In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Mix
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.
These are the same flowers and colors I used throughout summer, same ones I addressed with summery titles. But today they feel autumnal.
In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Mix
We’ve had a retreat from the unforgiving heat. Last week this area set a record high temperature for the month of October, 100 degrees F.; Saturday saw highs in the 60s; today should reach 82. It is still very dry.
The white semi-cactus Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’ is blooming better, I assume a result of the cooler nights.
In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Mix
Zinnias and dahlias responded to a small amount of hand watering this week. They are a lesson in resilience.
In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Mix
In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Mix
Gardenia ‘August Beauty’ is reblooming but tiny black insects make the flowers undesirable to bring indoors. The rich green foliage though is fresh and makes a perfect foil to the fading dusky colors.
In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Mix
Materials
Flowers
Buddleja davidii ‘Adokeep’
Dahlia ‘David Howard’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’
Zinnia
Foliage
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’
Container
Hand thrown ceramic bowl, periwinkle blue glaze
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 
Lovely!
Thanks!
I think in October, anything orange or yellow or with slightly imperfect petals feels autumnal….glad you had a brief respite from the heat and hopefully you’ll see some rain, soon.
I think you’re right about October colors Chris. Thanks for your rain wishes.
Isn’t it interesting how the same ingredients in a vase can feel different as the season changes.
It is indeed. Wish I understood color better.
That is a very Autumn vase. We are to get a break from the heat later today.
The change in light has made it feel like autumn but there’s nothing like the cooler temperatures to bring it on. Enjoy!
I love how the soft purple of the buddleia makes the other colours in your vase really sing! They are all glorious together. Zinnias are definitely going to be in my garden next year! No idea where I am going to put them, but they will be there! A https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/10/this-summers-last-hurrah-in-vases-on.html
I think you’ll love them. Zinnias don’t need or like rich soil and don’t require much water. They give and give all summer.
Your composition is perfectly balanced, Susie, and utterly beautiful. I’m glad your miserable heat has broken at last and I hope you get some rain soon.
Thanks Kris. Slight chance of rain tomorrow! Fingers crossed!
That’s an intriguing observation, Susie – perhaps the colours are just a little less bright in the more subdued light of an October day? That shaggy white dahlia is such a star – must look out for it. How have you fixed the stems in the dish? Glad to hear you have had some respite from the heat
I wondered if the severe sunshine had actually faded the colors, at least on the dahlias. They seemed much more richly colored when they first bloomed. I used an eco-friendly floral foam product. It makes the positioning of stems so much more stable in an arrangement this large.
I wondered too if it might be the sun itself – it makes sense when we think of fabrics and things bleached by the sun. How do you get on with the friendly foam? I have heard of it but haven’t investigated it
The eco-friendly version deteriorates quickly if you handle it much, not as durable as the old version. But it’s plenty adequate. If I really want to have the stems stay in place, it’s a good solution. For my casual arrangements it’s not as critical, but with more formal designs it can be frustrating to move the vase over to where it’s going to be photographed and find the design is messed up because some stems shifted.
Is there a brand name for it, Susie? I haven’t been able to find it yet
OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife with Enhanced Biodegradability is the trusted and high-quality floral foam that has now been formulated to biodegrade. This product has been shown by ASTM D5511 to biodegrade 100 percent within 567 days in biologically active landfill conditions.
https://oasisfloralproducts.com
Oh thank you Susie, that is really helpful – and well done to whoever developed the product!
Lovely autumn colours Susie, like a sunset. And aren’t those flowers amazing, what with all the heat you have had! I have also found zinnias very resilient, and drought hardy too. Hope your heat subsides soon and you get some cooler (and damper) October days.
Thanks Cathy! Yes, “damp” October days would be a treat!
Just beautiful, like a Dutch painting. I think the deep blues lends a tapestry color element that feels more like fall. Like Pansy colors. I’ve just started Zinnia seeds here and hope for similar success.
Look forward to seeing your zinnias. Good luck with them. I need to take time to get some pansies. It won’t be dry forever I hope.
The zinnias came up!
On your way!
Well done this Monday. Finally some cool has arrived.
Thanks. This year the cooler weather seems more special than ever doesn’t it?
Another beautiful work of art, Susie. It reminds me of early Erica Wilson floral needlework designs.
Thanks Eliza. I checked out Wilson just now, apparently referred to as “Julia Child of needlework.”
Great moniker. My mother used to do needlework when I was a teenager. I have one of her pieces framed, which always reminds me of her.
What a nice arrangement, and I love the colors. They seem even fresher now that you’ve had some relief from the heat.
Now if only you could get some rain!
Thanks and yes, if only it could rain!
Nice seasonal arrangement. Love the mix of colors.
Plenty of great oranges among the zinnias and dahlias this year!
Lovely, as always. My Dahlias and Zinnias failed to produce much before the early onset of cold weather so I will content myself with enjoying yours.
Glad to share Ricki, but sorry your flowers underperformed. I’m told I need to dig my dahlias but don’t want to give up on their blooms yet.
I am sorry I missed it all. It is not just a few hours from Monday, when the next batch will arrive.