Autumn bouquet

My monthly bouquet arrived today. It is a beautiful autumn bouquet containing the most beautiful big chrysanthemums, alstromeria and gypsophilia. I am going to try and grow some chrysanthemums like this up the allotment i am so impressed by them. See what you think. I also learnt something new that gypsophilia is also called "baby's breath"...how sweet is that.

Cuttings

I brought a lovely Dahlia today which was half price in a sale, a beautiful tall red dahlia which will be fab for cut flowers. I have managed to take 6 cuttings off of it, so fingers crossed. I took 3 cuttings recently off my Amanda Dahlia which is a beautiful pink flower which unfortunately did not flower in its first year and they have all taken. I just took off the main stem and took off the bottom leaves...hey presto. Have also taken some rose cuttings just bedded some stem into the ground, apparently its hit and miss but see what happens next year.

Have also tried two hydranga cuttings. I did try some lavendar cuttings and out of the five two have survived.

Hopefully will put all of these on the allotment for next year and cut flowers.

I WON!

Well what a surprise, I came first and second...totally shocked by the winning display as i thought it wasn't that good....just goes to show. I am so excited as I have self taught myself mainly reading from books. My friend Gill has given me a few tips and I went to my first flower club class this Wednesday at the Kettering and District Flower Club and watched a flower arranging demo. My grandmother, my dad's mum loved flower arranging and her garden and this first winning entry is dedicated to her memory. I always remember taking tea with her and when she sat in her armchair she had a mahogany stand behind her which she always had an arrangement on. It was lovely, I took my friend Sue up to the show to see the entries and that's when I first learnt i had won....we had a nice drink and cake to celebrate. Then my friends Claire and Jenny popped in to see the flowers which was lovely. I am taking mum and dad up there tomorrow for the presentation, its such a shame Michael has to work all weekend and cannot be there, but never mind. Anyway here are the entries with their winning cards on. So, so excited.

My first flower arranging competition

Here are my entries into the Wellingborough & Distric Horticultural Society Flower & Produce Show which is being held this year Sat 5th and Sun 6th September at Bosworths Garden Centre, Burton Latimer. I started at 6.30 yesterday evening and gave up about 8.00 as we had no lighting....not useful when you are trying to place flowers in dark oasis. Anyway back at 7.45 this morning with a bad back to finish off. Going back later for the results. Am entering two designs "A day at the Seaside" and "Look in the attic - a display with a blowtorch" into the Novice Category. Am against a man on the committee who has done a pretty good foliage design. Anyway here are some piccys.....wish me luck!