Category: Photography

Cactus dahlia flowers

In a Vase on Monday – Dahlias

On By CathIn Flowers, Photography12 Comments

I’ve been madly busy with work and fruit and vegetables and weeds so it’s actually Tuesday, Waitangi Day here in New Zealand. This lovely coral pink dahlia showed up a week ago and I haven’t been able to find out what it is. I think I bought it a couple years ago and planted it in a place which was too shady, and then moved it last year. It’s obviously happy in full sun and new soil.
Dahlia flower and fruit
Akita when it’s like this is the Dahlia I wanted – half open I like it – I don’t like it so much when it gets full open and huge. The plums are Louisa and Satsuma, which I am drying for winter snacks.
dahlia flowers Akita
Early Spring flowers are starting to show up in the Northern Hemisphere vases, which coincides with shortening days here and thoughts of bulb planting. Check them out at Rambling in the Garden.

In a Vase on Monday – Dark Purple

On By CathIn Flowers, Photography15 Comments

This purple hydrangea left from last week’s vase seems to have gotten even darker. It’s a wonderful hydrangea which stays purple even in our acid soil – all of our other hydrangeas go BlueBlueBlue as soon as they get their roots down. This one has dark leaves as well – I think it could be called Brunette but that’s a guess as it came to me as a cutting from C’s Aunt.
vase of flowers Hydrangea rose and jasmine

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Dark Purple Hydrangea

Welcome Flowers in a Vase on Monday

On By CathIn Flowers, Photography, Weather and Seasons25 Comments

Within hours my Mom will be here from the cold and snow of Canada, and I’ve picked some Dahlias, Thalictrum, and Hydrangeas for her. The Dahlias haven’t done all that well so far this year – the early hot dry spell followed by rainy weather at Christmas has left them a little tattered, but there is plenty of time left for better blooms.

vase of dark red dahlias and purple hydrangeas
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flowers against landscape

Crazy Pink Gladioli In a Vase on Monday

On By CathIn Flowers, Photography, Soil24 Comments

I’m really not sure why I grow ‘Glads’, as my Grandpa used to call them. I selected the subtlest of the available colours – 2 different softish pinks, and planted them around orange trees in a raised bed on the sunny side of the water tank. They have gone wild, shooting up in all directions, more every year, covering up the young orange trees and the runner beans behind them. I’m sure it’s the mixture of 3 manures (llama, chicken, and sheep) that made them go so mad – they are relatively normal where I’ve transplanted some to the other side of the water tank.

gladiola in garden with mountain papaya

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In a Kettle on Monday

On By CathIn Bees, Flowers, Photography26 Comments

The kettle belonged to C’s parents, originally used for boiling water on a wood stove, but stored in a cupboard over the last few years. When C found it, the lid fell off and almost broke his toe – it takes 2 hands to carry it when full of water. I’m looking forward to having it boiling ready for a cup of tea on the wood cook stove next winter.

flowers in old cast iron kettle

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cut flowers dutch iris and narcissus

In a Vase on Monday – a sad week

On By CathIn Bees, Flowers, Photography, Spring Bulbs22 Comments

C’s Dad passed away this week, having fought cancer bravely and gained a hard won year. For him, the end was a blessing I think as he was in a lot of pain yet struggled with the effect of the painkillers on his ability to communicate.
I know this doesn’t really belong in this meme – however growing and gathering and photographing flowers is my main creative expression at the moment so… all things come into it.
cut flowers iris and kniphofia and honeywort
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