Gladioli ‘Espresso’
Beginning in early July I took time away from garden blogging and each Monday since I felt a gentle tug knowing Cathy from Rambling In The Garden and many others of you were sharing vases highlighting your garden flowers and foliage.
Time passed, just over a month, with many visits from friends and family and a much wanted trip to the beach. Family health issues continue to be a priority but there is improvement and breathing room. I have taken hundreds of pictures of the garden, dahlias and zinnias and butterflies, writing posts in my head without a chance to publish them. Last week I started scanning blogs again and today I couldn’t resist sharing this exquisite gladiolus. I have watched it open over the past few days—it may be the prettiest one I have ever grown.
Gladioli ‘Espresso’
It is always difficult to capture the essence of red flowers but perhaps you can sense the rich hue and chocolatey accents.
Gladioli ‘Espresso’
Materials
Flowers
Gladioli ‘Espresso’
Foliage
Philodendron
Container
Ceramic ikebana vase, 3 integrated ceramic tubes, built-in stem holders
A rejuvenating walk along the North Carolina shore washed away a lot of worries.
Morning Walk Along Atlantic Beach
My friend’s house where I stayed with college friends recently is located on a saltwater creek at Harker’s Island. The osprey babies are gone but the parents continue to enjoy the nest.
Harker’s Island
With gratitude 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 
That is a very beautiful flower. You really got a great shot at the beach.
Thanks so much. I took lots of video and pictures of seabirds, a dolphin, and waves to remember.
I’m glad your time away offered breathing room and a change of perspective, Susie. That’s a spectacular gladiola – thanks for sharing it. I look forward to seeing some of that backlog of photos you’re collected.
Thank you Kris. The flowers on the gladiola are rather small, but they have beautiful coloring. I do plan to dump a bunch of photos on my blog soon, for the record!
A stunning arrangement Susie. You put so much into creating your vases and I do so love the inspiration! Good to hear life is calming down and you have had some time at the beach too. 🙂
Thanks Cathy, I appreciate that. The beach has healing powers like no place else.
Even when you are not able to post, its a lovely feeling to think that your flower and gardening friends and thinking of you. Even walking round the garden and wondering what you would arrange, can lift the spirits. May the week be gentle for you. Take care. Your gladioli also made a good express arrangement…however I do know that such arrangements do take a lot of thought.
Thanks for your kind thoughts Noelle. I’m grateful for gardening friends and I agree–just being in the garden a few minutes brings happiness.
Great to see you back in my Reader. I love the Glad. Bought a Rainbow mix at Aldi and got one hot pink flower. It was pretty and underwhelming. Hope all is well in your world.
Thanks Amelia, feels right to be back. Sorry your rainbow mix didn’t bring better results. Pink must be a strongly dominant color–all my (mixed) zinnias in one bed turned out pink.
Who knows? bulbs are always an experiment. Especialy in Florida. They may flower in December, I have Zinnias in February.
What a rich and gorgeous color, Susie. Glad you shared it. Also glad you had time to rejuvenate at the shore – so important!
Thank you Eliza! It’s amazing and reassuring how beach time can be restorative.
Such a pretty, graceful arrangement. I used to grow Glads every year. I need to do that again one of these years. They are such great cut flowers, and the one you show here is beautiful! I’m glad you enjoyed your time away, and that the family health issues have improved. Hugs.
Thank you Beth. I appreciate that hug! Happy to return attention to the garden a bit.
What glorious photos, Susie, and I am so pleased to hear that your restful experiences have been rejuvenating too, both at the beach and in the garden. What a delightful offering you have created for today, its apparent simplicity belying the careful thought that will have gone into the process. Welcome back, however temporarily
Thanks Cathy. Beach time was amazing and now I feel better able to tackle the garden again as time permits. I’ve had lots of flowers in the house (zinnias and dahlias), sometimes even arranged, but not the time or mental energy to get photos taken and posts written. And when people take time to comment I want to reciprocate, so often I just let it go. I know people understand though. Have a good week!
So pleasing to hear you have still had the motivation to pick blooms for yourself, even without the emotional energy to write about them
I’m sorry to hear about your worries, Susie, it’s good to take some time off to reflect on what’s important. I cherish these times greatly. Nature and the garden help me to get over difficult times and I’m sure they do the same for you. Cathy’s meme is very uplifting too, it gives me great pleasure when I make time to join in. Your gladiolus is absolutely gorgeous – I find they’re rather difficult to display, but you’ve succeeded most beautifully with your style and elegance. One single stem looks so much more efficient than a whole bunch of them. Wishing you soothing, happy late summer days 🙂
Annette, thanks for your gentle words. The garden is a comfort and I hope to be able to focus more time on it now things are calmer. Felt good to join in with a a Monday vase again. Your beautiful images and writings inspire me too. Hugs.
I always enjoy seeing your ikebana style arrangements.
Thanks Brian, this is a case where the gladiola inspired me and propelled me to get back into IAVOM. Hope you’re doing well.
Very striking!
That is a nice bloom. I find that those in dark colors are significantly smaller than others. I no longer grow the rich red ones that I liked so much with the whites.
I like whites too.
White gladiolus, as well as various pink varieties, seem to be the biggest and best. (White is my favorite color anyway.) I thought that white gladiolus would be nice with the simple rich red. It was, but the white ones dominated, and the red ones looked like accessories. If I were to do it again, I would grow them more separately. Someday, I would like to try the richer burgundy sort, or maybe even a purple variety. Purple is a stretch for me, but purple gladiolus really are sharp.