I’ve been watching so many of the flowers in our garden or nearby fading away the past few weeks. A pink rose still bloomed less than 3 weeks ago. Then its petals began to wilt a week or so ago. And after the recent frost I noticed today that the last of it was decomposing away. 
A shrub was covered in small red leaves last week. Today only a few remained. 
I pass hydrangea flowers slowly becoming paler and browner as the winter days grow cooler.
Nothing to pick outside so I have begun buying flowers to add some colour back inside our home. I buy cheap and cheerful supermarket flowers as a contrast to the muting of the colours outdoors. However, I make sure that the bouquets never contain any white flowers. I lived in Mainland China and studied Chinese culture for many years, so white flowers to me represent death and mourning. Not what I want indoors while I watch flowers wither and die outdoors.
I quite like the quirky bunches with their ornamental cabbages and flowers with strangely bright petals.
But as I returned home this morning I noticed that there were still Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ blooming in the pot next to my kitchen door – and, yes, they still remind me of dancing dolphins close-up. I guess they’ve refused to fade despite the winter frost and chills.
Gemma says
Gorgeous post and I love all the colours of the fading plants, so pretty. I really like ornamental cabbages like the one you’ve photographed but I can never seem to find them for sale anywhere. Perhaps I should grow some for cutting…
Kriss MacDonald says
There is something so cool about ornamental cabbages! I’d love to try and grow some…some day.
Claudia says
beautiful pictures. love all the muted tones
Kriss MacDonald says
Thank you Claudia
Iona@Redpeffer says
I think the loss of colour at this time of year makes me enjoy the first bloom all the more when they appear. Having said that, I enjoy looking at the structure of shrubs and trees right now-natures beauty in a different way.
Kriss MacDonald says
I agree that there’s pros and cons to this time of year – but always look forward to sunshine and warmer weather in the spring!
The Reading Residence says
Well done to that salvia – keep going! A lovely idea to get some bright, fresh flowers indoors to compensate for outdoors x
Sara (@mumturnedmom) says
Gorgeous post Kriss, love the pale pinks, just beautiful. I am struggling a little with all the brown in my garden at the moment, need to inject some colour 🙂
Mammasaurus says
I love how things are decomposing but still looking lovely, crispy hydrangeas are a fave of mine. That second photo where the rose outside in front and the vase of coloured blooms indoors in the background is smashing and sums up things at the moment, the colour has moved indoors these past couple of weeks.
I’ll be treating myself to some flowers this weekend now! Thanks for joining in and sharing xx
Kriss MacDonald says
I’m so glad Annie you noticed that second photo as – yes – that sums it up at the mo x
Catherine says
I love the salvia, I never thought of dolphins before but I will from now on! I saw a clip on TV this week (no idea what show I’m afraid) where a lady had decorated her Christmas tree with garden produce, including small ornamental cabbages in greens and purples – it sounds really odd but it looked amazing!
Mel says
You still have beautiful colours in your garden. Mine looks sad and desolate at the moment!