been a lovely but very full month. There have been the big events – Ascot and a midsummer opera, garden visits (including the lovely Spencer’s Garden and Peter Beales Rose Garden), lots of lunches and dinners and coffees with friends as well as the usual rounds of gardening, cooking and laundry. I have lots of photos on my computer and just need a few hours to sit down and write my planned posts.
You can see from my vase that my garden is coping with my neglect – all my lovely seedlings planted what feels like just a few weeks ago are bursting into flower. The quaking grass is finally doing its shimmering rustling thing in the borders and I have masses of stems of larkspur to choose from, as well as all the beautiful romantic roses.
My peonies have almost finished for another year (very sad face!) – this weeks high temperatures will finally put an end to them. I just managed to squeeze a last bloom or two into this weeks vase, along with the roses.
This David Austin rose Wolverton Old Hall is looking stunning this week. The gentle apricot rose is my current favourite shade.
The ammi has been magnificent this year – the lack of rain has meant that its towering height (nearly 2 metres in places) has not resulted in its collapsing over the borders. It is a sea of shimmering white floating over all the other flowers – even the tall larkspur.
As well as the quaking grass I added a few stems of honesty seeds for some texture to this weeks collection.
As I write I am surrounded by our holiday preparations – this week we are flying to California for what should be an amazing family road trip. We have three weeks of mountains, beaches and city sightseeing ahead of us and of course I am very excited. I do fear, however, that I must be the world’s worst vacationer – I find it so hard to leave my little piece of paradise! As I gathered my blooms for a quick vase tonight I could not help but feel sad at saying goodbye to all my lovely flowers. Much will have changed by the time I return and I hate to miss anything at this time of year.
The dogs are staying at home and being joined by their great friend for the holiday (my poor little cat will have to go to the cattery though as she does not cope well when all three dogs are together). The garden will be well looked after in my absence and there is much to look forward to on our return – not least the dahlias which are already full of buds.
We have a very full itinerary planned, so I am not making any promises about blogging whilst we are away, but I will pop in if I have a moment and certainly hope to be posting photographs on Instagram if anyone wants to follow our trip.
My blogging will return to normal in August when I will be back with more Monday vases and the Cutting Garden and Greenhouse Reviews. Last week I had the pleasure to finally meet Cathy and her lovely husband – it was so good to put a face to Rambling In The Garden and have a good chat about all things flowery. I do hope that you will pop over and have a look at what she and the others have made from their gardens this week!
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Life snags us all and I have had little time for reading and even gardening with all our rain….I adore your vase showcasing so many lovely flowers and plants….I wish you safe travels and hoping you truly enjoy your stay…CA is an amazing state…I love it every time I go…so much to see and do!
gorgeous! especially love the whims-whams, must get me some – fabulous photos
Beautiful vase, Julie! Enjoy your holidays!
Your photos have such a lovely atmospheric, ethereal quality Julie. Beautiful flowers. It is hard to say goodbye to peonies, isn’t it? Have a great trip.
It’s lovely to see one of your beautiful vases again, Julie, especially one including those gorgeous peonies. I hope you enjoy your trip to California and that it’s not too hot!
I enjoy your posts but glad to know that you are not a slave to the garden or the blog. I know you’ll have a great time; know that we’ll be here to welcome your return. Take care.
I missed your posts Julie but so enjoyed seeing this vase beautifully photographed in your garden before you go out west. I didn’t realise ammi majus grew so tall (I guess the clue is ‘majus’) as mine are only about 60cm and your rose is such a soft warm white, really lovely. Have a wonderful holiday, you are a lesson to us all in leaving your garden (in safe hands) for such a long time.
It’s hard to say goodbye to the peonies for another year too… Lovely vase Julie! Have a great trip!
Beautiful vase, happy holidays!
What a gorgeous vase! – er, jug! Your photos are excellent! I agree with you about your David Austin rose – beautiful! And the Ammi sets it all off so well!
Have a great holiday!
Isn’t the briza a great addition – mine from last year was barely a humble apology but now they are quaking in earnest, just like yours. Shame I haven’t space for ‘Wollerton Old Hall’ though – she is lovely, along with everything else in your vase, which seems to suggest a warm summer day, rather than this week’s heat. Hope you have a great holiday!
Beautiful flowers Julie. Enjoy your hols.
Oh what an attractive vase Julie. I’m sorely tempted by ‘Wollerton Old Hall’ as the garden is not far from us and we have fond memories of visits. There’s never an ideal time to leave a garden but you will have great fun re-acquainting yourself with its occupants when you get home. Have a brilliant holiday!
Hello! I am writing in from California near the ocean. It is quite hot here, but beautiful as always. I certainly understand your feelings. It is always hard for me to leave too! Enjoy your travels.
I do hope you haven’t tried to pack in too much Julie. We had a wonderful time but it would have been better if we’d allowed more time to relax in each place. Even with wi-fi available everywhere it is hard to keep up with blogging when you have so much else to be thing of. Have a wonderful holiday!
I think we might be a bit too ambitious in our plans Christina – I am already feeling a bit jaded & we are only just hitting the road today. It is so hard not to try to do everything though. Having limited wifi is making it difficult to keep up with the blogging – I can just about fit in a few posts on Instagram but there is really no time for reading what everyone is up to. Hope you are recovering from the jet lag!
Just beautiful! Lovely!