I should have taken my photos in daylight. But a last minute walk around the fields won instead. We were just in time to see a buzzard swoop from the bottom field oaks across to the lane. By the time we’d walked around the margins of the field, the buzzard was on the move again. It flew overhead. We could see it was a young bird, one of last summer’s fledglings. Three quarters of young buzzards die before they mature at three years old. We are lucky to have them here. Every day we look for them. Often we hear their mewing cry before we see them. The sound carries into the potting shed where I’m working.
On the potting shed table today, I’ve a few stems of alstroemeria and some paper white narcissi. I’m growing alstroemeria in the unheated poly tunnel, protected under two layers of fleece. There’s a few stems with buds which I hope will open.
I spend a few minutes separating the layers from the honesty seed heads. A bit of silver is more than welcome in the winter gloom.
There’s a few sprigs of chrysanthemum White Stallion, and a halo of dried gypsophillia saved from the summer.
Emerging from the potting shed with my posy of flowers, there’s just enough light to follow the garden path home.
I’m joining with Cathy for this week’s IAVOM. Why not go over and see what everyone else is growing and cutting for their vase of flowers this week.
In a Vase on Monday https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/category/gardens/in-a-vase-on-monday/
Here’s this week’s links to find out more. RSPB on buzzards: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/buzzard/breeding-nesting-habits/
RHS growing Paperwhites : https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/48820/Narcissus-papyraceus-(13)/Details
Alstroemeria from http://www.postalplants.co.uk/
RHS advice on Honesty https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/98034/Lunaria-annua/Details
Bramble Garden 
Lovely photos and words – and you’ve inspired me to sow some honesty this year.
I know what you mean about the buzzards. We have buzzards and red kites sharing space at our allotments (along with green woodpeckers and a kestrel) and I’m sure we’d get much more work done if we didn’t stop so much to admire them all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. We sometimes see a red kite over the plant nursery I visit, which is just down the road from here. They put on such amazing aerial displays. thanks for reading.
LikeLike
So beautifully put together, and the planning that goes into providing materials for the winter must be spot on as you always manage to find something from your polytunnel or potting shed
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Cathy. I only have a few stems here and there. But put with the right foliage, and in the right vase, it makes more of it, if you know what I mean. My course at common farm flowers was all about covering the seasons and having regular amounts of something to pick each week. All the Paperwhites are staggered, as are the hyacinths in the greenhouse. I’m always thinking what next.
LikeLike
I have done a little bit of staggering with mine too although not, and I don’t know why, with the hyacinths
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to write it down on the calendar to remind me to do it. Or I would have forgotten ( like last year). Your card and voucher arrived today. Yay. Many thanks xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are inspiring me with your Alstroemerias, the plants I received last September are growing well in pots in the greenhouse ready to be planted out in spring. I might try dividing them to keep some in pots for hopefully some winter flowers. Your whole arrangement is lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Christina. It’s turned really cold now, so the plants are under two layers of fleece. There are lots of buds. It will be interesting to see if they open for me. Fingers crossed! Thanks for your kind words. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
A gorgeous collection Karen. You were very blessed to see a buzzard. Happy New Year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. There are two adults and two young buzzards. We look anxiously each day for them. Their nest is in Polly’s Wood, the trees we can see from the summerhouse. In summer they soar so high the are tiny dots amongst the clouds. Truly an amazing sight. Thanks for reading. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely post and pictures. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mike 😊 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
That walk sounds a perfect end to round up a day before darkness fell Karen. Your photos have really captured the sheen and light emanating from those honesty seed heads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I shouldn’t have been surprised how quickly darkness fell, but we lingered longer than usual watching the buzzard and by the time we got home, it was lights on in the potting shed. I think the lights caught the honesty seeds, but washed out the pinks in the alstroemeria. Such is life. If I was really organised I would have pre written and timed posts. As it is, it’s always me rushing in from the garden with a few photos I’ve just taken. thanks for your kind words. x
LikeLike
Honesty is getting scarce where I work. Someone who worked there years ago collected seed from the original plants, and in autumn, tossed a few out in random spots where he thought they would grow. Eventually, they seemed to have naturalized. However, now that he is not here to disperse the seed, they are less common every year. I should have collected and dispersed them last year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They grow all along the hedge bottoms here and seem to just grow on their own. I do love their purple blue flowers and their silver coin seeds cheering up winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They look like they naturalized here too, but only because their seed was tossed out. They continued for a few years, but there is less of them each year. I really should start collecting the seed and dispersing it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a lovely composition, Karen. I tried growing Lunaria with plants shipped to me from Northern California but sadly they didn’t hold up long under our hot, dry conditions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading Kris. That’s a shame. Thanks for your kind words.
LikeLike
You are magical. How anyone can create a flower arrangement in the dead of winter is amazing to me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Anne. Timing is everything. Plus a bit of fleece in the polytunnel. I don’t have masses of flowers, but what I have I use carefully and appreciate them. In winter, I have a few stems to pick each day. Thank you for your kind words xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a pretty combo in your vase and a glorious evening for your walk home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rickii. I should have added, I was wearing three jumpers and two pairs of socks. Blooming freezing here, but lovely anyway. Thanks for reading xx
LikeLike
I love the honesty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. Lasts right through the winter. Adds light to everything.
LikeLiked by 1 person