Lindy Low LeCoq

When I saw this Vinca major ‘MoJo,’ with its light-centered large leaves, I decided to tuck some in around the gardens. Today I found this one little periwinkle bloom, and had to make it the star of today’s posy!

Abelia grandiflora ‘ Kaleidascope’ adds some height and lightness. After two years in a sunny corner, this shrub is thriving and brings year-round interest to the garden .

The shrub featuring dark purple berries is nameless today. It is evergreen, grows to about 12 ft. tall, with dense stems and the berries on their own stem. I remember adding it twenty years or more ago, but can’t find the name in my notebooks, nor have I found it searching on-line. If anyone has an idea what it is, please leave me a comment!

Today’s vase is perhaps the first one I ever bought for myself.  It was hand-thrown by a student at Washington State University. It is signed ‘STACH’ on the bottom, but there is no year mark.  I found it at a student sale when I was an undergraduate there — sometime between 1970-72.

Once again, thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden  for getting me outside to look at what’s happening around my grounds on a freezing cold day!  A few brave Primula are offering pretty little flowers, and one of many Hellebores is beginning to present blossoms.

~ Happy Gardening in 2017 ~

I love adding perennial herbs to my shrub and border gardens. Not only do they add their heady fragrance, they also provide unusual color and texture to the gardens, and most are evergreen in this region.

Here are some favorites served-up in a tin and presented in front of a Christmas themed display on my buffet.

Along with the common and official names I’m providing symbolic meanings for each from the “Language of Flowers”. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalisis) symbol for love, remembrance and good luck, is budding and has a couple open blossoms on the stems. Sage (Salvia officinalis) represents long life, esteem and health, and makes a nice tea to settle the stomach. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) signifies activity and provides some small-leaved texture to the arrangement, while lavender (Lavandula), looking like it’s covered in frost, offers serenity, grace and calmness.

Cheers to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for a reason to wander my mostly drab and damp gardens on this cloudy Boxing Day!