Roses for Mother's Day

 Mother's Day is celebrated in March in the UK, it falls half way through Lent & was a time when people made their way back to their 'Mother church'. 

 Spring flowers were often picked as a gift for their mum which is why they are still a feature of the day here. 

Some previous Mother's day posts I shared - Mother's day  Mother's day breakfast, , Mother's day breakfast 2013, For all the Mothers. 

Mothering Sunday is an important day in the UK - read last years post for the history of it. 

Having been gifted some gorgeous roses for Mother's day, I decided to change the sideboard to complement the flowers. 

My Old Country Roses (or named 'Celebration' when we bought it in South Africa) by Royal Albert are the perfect match. 

I love their delicate nature & they are handwash only because of their gold gilding but they come out several times a year to be used & enjoyed. 

I am a 'Motherless daughter' but remember both my Mother & my Mother in law Olive on this day.

Olive featured in most of my adult life - a very accomplished person who could turn her hand to most things - knitting, sewing, cooking, baking, making chutney, fabulous roast dinners, a great knowledge of the countryside & its plants, enthusiastic gardener etc 

I accompanied her to her Land Army lunch which recognised the contribution of women during the war when they kept things going. 

She was widowed for a decade & I spent a lot of time with her to help her through this transition & as she became frail, I was there for her to her last breath.

My Mother was a strong woman who faced the challenges of life with strength, determination & resilience.

To us she was fearless, fierce, fiery & formidable. 

If she was afraid in situations, it did not show because we felt sure she could face down any threat or danger that we faced.

In rural Africa, this strength of character is what was needed because of the many challenges that came our way. 

She was never a subservient person, always equal to my Dad, her lifelong partner & this influenced my own attitude throughout life - to have the confidence to face any challenge with fortitude & dignity.  We are not weak woman who are afraid to stand up for what is right. 

I am grateful for good genes from my maternal line - mitochondria I am proud to have. 

The prayers of my Mother, grandmother, & great grandmothers line still protecting me through life. 

My grandmother was there when I took my first breath, and I was with her when she took her last. 

We were very close thanks to my parents who encouraged this relationship.  She was my partner in adventures & I'm privileged to share her genes. 

On this Mothering Sunday, be thankful if you still have your Mother with you. We envy you ... 

Thank  you for stopping by, it is greatly appreciated. 

Dee 🌹💐

The unexpected red theory in the garden ...

 School's out for summer & I am enjoying catching up with friends, family & things I enjoy doing. I have had time to neaten up the garden & add some additional colour.  The sweet peas with the lovely colour & scent have been particularly good because of all our rain this summer. These were grown from seed & the white ones are everlasting. 

There is a well known decorating theory about the unexpected pop of RED in a room where it doesn't match, it improves the scheme. 

I read about this in January in the Garden & Home & was interested because it is not a colour I use too often in my home (though I did have a red wall at one time). 

It explained it as this: 

As creator Taylor Simon of @intayriors, a Brooklyn-based interior designer known for her eclectic style, explains, the unexpected red theory is basically adding anything that's red, big or small, to a room where it seemingly doesn't match. It's like a color pop but less contrived. 

According to Taylor, once that red piece has been added to your room, it automatically looks better. It can be as simple as a red lamp or soft furnishing, scarlet a painted window trim or doorframe, or a completely random brick red cupboard that stands boldly in your otherwise neutral kitchen. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sold.

It does not matter about the shape or the size of the red element, it is the unexpected element that brings surprise, fun, drama to a neutral scheme. 

While out picking up some plants today at a local nursery, I was struck by the crocosmia Lucifer with its tall arched stems & vivid red flowers. They are like a punctuation mark - you cannot ignore them. 

Alongside them in the display was some more delicate Mrs. Bradshaw Geum - a deep red poppy type flower whose shape contrasted well with the Lucifer. 

I only have some bright red salvia's  (hot lips) in the garden & they certainly are a pop of colour. I potted up the two new reds together at the bottom of the garden. The pot is against the cream shed & next to white Japanese anemone's & a purple clematis. 

When viewed from the house, the reds are very dramatic so I am pleased I went with such a bold pop of colour amidst the mainly pinks / purples  / greens / creams of the garden. 

Have you experimented with an unexpected red? Tell all ... 

Thank you for stopping by, subscribing please, & sharing this, 

Dee 🪴🏡👩‍🌾

Spring garden flowers at home

 After a dull winter, I am always impatient for some bright Spring colour. 

I have several pots of bulbs, planted over years, & the first signs are so welcome. However, our resident squirrels love to chomp on bulbs so they have to be covered & the planters tucked under the hedges to protect the contents. 

I am rewarded with pots of bright colour now against our very green garden.

Today I picked a vase for the house of heady scented hyacinths, little blue grape hyacinth, red tulips & some daffodils. How gorgeous they look on the conservatory sideboard. 

I hope your April is as colourful as this.thank you for stopping by, 

Dee 💐