In A Vase On Monday – July Complementary
Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement every Monday using materials collected from our gardens.
Before thinking consciously of today’s vase in terms of complementary yellow and purple, I had in mind tall stems of fading sunny Rudbeckia, the green cone-heads featured prominently, and backed by a large purply patterned Canna leaf. I also wanted to use pieces of bark saved from a Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle), especially this lichen-covered section.
Lichen and Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle) Bark
Using two floral pins or frogs I began by inserting the bark. Next the rudbeckia and canna went in as planned.
Before long I had rescued a stem of Tansy from last week’s vase for more yellow and more texture.
In A Vase On Monday – July Complementary
More purples slipped in—Angelonia and Euphorbia ‘Blackbird.’ Much of the bark which was expected to provide a strong impact receded in favor of the angelonia.
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)
Dahlia ‘Fireworks’ has disappointed this year, giving only one or two blooms at a time, but the flowers called out when I was cutting materials and found their way into the design.
Dahlia ‘Fireworks’
Materials
Flowers
Angelonia ‘Purple
Dahlia ‘Fireworks’
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)
Rudbeckia laciniata (Green-Headed Coneflower)
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Foliage
Canna
Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle) Bark with Lichen
Container
Oasis Lomey 11″ Designer Dish, black, round
Two Three-inch floral pins (frog)
Black Stones
In A Vase On Monday – July Complementary
In A Vase On Monday – July Complementary
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower designs across the world. Visit her to discover what she and others found to place In A Vase On Monday.
pbmGarden 
Your arrangement is just lovely. A wonderful combination of textures and color. Love the lichen!!!
Thanks. I’ve saved that lichen for several months and had been itching to use it.
Given the number of different flowers you’ve used, your vase has a great unified sense of design. Love those tall Rudbeckias with few petals left. A very contemporary looking flower!
Hi Linda. The Rudbeckia flowers didn’t form well this year. I think the dry weather took its toll on them. Pollinators have been undeterred though and seem quite happy. The cones I always find interesting.
Rudbeckia bosses are so photogenic, aren’t they? I love the way they change shape as they mature. Their darkness alomg with the canna leaf andangelonia as well as the dish make a really sultry display, so the dahlias and tansy are spot on for contrast. Great result, Susie!
Well Cathy, you’ve taught me another thing this morning. I didn’t know to call those “bosses,” but love the term. Thanks for hosting each week–it’s always lots of fun.
Perhaps ‘boss’ is not used that way in the US – here it would be used to mean the central raised part of something like a shield or carved ceiling. And the raised centre of blooms like rubbeckia!
I love your use of the Rudbeckias. I let them like that in the yard, but I would never have thought of using them in a vase.
I like the texture of those “bosses” as Cathy calls them. They didn’t photograph as well as I’d hoped and show up darker than they actually are.
Delightful! I love the Rudbeckias at that stage and you’ve used them well. The bark & lichen – it’s all wonderful.
Thanks Peter. The Rudbeckias started fading almost immediately this year because (I imagine) our extremely dry weather. Finally we’ve been getting some rain again.
beautiful flowers
Thanks Luda!
This one feels like an entire summer garden in miniature, Susie. It’s beautiful, as your arrangements always are. I love the lichen.
Thanks, and yes, it does Kris, maybe even multiple seasons. I’m starting to feel little nudges of impending autumn.
It really extends our range to use seed heads and flowers in all their stages. Purple and yellow sing out together.
Yes, the seed heads often are quite striking and useful in arrangements.
Love it. Wonderful use of textures and colors. Very creative.
Thanks, glad you like it. This is one that really looks better in person. The photos flattened it quite a bit and the colors are brighter than they show up in the pictures–so I’m enjoying having it in the foyer where I walk by it frequently.
Vase photography is a strange and sometimes wonderful thing.Other times, not!
That’s wonderful, and the vase is so unique! Your color combinations are really special.
Thanks Beth. So many ways to use color.
What canna is that? I grew ‘Australia’ a few years ago to contrast with the pale green of common houseleek. The form contrasts nicely too!
Goodness, yours is much more than in a vase; it is total floral design like might be seen at a flower show
Thanks Tony. No ID for the canna unfortunately. It doesn’t flower well but is orange.
It is not necessary. I was just curious. It is nice to see that others like cannas too. Not many people grow them anymore.
Love the Rudbeckia seedheads and Dahlia ‘Fireworks’.