British Flowers Week - Something for now, something for later

Part of our flower garden is only created a little bit more than a year ago when we took down a dilapidated garage. Quite a few of the perennial plants that we put in are still relatively small, but some need a bit of reminding of what their designated space is and some annuals have taken over far more of their allocated space by self-sowing after I put them in last year. 

So I tried to tidy up a bit and ended up with this small posy, consisting of some papaver somniferum (self-sown and no doubt a result of a cross of some sort), rosemary and Darcy Bussell roses (a David Austin rose).

Darcey Bussell is one of my favourite roses. It has a fruity fragrance that isn't sweet or heavy, but just very nice. The roses form a perfect rosette, but not identical so each one is slightly different which I think adds to its character. I've never picked one yet for a vase, so we'll see how long it will last, and that goes of course also for the poppies. 

The main task that I had set myself for today was to pick flowers for drying. If you try to eat local and seasonal then you put locally grown sprouts on the table in January instead of flown-in courgettes. This is what British Flowers Week is all about, and since I try to grow my own, I pick my own flowers now for that cold day in January or December. 

I am sure that I'll be able to make something really nice this winter with these papaver somniferum and Love-in-a-mist seedheads, lavender stalks and rose buds. I've hung them all upside down in our cupboard under the stairs, waiting for colder days. 

You can find out more about British Flowers Week here: http://www.newcoventgardenmarket.com/britishflowersweek