In A Vase On Monday – Curves And Whorls
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from our gardens.
Against a backdrop of curving fronds from a potted fern, a ruby-red, passalong Dahlia (from Libby) stars in this mid-September offering.
In A Vase On Monday – Curves And Whorls
The dahlia’s deep rich color is intense, its strong geometric form is perfection.
Whorls of Dahlia
Zinnias in bold hues of orange, yellow and even pink create a secondary layer of interest in the arrangement.
In A Vase On Monday – Curves And Whorls
The container is a stoneware pitcher glazed with bands of cream, green, blue by well-known local potter Jim Pringle.
In A Vase On Monday – Curves And Whorls
Materials
Flowers
Dahlia. Passalong, possibly ‘Wisconsin Red’
Zinnia ‘Cut and Come Again Mix’
Zinnia elegans ’Cactus Flower Blend’
Foliage
Dracaena deremensis warneckii ‘Lemon Lime’
Fern leaves
Vase
Stoneware pitcher. Pringle Pottery, North Carolina, circa 1977
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us a chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her to discover what she and others found this week in their gardens to place In A Vase On Monday.
pbmGarden 
You used similar flowers in both this and last week’s vase but the arrangements couldn’t be more different. Both lovely, clever you!
Thank you so much! I’ve had to fall back on using zinnias in almost every vase this summer. My garden needs an overhaul.
Now that is my kind of arrangement – I love ferns and hot colours so perfect match.
Thank you Malc. I’ve had the fern on my screened porch this summer where it’s tolerated the late afternoon western sun and made the porch look cooler than it was.
So lovely! It was the first email I opened this morning and was a beautiful way to start the day!
So glad to be part of your morning Rose. Thank you.
Those ferny whorls are such fun, and change the empasis of the whole vase entirely – I love it. My zinnias are one of the things that have suffered from the dominant dahlias!
Cathy, wouldn’t it be fun to experiment with switching out the foliage and replacing it with another type. Your dahlias are so lovely–hard to choose making room for one plant over another sometimes.
It would, wouldn’t it? I think many of us want to cram as many different plants in as possible – I know I do, although now that I have more time to focus on the garden I am developing a better understanding of which plants have a long season of interest and are therefore more garden worthy
Another very creative and beautiful vase. Thanks, Susie.
Thank you John. Zinnias have been the mainstay for my summer vases so have to keep trying to do something a little different. Hope you and yours are doing well.
Those fern fronds really make that arrangement sing. Need to see if I have any that might allow me to play with them indoors!
Thanks Linda. The fern will not survive winter so might as well enjoy every possibility it offers.
Airy and light, the ferns remind me of feathers. Beautiful!
Oh, you’re right! I’ve enjoyed this fern this summer but it will not overwinter outdoors.
I have the same one and it does shed annoyingly inside in the fall, but perhaps it’s best to prune it back and let it regrow fresh leaves.
Thanks for the tip Eliza.
I think that was a brainwave using the ferns to go with your dahlia and zinnias Susie. Lovely shapes with the spiky fronds and petals. 🙂
Thanks Cathy. I don’t have nearly the choice you have this time of year, so I am challenged to come up with a new way to present the zinnias. The fern was an inexpensive purchase in spring that has proven its worth.
A lovely fern and a perfect backdrop for your flowers.
Thanks Alison. That fern has been attractive this summer. It was purchase on a whim but it has proven its value.
I wish I had a supply of gracefully curved ferns like that, Susie. Like many of your creations, this arrangement has a lyrical quality.
Kris, I picked up this fern on sale at the grocery store (of all places) in early spring on a whim. It’s done well on my screened porch with only occasional watering, next to a black Lutyens bench. I like it even more now that I remembered it could be used in a vase!
Oh the vase and the colors in it took my breath away….so bright, and the curly ferns are perfect to complement the flowers.
Thanks Donna. Those bright colors are almost shocking together but the greenness of the fern calms them a bit.
Those dahlias are amazingly beautiful! I didn’t used to like dahlias, but I’m starting to change my opinions about some of them! 🙂
I tried a few dahlias several years ago and this passalong is the only one that thrived.
Especially love the inclusion of the fronds – love that word – f r o n d !
Frond looked so odd I actually looked it up! Love words.
Striking arrangement! I am overrun with those ferns here!
Thanks. Are your ferns growing in the ground? This one won’t overwinter.
What a good idea to use those curvy fern fronds to set off your arrangement. And it all sits so beautifully in that lovely jug. Gorgeous!
Thanks Liz, I’ve relied so heavily on zinnias this summer for vases, the fern provided a little something different.
You really should be paid by the floral industry for showing the rest of us ‘how’ to really do it. 🙂 I love dahlias and zinnias, and the fern fronds are just perfect as a back drop.
I should be paying you! Thanks Judy.
Wonderful! I love how you’ve used that fern.
Thanks. Who knew the fern could make such an impact.
the linear quality is surprising and very pleasant
Very kind. Thanks Ricki.
I just happened to come back to this post…so glad I did! Very happy these dahlias have done so well for you, Susie!!!! Mine are (finally) doing really well in the garden. Do you dig them up in fall or no? I tend to dig up half my clumps and leave others in…can’t say as it makes a difference. I have quite a few Mexican petunias…. if you would like some? They spread very rapidly I have found…but let me know if you want some? I can drop them off!