June has passed by in a blur and I feel as though I’ve skidded into July with a definite need to slow down a little and smell the flowers. Our village garden safari happened this weekend – the weather was a-ma-zing, plenty of people visited the open gardens and lots of money was raised for charity. We certainly enjoyed sitting in the shade, chatting to visitors and not gardening for a couple of days 🙂 I’ll show you a garden update in my next post but in the meantime here’s a blue spotty jug of summer flowers to join in with Cathy’s Monday vases. Thanks to her, as always, for hosting.
The lavenders and jasmine are beginning to flower and there are clove-scented pinks. Joining these fragrant beauties are some Nigella seedheads (which I think I almost prefer to the flowers), a dark-flowered sweet William, some Erigeron karvinskianus and a few flowerheads from the lovely grass Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster.
Building work is starting on Wednesday to renovate the ‘sunroom’ at the sea-facing side of the house. This is the final room to be updated and I’m really looking forward to being able to use it. Currently it’s full of camping equipment, old shoes, weights and the rowing machine, an old cupboard, a bike, and other assorted ‘stuff’. All this needs to be moved out and found new homes. (Cue much muttering and discontent among the troops.) The boys are not happy about losing their ‘weights room’ and we need somewhere for the rowing machine, so the next big job in the garden is to customise an old shed or build something suitable. Things are never quiet around here…
Have a great week!
acoastalplot 
This was my first year growing Nigella and I was entranced by the seedheads too. I had a vase of them sitting in my kitchen window for quite awhile. Seeing your pinks makes me think I should try growing those too – they do smell heavenly.
Best wishes with the remodel of your sunroom. We’re currently undergoing a major remodel, gutting the kitchen (along with an earthquake retrofit and miscellaneous other updates). It’s utter pandemonium here. This is my first time through an exercise on this scale and I’m ready to run for the hills.
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Ooh, a spotty vase – that’s a good start before you even put anything in it! You have some lovely summer things in your vase and seeing your calamagrostis prompts me to think of using grasses in my own vases. And I agree that nigella seedpods are The Best!! Look forward to reading about the Garden Safari – it’s such fun talking to people about gardens, isn’t it? Hope the renovation turns out to be smoother than you might be anticipating!
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It sounds as if your garden safari was very successful, what fun. And I love your spotty jug filled with summery flowers.
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Fleabane!; Someone else was just talking about fleabane. It is native nearby here, so grow wild. I have not considered using it as a cut flower.
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I’m always intrigued to see what you have growing when because we live in very north Northumberland, so are a bit behind you … yes, we have lavender, sweet Williams, daisies, grasses galore – but no nigella, perhaps more because I was late to sow this year. – and no jasmine. All looks lovely in that spotty jug – daisies are perfection there …
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Pretty summer flowers, and I’m glad the garden safari weekend went well. I am envying you your sea-facing sunroom, how amazing! Out with those weights I say, and in with the greenery and chaise longue. You would not get me out of such a place. Was just going to wish you a good weekend, then I realised it’s only Tuesday. Sigh. CJ x
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A lovely country vase, full of the essence of summer. It looks so charming next to the inviting chair.
Your renovation sounds exciting. I love renovating and remodeling and I’m really looking forward to seeing before and after photos. Hopefully it won’t be to difficult to live through the mess of construction.
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Glad you had great weather for the local garden walk. Hope the renovations are finished on time.
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I love your vases Sam. They always look so wholesome and colourful. This one is no different. I love the way the sweet william grounds the whole arrangement.
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