Monday 19 October 2015

Purple Patch.

Our youngest Granddaughter Louise, has helped me produce todays post, she had been poorly during the night, so was home from school today.
We are joining Cathy's meme: Vase on a Monday
The garden is going through a purple patch at the moment, which we have reflected in the flowers selected. Starting with the Dahlia 'Thomas A. Edison', which was very slow to get started in the spring and is now dominating the raised beds, alongside is the Aster a.n. 'Helen Picton', named after the daughter of Paul Picton, owner of Old Court Nurseries and the Picton Gardens. They are based just over the border from us in Herefordshire and are National Collection holders of Asters. 
The vase also contains three flowering stems of an unknown Miscanthus, given to us by a good friend.


The leaf at the base of the vase is from the Caster Oil plant, Ricinus communis.

D.'Thomas A. Edison'


Miscanthus


Aster a.n. 'Helen Picton'.

The props used today are the purple sleeved LP The Last Night of The Proms, reflecting the fact that we are nearing the last concert from these flowers for this year.
Toby the Tiger is Louise's special soft toy, she was given him by Father Christmas when she visited him on the Severn Valley Railway Santa Special.
He now goes everywhere with her.

Arrangement by Brian and Louise, Photographs by Louise.

19 comments:

  1. Oh well done Louise - and thank you to your grandad for helping you put together such a pretty purple vase. Have you seen all the asters at the garden your grandad talked about? I like this one as it is a nice dark purple and the big dahlia and the bristly grasses go well with it. The leaf looks as if it has just fallen, doesn't it? You have taken some lovely photos and trust Toby to 'photobomb' that first one! Hope you are feeling better soon.

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    1. Louise had the blog up on her tablet ready to show her Mum when she came to collect her after work.

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  2. well done both! love all the ingredients and the stories behind them

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  3. Great to see you and Louise are working in partnership. I have my grand daughter Izzi now a regular contributor, and I love getting a picture via facebook of her Vase on Sunday.

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    1. It is a joy doing things with our two Granddaughters, we have to enjoy it while they are young enough and still want to.

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  4. I love the asters. Toby the Tiger is a nice addition too. I hope Louise feels better soon.

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  5. What a lovely arrangement - the aster is stunning. I doubt we have that cultivar this side of the pond. Toby is a sweet addition!

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    1. Thank you Eliza. I don't know if the nursery mentioned in the post exports.

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  6. How great to have a special helper for your vase, Toby the Tiger makes a nice visitor. The dahlia is a lovely color, and the dark purple of the aster is especially wonderful, Brian. I hope the dance continues a while.

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    1. Thank you. I also hope the dance continues a while yet, although the forecast from many people who use folk lore to predict the weather is for a severe winter.

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  7. Love the flowers, but also the prop - an ingenious link to the end of a wonderful 'season' of blooms. Hope Louise is feeling better now - I am sure a day with Grandad and Toby will help! ;-) Your castor oil plant leaf has reminded me to put seeds on the list I have just been composing for next year. I grew them in my rockery one year and they were very successful.

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  8. Lovely joint effort. Advanced flower arranging with props! That dahlia is beautiful. Hope your granddaughter is better now.

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  9. A lovely vase! Dahlias and Asters make a stunning combination, and Louise has done a wonderful job with the photography as well. I hope she's feeling better now :)

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    1. Thank you Amy, they are the stars of the Autumn border.

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  10. Love the purple now in the garden as it mixes with the red, yellow and orange foliage....your granddaughter is a wonderful helper especially allowing her prized Toby to be part of this great scene.

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    1. Thank you Donna, It is a pleasure to involve the grandchildren in the garden, we try to inspire the next generation.

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