In A Vase On Monday - Times Three

Afternoon Everyone,

I haven't been able to join in with Cathy's In A Vase On Monday for a week or two but was determined to do my best today. It's an absolutely gorgeous autumnal day here, sunny with just a nip in the air to let me know that soon winter will be here and the summer flowers will have gone. Indeed, I've started cutting down some now as they are going over and looking less than their best. At the same time I'm saving seeds as they are ripening in readiness for next year.

And it is this knowing that very soon the flowers will wither and die that prompted me to pick more than enough for one vase, in fact, enough for the three you see here.

First choice was the white lilies - variety unknown because they were already established in the garden before we moved in. The lily blooms are teamed with a perennial dahlia Happy Days, cottage pinks Valda Wyatt, lathyrus White Pearl, the everlasting sweet pea, and a deep red antirrhinum, a tall variety I grew from seed this year.

The lily heads are enormous when fully open.

A few readers have asked whether the everlasting sweet pea is perfumed. Sadly, no. However the flowers are so beautiful I wouldn't be without them now.

More snapdragons. Here they are teamed up with Lythrum Robin and some trimmings from the escallonia which is threatening to take over one corner, and divided into the four bottles.

And finally, I raided the annual patch which has been a huge success. So much so, my husband rates it the best part of the garden and so does an amazing variety of bees and insects.

Cornflowers, corn marigolds, poppies, poppy seed heads, oxeye daisies, known as gowans in the part of the world I come from, and zinnias.

Oh, and this mystery white flower which I'm fairly sure is hesperis matronalis, or Dame's Violet. I did sow some seeds last year but nothing seemed to come of them, not even any green shoots to suggest that they had germinated. This plant is growing in the spot where a few seed trays were tipped out after they were done with ... a very unexpected bonus.  

Our home is now full of flowers, and their perfume, and showing no signs that it's autumn outside. And it would seem I'm not the only one enjoying a late show of blooms. Cathy, our host for In A Vase On Monday, is feeling flush this week. Do visit her to find out why.

Till next week, happy gardening,