I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY...

...that I’m “a plonker”- and by that I mean I am not in the league of the late Constance Spry, who was a famous English floral designer - but I just tend to “plonk” flowers into a vase without trying to arrange them. 

Constance Spry OBE was born Constance Fletcher on 5th December 1886 in Derby and died on 3rd January 1960 in Winkfield, Berkshire.  She was, according to Mr. Google, a British educator, florist and author.

You can read more about her here, if you're interested - whilst reading, I saw that she arranged the wedding flowers for both our late Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, and she was appointed an OBE in the 1953 Coronation Honours.

However, I don’t think my flower arranging skills - or lack thereof - will win me any honours, although I did win a National Competition in London, for Scripture Recitation when I was about 16 and a Girl Covenanter in the very Church we attend now - see extra shot - proof that we all have different talents!

So, enough about Constance Spry, what about Mrs. HCB.  I love our garden, as many of you know, but since my back surgery in August 2023, haven’t been able to do as much out there, but thankfully, Mr. HCB keeps it all going and for that I am very grateful.

I felt last night that in the cool of the evening, I wanted to go out and dead-head a few of the roses, which of course, led to other things, so I also tidied up our large border, dead-heading various other plants that were looking a bit bedraggled.  The sad thing, as I wandered around, was that so many of our plants are looking the same because of the lack of rain - and although Mr. HCB does excellent work in the early mornings watering them with water from the three butts in the garden, there just isn’t enough to keep them all going.  Of course, the vegetables take precedence, so the beans, courgettes, tomatoes and peppers come before any of the flowers.

As I was pruning the beautiful Rose Compassion, a gift from dear friends on the occasion of our baptism on 18th March 2001, I saw three little buds that by their very look, were asking to be brought indoors, so I snipped them off.  There was also a beautiful bloom that was almost past its best, but I thought it would look good in with the three buds, so in that came too.

Although I took some shots after midnight - yes, I was still up - I preferred the arrangement this morning with all the buds open so took several more shots.  The perfume is wonderful and I can now look at them on my kitchen windowsill and think not only of our baptism, but also of our dear friends - such a joy!

I have been out to a new group this morning with six other ladies from our Church - and it was great.  We read a couple of chapters from the book of John in the Bible and then chatted, quite informally about what we had read, guided by some questions prepared by Louise.  It was a really good time - with coffee and pastries before we started - and I think will become a regular group after the school holidays.

Hope you all have a great weekend.  M xx