I love flowers: their colour; their perfume; their shape and their transience.
I like birds, I sort of like lichens, grass is tolerable. Winter is therefore rather dull to say the least. I look at birds, but they keep flying off. Lichens stay put, grasses are cut down and seed heads disperse. Ice makes pretty patterns in the puddles and snow can be beautiful, but nothing compares to a flower.
The months of winter are very, very long- so to dry the last flowers of summer and enjoy them at leisure, is some small compensation.
This summer I grew straw flowers and, as long as you pick them before they open, they make wonderfully coloured flowers for a winter arrangement . I have a marvellously sturdy yellow tansy that is covered in flowers perfect for drying and I bought a fresh bunch of stacis from the market that dried infront of the stove and keeps its colour perfectly.
I have shoved them in an old wine jug and so far they still smell of summer and are lovely: fulfilling all of my requirements, except transience.
Cathy's real country garden 
Lovely post and picture. I agree with what you say about flowers. xx
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They are so easy to love and give such pleasure!
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My mother and grandmother used to do that! Everlasting flowers …
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I hope your beautiful bouquet will get you through until springtime, Cathy!
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It should if the cat stops rubbing herself against it!
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Maybe you need to move it to a higher spot, where your cat cannot reach it. But then you might not be able to see it. Quandary!
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My mother always grew these in Scotland. She called them Everlasting Flowers!
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She was right. They last until you get tired of them and never wilt!
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