Sunday, 11 September 2011

Old Fashioned Blooms

Annabelle_hydrangea
I love flowers in the house and especially on the table as a centrepiece.  Beautiful blousy romantic blooms that draw you eyes across the silver and glass of a table with promises of deliciousness to come.  I watched Nigella tumbled petals and flower heads into saucers with floating candles on a re run of one of her programs just a few weeks ago and as she said every domestic goddess knows fresh flowers are fabulous at setting the scene. That said, after I’ve spent most of my budget on the food I haven’t always got allot left over for splashing out on the sort of flowers I want to have adorning my table, so I am getting prepped for next year in the garden by planting the sort of flowers that will make my garden look gorgeous and that I can dreamily walk out into and cut armfuls of blooms dropped into vases just before my guests arrive.

I decided on a really old-fashioned green and white variety called Annabelle from Thompson Morgan.  I just love the romance and thorough British pedigree of them and they are over 150 years old.  I’ve been buying their vegetable seeds for years from them and yet I just hadn’t realised how many other fabulous plants they supply until I had a really good look at their website. Delighted to say that they deliver superb plants quickly and fairly priced (I checked out the prices at 3 other garden centres local to me and they are very competitively priced.)

Each week I do the Kitchen Garden show on BBC Radio Northampton with Kevin Sadingnton and this week Johnny came with the crew to my garden to help me get going.  With three gardens which need some serious TLC we started with Johnny testing the soil  ..  and it has a Ph of 7 .. which I am told is great. So here is Johnny’s expert advice on Hydrangea’s for you to listen to in case you feel like economising on flowers and beautifying your garden too.
If you'd like to win three of these hydrangea plants you can enter the competition by sharing your favourite flowers to use as a table centre piece in the comment box below.

Thompson Morgan Hydrangeas (mp3)

RULES
This giveaway is open to all readers over 18 with a UK mainland address. The winner will be chosen using an online randomiser and announced on this page on Tuesday 20th of September. You need to leave your e-mail address in order to comment, I am the only person that can see it. Please do not include your email in the actual comment as well.
This competition on behalf of Thompson and Morgan and they will be responsible for sending the prize to the winner. Their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

There is one main way to enter  .. just leave a comment below. There are 3 more chanced to win .. . and you must leave a separate comment for each bonus entry otherwise they will not be counted. For a chance to win please comment and tell me what  your favourite flowers are to put on the table.  For a second chance to win please tweet this post using the button below and you MUST comment with your twitter ID telling me you have done so.For a third chance to win please follow me @VanessaKimbell on Twitter and comment below to tell me you have done so.For a fourth chance to win please like my facebook page and comment below to tell me you have done so.Each Comment counts and an entrance and you can have a maximum of 4 entries to win this plant.
Closing date: Tuesday 2pm 20th of September


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Posted by Unknown at 01:34
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77 comments:

  1. goodthings11 September 2011 at 09:33

    Blooming lovely!

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  2. English Mum11 September 2011 at 09:35

    I absolutely adore peonies... a huge blowsy mound of them on the table - gorgeous!

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  3. angela11 September 2011 at 09:39

    A big gorgeous bunch of sunflowers, they always make you feel like summer

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  4. Hazel11 September 2011 at 09:56

    Not flowers exactly but I'm a big fan of using fresh herbs. Take a large hurricane vase and fill with flat leaf and curly parsley, mints, rosemary, lavender, whatever you have. You can use and top up as you go!

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  5. Choclette11 September 2011 at 10:32

    Please don't include me in the giveaway as I have no room to put hydrangeas. But just wanted to say, seeing local flowers and greenery on the table always makes me feel so much better about the place I'm visiting than seeing imported flowers with many air miles to their name. This year, I've found that dill flowers make excellent cut flowers and they last for ages.

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  6. Karen S Booth11 September 2011 at 12:26

    I LOVE hydrangeas and love their old cottage garden feel......I harvest the flowers when they are dry and then use them as décor around the house over winter.
    I use flowers a lot in my cooking, especially marigolds, roses, violets and nasturtiums.
    Great post!
    Karen

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  7. Karen S Booth11 September 2011 at 12:28

    I tweeted this post!

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  8. Unknown11 September 2011 at 23:10

    I have to admit I'd love to win these myself .. am I allowed to take part in my own Giveaway ?? only kidding !!

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  9. Jennifer11 September 2011 at 23:45

    I love roses on the centre of the table - pink for preference, especially when it's one of my daughters' birthdays. I have to say that white roses are always great too as they blend in with whatever colour scheme the table is set with.

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  10. Ellie Bromilow12 September 2011 at 10:56

    I love roses with heather, I know its an odd combination but the colours just work really well - I cut them from my own garden. Ive even been known to cut the flowers from the elephant garlic too! I think you can appreicate them when they are close to you on the table! Im a fan of your facebook page but i dont use twitter (eeek hope this doesnt ruin my chances of winning the fab prize)! Unlike Madonna I think Hydrangers are lovely x

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  11. Romana Richards12 September 2011 at 10:57

    I always have sweet peas on my tables. They grow like mad here. I water them frequently, feed regularly and cut often and more obligingly appear. They smell gorgeous and always attract comments.

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  12. Somersetboy12 September 2011 at 10:57

    Roses, we have so many old varieties that smell stunning in the garden we use them, have also tweeted as @russellhide

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  13. Romana Richards12 September 2011 at 11:00

    Have twittered as @ZoshJosh

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  14. Somersetboy12 September 2011 at 11:00

    Roses, we have so many old varieties that smell stunning in the garden we use them, have also tweeted as @russellhide also following on twitter

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  15. Romana Richards12 September 2011 at 11:02

    following you on twitter (@ZoshJosh)

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  16. sjt5712 September 2011 at 16:02

    Depending on the season I love anything fragent like sweet william, sweet peas, roses or showy like peonies and lilies .

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  17. Susan12 September 2011 at 23:29

    I love either anything that looks natural (hydrangeas) or anything picked or cut from the garden (roses) but mine is a bit limited bloom wise. Am trying to improve it gradually.

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  18. Susan12 September 2011 at 23:29

    Tweeted as @TwitTottee

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  19. trainsniffer14 September 2011 at 06:15

    My favourite table blooms are plain old daffodils in the spring

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  20. trainsniffer14 September 2011 at 06:17

    tweeted the post as @trainsniffer

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  21. trainsniffer14 September 2011 at 06:18

    Following on Twitter as @trainsniffer

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  22. tabbaz14 September 2011 at 09:45

    Well to be truthful I dont often have flowers on my table, rather a big bowl of fruit BUT I do love a vase os sweet peas on the ledge above my washing up bowl - I spend so much time at the kitchen sink it brightens things up!!

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  23. beans14 September 2011 at 11:21

    i love hydrangers
    i have 3 different types in my garden. i think they add a touch of class and elegance with there blooming heads, that change colour as conditions change, they also look fab in the house

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  24. mrslittleboot15 September 2011 at 09:31

    I love using sweetpeas and violas and other old fashioned smaller flowers. We don't have a massive table and want a nice posyvase that doesn't take up too much space.

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  25. mrslittleboot15 September 2011 at 09:44

    tweeted this post as @mrslittleboot

    ReplyDelete
  26. mrslittleboot15 September 2011 at 09:46

    following on twitter as @mrslittleboot

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  27. deesitt15 September 2011 at 11:23

    I love pinks, love the colours and scents

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  28. Anonymous15 September 2011 at 11:24

    I love Lily's, they are so beautiful and simple. It's is also the name of my daughter too. My e-mail is k.mayhead@btinternet.com

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  29. Anonymous15 September 2011 at 11:53

    HYDRANGEAS,are one many, lovely flowers, we are both grand parents, withe usual aches but two years ago we got this bungalow, in the middle of nowhere, and restoring the garden and lawns, for our grandchildren, to learn about nature

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  30. Anonymous15 September 2011 at 11:53

    @oldwalshy
    liked on f/b

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  31. Anonymous15 September 2011 at 11:54

    @oldwalshy

    been on twitter, and shared

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  32. Tibby15 September 2011 at 13:37

    Gerberas are lovely

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  33. silviam15 September 2011 at 20:01

    I don't have a particular favourite but I love white flowers.. any type!

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  34. Isis1981uk16 September 2011 at 14:11

    I like white roses on fancy occasions as they remind me of our wedding.

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  35. Thiswasme16 September 2011 at 15:42

    I love old English roses - they are so romantic with their crush of petals and their fragrance is divine.

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  36. Anonymous17 September 2011 at 12:49

    I love lilies because they smell wonderful

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  37. emily1317 September 2011 at 18:35

    roses as there's usually some in bloom

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  38. HayleyT17 September 2011 at 19:42

    I love sweet peas, they look beautiful and make the room smell gorgeous too

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  39. Jo Y17 September 2011 at 21:16

    I adore Aliums and think they look fabulous in a tall vase!

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  40. Jo Y17 September 2011 at 21:18

    I have tweeted @BoostieBoo

    ReplyDelete
  41. Jo Y17 September 2011 at 21:19

    I'm following you on Twitter @BoostieBoo

    ReplyDelete
  42. Jo Y17 September 2011 at 21:22

    I like you on Facebook - JoJo Young :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. Susan17 September 2011 at 23:59

    I follow you on Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  44. Susan18 September 2011 at 00:00

    I follow you on facebook too.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Anonymous18 September 2011 at 11:15

    My favourite flowers to use as a table centre piece is a bunch of Roses as you can choose from a superb selection for floral perfection .... martinball@gmx.com

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  46. Maya Russell18 September 2011 at 12:04

    I like daffodils.
    @maisietoo

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  47. Maya Russell18 September 2011 at 12:08

    I'm following on Twitter and have tweeted.
    @maisietoo

    ReplyDelete
  48. Maya Russell18 September 2011 at 12:09

    Follow on twitter.
    @maisietoo

    ReplyDelete
  49. Maya Russell18 September 2011 at 12:11

    Like you on Facebook as Maya Russell
    @maisietoo

    ReplyDelete
  50. Anonymous18 September 2011 at 19:30

    Gerberas do it for me - any colour - but my preference is orange as they so light up a room.

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  51. sam18 September 2011 at 20:53

    I LOVE THE SIMPLE CLASSIC SHAPE OF TULIPS ON THE TABLE.

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  52. Donna Bailey18 September 2011 at 22:41

    I absolutely love gerberas, they are my "smiley" flowers, cannot help but smile everytime I see them :0)

    donnasmith@lineone.net

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  53. ninja-kanga-den18 September 2011 at 23:14

    I love sunflowers as they always make me feel summery. Every year we have a competition to see who can grow the tallest

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  54. Cornishgirl18 September 2011 at 23:16

    I like long stemmed white carnations in a tall plain glass vase - very elegant!

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  55. Cornishgirl18 September 2011 at 23:18

    Tweeted @LindyHine

    ReplyDelete
  56. Cornishgirl18 September 2011 at 23:25

    Following you on twitter @LindyHine

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  57. Cornishgirl18 September 2011 at 23:27

    Following you on FB too!

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  58. Angie18 September 2011 at 23:54

    fab prize!

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  59. Christina19 September 2011 at 07:53

    super prize. I love all flowers

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  60. annaojbee19 September 2011 at 08:41

    I'm not a great fan of cut flowers - much prefer to see them on the plants, but on a table I love 'sculptures' with twigs, cones, berries - even cacti have been known for a mexican meal!

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  61. Goldberry19 September 2011 at 16:01

    I love roses on the table, all summer!

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  62. Goldberry19 September 2011 at 16:02

    I'm Following you on FB

    ReplyDelete
  63. Goldberry19 September 2011 at 16:03

    And on Twitter - GoldberryB

    ReplyDelete
  64. Goldberry19 September 2011 at 16:03

    And I've Re-Tweeted - GoldberryB

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  65. jenifer_pettitt19 September 2011 at 16:44

    I can pick a bouquet of flowers from my garden every day of the year to put on my table. In winter there is winter jasmine & snowdrops.

    Jenifer-Mary

    ReplyDelete
  66. Cake (Sheila R)19 September 2011 at 16:57

    Mix of roses and sweet peas

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  67. Cake (Sheila R)19 September 2011 at 16:59

    Tweeted as @CompCake

    ReplyDelete
  68. Cake (Sheila R)19 September 2011 at 17:01

    Following you on Twitter as @CompCake

    ReplyDelete
  69. Lynn G19 September 2011 at 18:29

    Following @L1ndyL0u

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  70. Lynn G19 September 2011 at 18:31

    I lve Cornflower on the table. pretty and relaxed.

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  71. Heidi Roberts19 September 2011 at 20:30

    I love white peonies when they are in season. I even had them in my wedding bouquet this last April.

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  72. Heidi Roberts19 September 2011 at 20:32

    I have re=tweeted this link - @walpolegirl

    ReplyDelete
  73. Heidi Roberts19 September 2011 at 20:33

    I already follow you on twitter, @walpolegirl

    ReplyDelete
  74. Heidi Roberts19 September 2011 at 20:35

    I already like you on Facebook - Heidi Roberts

    ReplyDelete
  75. Jayne KS20 September 2011 at 13:49

    I like using local wild flowers, and childhood favorites like Daisys and Buttercups, but will use dandelions as they are so wonderful

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  76. Unknown20 September 2011 at 20:09

    That's it folks ... The winner is Susan's Blog

    ReplyDelete
  77. xlpharmacy9 December 2011 at 13:55

    Beautiful blousy romantic blooms indeed, those type of flowers are the favorites of my wife, she buys them and put them inside the house and they look great!

    ReplyDelete

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