In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet
Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement every Monday using materials collected from our gardens. We have been a few days now without rain and more significantly, three days of cooler temperatures and lower humidity, blue skies and warm sun have brought luscious comfort to these last days of August.
Zinnias took over my design plans again this week. I had planned to feature some tiny stems of unsung workers in the garden—marigolds, lantana, celosia—but when walking around the garden I could not resist including gold, yellow and orange zinnias as well. These paired well with silvery Artemisia and richly colored Blackbird Euphorbia.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet
By using four straight-sided vodka glasses set inside another glass dish, I was able to mix and match heights. This enabled me to still use some of the tiny-stemmed flowers as well. I like the multi-colored blooms of common lantana. Butterflies are drawn to it also. In the bottom right corner perhaps you can make out the deep red of Marigold ’Spry Boy.’
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet
The white-tipped undersides of this orange zinnia is strikingly different from others in this collection. Below it rests an apricot Dahlia ‘Fireworks.’
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet
Although I like the vases collected into one arrangement, I was curious how they might look scattered more free-range.
I found this more interesting and versatile.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet
The interplay of forms is more obvious when the flowers are given space. The dahlias especially seem happier in this looser format.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet
Materials
Flowers
Celosia plumosa ‘Castle Mix’ (Feather Celosia)
Dahlia ‘Fireworks’
Lantana camara (Common lantana)
Marigold ’Spry Boy’
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Zinnia ‘Cut and Come Again’ (Zinnia elegant pumila), Botanical Interests.
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)
Vase
Vodka glasses and Glass dish
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet
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 
I really love this colour combination Susie and it seems quite different for you or is that just my imagination. I like the design in both forms but like you prefer the tiny vases separated.
Christina, perhaps you’re right about the colors–I’m more often chasing reds and blues. I bought these little glasses for submitting entries to a flower show last year, and had forgotten to use them since. I will start using them–it’s nice to tuck a small vase here and there throughout the house.
A beautiful arrangement that reminds me Autumn is on the way. We are still hot and steamy over here.
Yes, I’m much aware autumn is close by–those golden colors seem to seal it.
Don’t think I realized how much Zinnias are like Dahlias in the sense that there is so much variation in color and form. And I love your solution of the four small glasses, especially since it is effective in both groupings.
Thanks Linda. Yes, they are similar. I often confuse the two when checking out these Monday vases. I lost some dahlias to the cold winter and am really missing them. Sure have heeded the warning to dig them up each year.
I think you are right–loose is a better look for these flower groups.
Marian, the flowers appear happy to have been given some freedom to roam.
There are so many blooms there, in various shades…a really dedicated gardener.
It’s surprising how many little things are blooming around the garden now, but I admit I haven’t been particularly a good caretaker of the garden this summer.
Very clever! I like both the crowded and free-range look of your arrangements.
Thanks Peter. It’s interesting to experiment.
I would not have thought of lantana as a cut flower. It is so low and dense. I never looked closely enough to see if there were any stems worth cutting. Besides, it smells funny. But then, I suppose the same applied to marigold. I do not grow the sorts that have nice stems. I happen to really like marigolds, especially in autumn. They really become prominent around Dia de los Muertos.
This lantana is perennial here, growing about 5 feet tall. Butterflies like it, the scent is pungent, it doesn’t last very well as a cut flower, but it’s pretty. Yes, marigold in fall are wonderful.
Lantana is supposed to be evergreen here, but ours happens to be in a spot that gets frosted. It comes back fine, but never builds up bulk like those in other places do.
Another clever approach to flower arrangement, Susie! While I appreciated the first assembly, I favor the looser collection of mini-vases (and I recognize the irony of that statement in that I tend to stuff my own vases to the gills). The dahlias do show off better that way. As I’m dreaming of fall, the warm colors also appealed to me. I’m glad to hear your weather has improved.
Thank you Kris! It’s hard to believe fall is coming but we’ve had a few days recently in the low eighties with low humidity and fall was sitting there waiting.
Such a creative approach, using 4 separate glasses – and an opportunity to experiment, which you often choose to do. I was amazed at the range of blooms in these shades – definitely not your usual choice of colours but what an interesting result. Thanks for sharing, as always
Cathy, it’s always fun to see what is blooming and try to come up with something each week to share. These colors just jumped out.
I love the single dahlias – so pretty!
Thanks Eliza. Those dahlias are very small and seem rather fragile, but they did work out well this week.
Good use of your shot glasses
Thanks. I’ve only ever used them for flowers!
A good use for them ( I hate shots)
Love the vodka glasses. I need to get some, I hate vodka but I would love the glasses for flowers! The dark purple Euphorbia is just such a wonderful contrast to the burnt oranges – wonderful end of summer ensemble.
Thanks. The euphorbia has done well this summer. It’s a replacement for one lost a couple years ago.
And a fine quartet it is! I like the melding of different shades of red and orange.
Thank you Jason. Not so many true reds this year in the zinnia mix, but I’m please with all the oranges.