The Slope on Thursday on Friday

I am a day late with ‘the view’ this week.  I could tell you I was so busy I had no time to take any photographs; I could say it was raining so heavily that it was impossible to go outside but the truth is that neither justification is true.  The simple truth is I completely forget and by the time I remembered it was dark!

Wordless Wednesday Spot the difference

With apologies to Cathy for stealing her title!

In a vase on Monday – take 2

In the post earlier today I mentioned that I had a lot of bright pink Ostrich Asters remaining from those I had put in the bouquet for my friend.  Here they are.  A bit frilly pink maybe,

In a vase on Monday – Ostrich plumes in shades of mauve

Monday is here again and time to find flowers from our own garden to put in a vase for Cathy at Rambling in the Garden’s In a vase on Monday.

Some different flowers this week mixed in with the Dahlia Magenta Star which is indefatigable in pumping out new blooms.

GBFD – it’s not autumn yet!

I started GBFD in Sptember 2011 with the aim of understanding how foliage works in my garden and hopefully helping others to recognise the importance of foliage in their own gardens.  Foliage is the mainstay of any garden whether we plan it that way of not, there may be a few plants that flower for 12 months a year but they certainly don’t grow in MY garden.  So it makes sense to me to consider the foliage (and form) of a plant just as much if not more than the flowers.  Don’t misunderstand I’m not advocating that we all change our gardens into flower-free zones, far from it, I think that foliage is the supporting role but if it doesn’t work then the stars find it harder to shine.

The Slope on 21st August – Slipping slowly out of summer

It was hot in Italy while we were in the UK for a week, lucky me!

This week the temperatures are actually still lower than would be expected but the weather always changes at the end of August although usually becomes summerlike again after mid-September.  This year may of course be different.

What I noticed most was that the evenings have become decidedly shorter; where before going to England dinner was usually on the terrace without the need for artificial light until almost the end of the meal, this week the light has been required from the beginning.

In a vase on Monday – A basket full of joy!

I missed not being able to participate last week because I was spending a few days in the UK visiting family, but I enjoyed seeing all the vases although I was unable to comment on some as I only had my iPad with me and commenting on non WordPress sites was impossible.

Before I left I cut all the flowers from the sunflowers and Dahlias so they would have a chance to produce more flowers for my return home.  They didn’t let me down.

The Slope on Thursday – Happy August

It has been mostly sunny this week and hot in comparison to previous weeks but nothing like the usual heat we endure during the first week of August, hence my title! I’m happy.

The early mornings and evening are cool, wonderful!  I can work outside, I can sleep at night, there is nothing to not love about the weather so far this year.

In a vase on Monday – It stands up!

Monday seems to come around very quickly!  Monday means a vase of flowers picked from our own gardens and arranged to join in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for her Monday meme.  Do visit to see what others are finding to pick today, the first Monday in August.

Again this week I wanted to have another try with a hand tied bouquet – surely it can’t be that difficult?