Sunday 29 July 2012

Summer

When I was little, my dad always used to plant lots of Mesembryanthemum's in out garden for summer. As gardening fashions changed, these jewels seemed to go out of favour, but when I saw some for sale at the garden centre earlier on, I thought I would plant some - for nostalgic reasons.

 This week in the UK, we have had our long awaited Summer weather, and these gorgeous bright plants have sparkled in my garden.  I shall plant lots more next year.
 We have been determined to make the most of the summer evenings and have walked to the local pub garden for our tea after work.

 Afterwards, we wandered down the quiet lanes,
 through the fields - noting that the "Sunflower" crop seems to have failed!


 The pretty sandstone cottages in Wentworth displayed huge blooms - such lovely colours.
 The weather is predicting that the hot weather is coming to an end, so I'm glad we made the most of every minute of it.

15 comments:

A garden just outside Venice said...

Love your old fashioned flowers!
I cannot wait for the end of Summer..seriously, really fed up of this unbearable heat :)
xxxxx

menopausalmusing said...

This post made me smile and brought a memory of my dad and daughter (7) coming back from a walk, she had pointed and said "Look grandad, Mesembryanthemums!" and he had been so taken with her knowing the name. I have planted other old fashioned flowers this year, straw flowers and Statice, real throwbacks to the 70s! An awful lot of things just not coming to fruition this year in terms of plants and fruit. However, I had also commented that Hydrangeas seem to be really coping.

Miss Holly said...

Such a glorious place you live...I adore the little walks you take us on...I have only been to England once and I did part of the coast to coast walk..it was one of the most wonderful trips of my life!! Hope to be back someday!!!

Miss Holly said...

Oh and I have been a gardener for years and don't know this plant...must find out about it...what heavenly colors!

Anonymous said...

Isn't it a marvellous name for a small flower? They are so colourful, too.

A beautiful walk with charming views, thank you.

Diane said...

Beautiful flowers. The sunflowers here are all out but much smaller than usual. Have a great week, t'other Diane

Rosie said...

Lovely! I remember those flowers too - do they close up at night time and open up again in the sunshine? All the houses on our little estate used to have some in their front gardens. I haven't seen them for ages Shame about the sunflowers I love to see fields of them. Glad you are enjoying the sunny weather:)

Deborah said...

Gorgeous flowers, you do find the loveliest places to visit :) hope you have a happy week sweetie

Bee happy x

Sue Hayton said...

Lovely flowers from my childhood - grew them from seed a few years back.

My grandmother always called then lvingstone daisies!

Elizabethd said...

It's a lovely old fashioned plant. My Grandfather always put them in and we loved to see the colours.

Unknown said...

What vibrant colours! I don't think I've heard of those flowers - though they remind me of Gazanias.
I'm loving the look of your 'Local' - you live in a beautiful place, Diane. x

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Love mesembryanthemums, especially the mixed colours in your first photo Diane. My Dad planted some in the wall that divided our garden from the next door neighbours, many years ago. They were lovely and only open when the sun shines of course. Lesley x

Mister D said...

lovely photos and commentary - really enjoyable Diane.

HippieGirl said...

Those photos are very lovely. I love those flowers, very beautiful.

Lucille said...

My dad pasted botanical illustrations to the inside of the loo door. That's where I learnt to read mesembryanthemum criniflorum. You brought that memory back.