I couldn’t let Nick’s delphiniums go without a Vase on Monday mention. There are two varieties included in my vase: ‘Blue with White Bee’ (shown above) and ‘King Arthur'(a smaller and daintier flower with an interesting combination of different blues and a small white eye).
They came as a Hayloft Plant collection in 2014 (against my better judgement, following dogged nagging by the Bon Viveur). In fact we had two collections from Hayloft. The postal system managed to thoroughly mess up delivery of the first. They sat around in a holding station for 4 days (while I twiddled my thumbs, waiting endlessly for their arrival).
When they eventually arrived, I managed to salvage about 2 plants (there were supposed to be 30) from the black mud in the container. Hayloft were terrific and sent me another parcel immediately after I phoned them to say what had happened.
The plug plants were potted up in 2014, then planted out in March 2015. We were pleased with them last year (see my previous Vase on Monday when they first flowered). But I didn’t expect them to make it through this winter on our heavy clay. They did, suffered very little slug damage, were duly fed and supported.
And now we can enjoy the results.
The only thing that worries me is that the BV claims these are just ‘a start’ … we already have about 23 of these beautiful but demanding beasties. Do we really need more?
I used them today with yellow Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus (a gift from a good friend) just coming into flower in front of the delphiniums. Frances from Island Threads identified the species (correctly, I believe) when I showed a picture of it on my blog last year. It has a light scent, quite delightful. Thanks Frances!
Caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris) …
… and the buds of Thalictrum speciocissimum added a kind of foliage effect.
Then I dotted in some wild grasses at the end.
I treated the caper spurge (which produces that milky, poisonous sap typical of all euphorbias) by dipping the cut ends in the hope it would seal them and stop contamination of the water for the other vase subjects. (It seemed like a good idea – I’ve no idea if it will be effective!) The single stem of spurge was quite useful when put into the vase first, its branching flower head supporting the other flowers when added.
After removing the lower buds of the delphiniums, there were enough bits and pieces left over to make a baby version for the kitchen table.
Now have a look at the Cathy’s vase on her blog Rambling in the Garden and click on the links to see what end of May delights everyone else has to offer this week.
Garden Dreaming at Châtillon 
I’ve been thinking about treating m
Oops, let’s start again! I’ve been thinking about treating myself to some Delphiniums for the cut flower bed, they wouldn’t grow anywhere else. Your vase is lovely, but I think you are right you have enough of these demanding beauties.
I think you might guess that I looove that color.
I have John!
I love delphiniums too but I wish mine grew better….and how awful you lost so many in the shipment…happens here too when the post office leaves them sitting….but good company to rush more to you! Fabulous vases!
They really are such a thoughtful company. And now that they are flowering I appreciate all the drama that went into their arrival!
Yes, the delphiniums are lovely – I think my Camelot is the only one from my Hayloft collection that made it and I suspect slugs are a little too fond of the young plants. Your hemerocallis has such long stems (or is it an illusion?) and looks perfect with the delphiniums, and I am intrigued by the thalictrum – do these flowers change colour or do they stay green? They look most attractive. Thanks for sharing ps I have just been looking at your map – I love to see a map of a garden so thanks for posting that
That’s funny Cathy – we should do a swop! Camelot didn’t survive at all here – and I think there was another (Black Knight???) that didn’t survive either. I was disappointed. The hemerocallis does have very long stems – the flowers are daintier than cultivars of day lily as you’d expect from a species. The flowers of the thalictrum are a soft yellow colour (and, typically) lovely and fluffy. Glad you found the map useful!
Thanks, Cath. The delphiniums are so beautiful and the colour spectacular. Thanks also to Nick as well for persisting. Mum
Yes – Nick is sometimes right!
Delphiniums occupy a prominent place in my dream garden, a garden which is sadly impossible in my hot, dry climate. I love the deep color of yours and they’re nicely accented with that pretty yellow Hemerocallis. Nicely done!
Oh but Kris – I would love to be able to grow so many of the gorgeous plants you have in your garden, but can’t either! One of the nice things about blogging – we can enjoy them virtually!
a beautiful and well balanced arrangement, Cathy, yellow and blue is always great – can’t grow delphinium here as they would hate the heat and drought in summer
I thought they would hate our dry, hot summers. They do fine down below the terraces – I could never have succeeded up here.
Gorgeous delphiniums! They look great with the contrasting yellow daylily.
I adore blue & yellow together!
I’ve often fantasized about having a blue, white and yellow kitchen – someday perhaps!
I used to have one of them in London, many years ago. I still remember how much I loved it!
It is such a pleasing combination to the eye and soul. How fortunate you had one once!
Oh, the beautiful color of your delphiniums has me swooning. Lovely arrangement—adding the buds of Thalictrum speciocissimum was inspired.
They are lovely aren’t they. What a kind comment Susie!
Love those Delphiniums! Such romantic plants. I can’t grow them as the snails like them too, so they look like pure luxury to me in a vase! 🙂
They feel like pure luxury in the garden too!
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