In a Vase on a Monday: Raindrops keep falling on my head…

…and that’s why today’s vase has to be enjoyed „under cover“ on the balcony of „Treetops“. We’re having thunderstorms today and it has cooled down a lot giving the garden and myself a bit of a break. Everything’s looking refreshed and green. I’m so pleased as my former garden design tutor came over from the UK to see my garden the other day and I had been worrying about the state of the place after the heat and drought in June. There was no need to worry though as she was delighted about the garden and thrilled by the snakes which could be seen basking in the sun. She’s Australian by the way, this might explain her relaxed attitude ;). My vase features the first Dahlia of the season: Jowey Mirella, a most faithful friend which has been coming up for several years even surviving colder spells down to -7°C. I’ve also added some Spirea and Indigofera amblyantha. Thanks to dear Cathy for hosting the vase on a Monday…I wish I could join in more often as it’s such an inspirational meme. Wishing you all a good week and don’t forget to check out the vases of my fellow bloggers over at Cathy’s Rambling in the garden. 🙂  PS: The owl chateau is still available by the way, just in case you know an owl looking for a secluded, spacious home with gorgeous views!

In a Vase on a Monday: Hello spring!

Spring has sprung and the usual frenzy has come along with it! So here comes a vase in a hurry: Blackthorn in a watering can! Don’t forget to visit the charming Cathy who is hosting the meme to check out her vase and those of my inspirational blogger friends. Happy Monday to you all, roll on spring 🙂

 

 

 

In a Vase on a Monday: Beam me up, Scottie!

January and February are the months I hate the most. As I get older, I long for warmth and wish I could spend this time of year in my beloved South Africa. Maybe one day, girls can always dream, I suppose 😉 . So I treated myself to a South African flower: a pink Gerbera. The Gerbera, also known as African daisy,  is a perennial which is native to tropical regions of South Africa, South America and Asia. There are about 45 species and meanwhile thousands of cultivars. The domesticated cultivars are the result of a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and G. viridifolia. Did you know that it’s the 5th most used cut flower in the world? It’s very attractive to bees, birds and butterflies but not to deer which is fabulous when you live in a mild climate as Gerbera doesn’t support temperatures below -5°C. I usually have to think of funerals when I see a Gerbera which is not fair as it’s such a pretty thing. Thanks to dear Cathy for hosting the Vase on a Monday – you can see her vase and those of other bloggers here. Trying to find Scottie now…happy Monday!

Januar und Februar sind die Monate, die ich am meisten verabscheue. Mit den Jahren sehne ich mich zusehends nach Wärme und wünschte, ich könnte diese Zeit in meinem geliebten Südafrika verbringen. Eines Tages vielleicht, ein Mädel darf ja schliesslich träumen 😉 . Zur Aufheiterung habe ich mir eine südafrikanische Blume gegönnt: eine rosafarbene Gerbera. Die Gerbera ist eine staudige Pflanze aus den tropischen Regionen Südafrikas, Südamerikas und Asiens. Es gibt ca. 45 Arten und mittlerweile Tausende von Sorten. Die domestizierten Sorten sind aus einer Kreuzung von Gerbera jamesonii und G. viridifolia entstanden. Wusstet ihr, dass die Gerbera Platz 5 der Schnittblumen belegt? Sie ist sehr beliebt bei Bienen, Vögeln und Schmetterlingen, gar nicht hingegen bei Rehen und Hirschen, was super ist, wenn man in einem milden Klima lebt, denn sie kann nur Temperaturen bis höchstens -5°C ertragen. Meist muss ich bei Gerbera an Beerdigungen denken, was nicht sehr nett ist, wo sie doch so hübsch ist. Danke, liebe Cathy, für die Montagsvase – ihre Vase und die anderer Blogger findet ihr hier. Mache mich nun auf die Suche nach Scottie…happy Monday!

In a Vase on a Monday: Simplicity

January certainly lives up to its bad reputation! Whereas we sat outside until the new year, we’re now huddled up against the stove searching warmth and comfort. Our December window made way for the January window exploring shades of grey and brown. A fallen willow in the woods supplied this week’s vase. Dried and dead bracken leaves adorn a ribbon – fragile, beautiful silhouettes against the grey sky. Icicles catch the light. The vase is a bottle of wine (1952) which we drank with friends after my book launch in September. Thanks to Cathy for hosting the meme – I don’t take part that often but always enjoy it immensely. It’s a great inspiration to see what others come up with, so do check out their vases here. Happy Monday 🙂

The Twelve Months  by George Ellis

Snowy, Flowy, Blowy,

Showery, Flowery, Bowery,

Hoppy, Croppy, Droppy,

Breezy, Sneezy, Freezy.

Montagsvase: Geschöpf der Nacht / In a Vase on a Monday: Creature of the Night

Die heutige Montagsvase habe ich Monsieur zu verdanken, der bei seinen Ausgrabungen, die pompeji-hafte Ausmasse annehmen (dazu später mehr), auf dieses Schätzchen gestossen ist. In der schlichten Vase -von einer befreundeten Töpferin in Paris- kommt es gut zur Geltung. Es handelt sich um den Scharlachroten Kelchbecherling, einen Schlauchpilz, der auf totem, morschem Laubholz wächst. Er ist im Pazifischen Nordwesten, Mitteleuropa und Kalifornien heimisch. In Deutschland kommt er selten vor und gehört zu den gefährdeten Arten (Rote Liste). Merci Monsieur für diesen Fund und euch allen eine gute Woche 🙂

Ich danke Cathy, die die Montagsvase ins Leben gerufen hat – schaut bei ihr rein, was sie und andere Blogger heute in ihre Vasen gezaubert haben!

Today’s Vase on a Monday is the creation of Monsieur who found this little treasure during excavation works which seem to take on pompeji-esque dimensions (I shall tell you more about it later). In this simple vase (made by a potter friend in Paris) it looks just right – no need for further decoration. This is a Scarlet Elfcup, a saprobic fungus, which can be found in Europe and the Pacific Northeast of North America. It grows on dead hardwood among mosses and leaf litter. Merci Monsieur for this find and I wish you all a good week 🙂

Thanks to Cathy for hosting In a Vase on a Monday – go and find out what she and other bloggers have put in their vases today!

Montagsvase / In a Vase on a Monday

Um mich an diesem grauen, nassen Tag ein wenig aufzuheitern, habe ich beschlossen, bei Cathys Montagsvase mitzumachen…und wurde dabei gleich ein wenig poetisch.

To cheer myself up a little on this wet, grey day I’ve decided to join Cathy for her meme In a vase on a monday and promptly got into a rather poetical mood.

Sweet creature of the wood

White scented vest

Floating like a fairy

Whispering of spring.

Schaut bei Cathy rein und lasst euch den Tag versüssen. Vielleicht habt ihr Lust, mitzumachen? Ich wünsche euch eine gute Woche 🙂

Have a look at Cathy’s vase and be inspired. Maybe you want to join in too? I wish you a great week 🙂