In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.
I decided to create an Ikebana-style design today and ended up with what reminds me of a tropical drink one might be served at a touristy resort—full of citrus and rum and topped with parasols and blossoms, slightly awkward when it arrives.
In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
I added a couple of lavender stems for straws and decided to offer it up. Although I have not travelled anywhere this summer here is a nod to enjoying an end of summer fling.
In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
Materials
Flowers
Dahlia ‘David Howard’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’
Lavender
Zinnia
Foliage
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)
So far Zinnia ‘Purple Prince’ is ungenerous with its flowers but they are striking when a few appear. I cut them this morning in hopes of encouraging more buds.
In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
In A Vase On Monday – Tropical Drink
As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.
pbmGarden 
Beautiful and very creative.
Thanks Judy. It didn’t start out the way it ended up but I decided to go with the flow.
Your creation of a tropical drink of flowers is very clever, Susie. I’ve got no purple zinnias at all as yet this year. The rabbits ate many of my original seedlings and it’s been slow going with the last sowing – I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll see any flowers before damper mornings lead to mildewed plants.
Same story here with the rabbits eating my zinnia seedlings. Looking for a solution to their ravenous ways.
This is such a clever idea Susie, and it really works 👍The dahlia I used is a Gallery dahlia too so should presumably have some similarities to your Pablo. My Purple Prince zinnias are similarly slow but I may recall them just being a bit later than others. The Giant Cactus mix has been briliant and really ought to be in a vase sometime soon!
Gallery dahlias are a good series. I ordered Dahlia ‘Art Deco’ again this year but the new tubers didn’t make it. A couple from last year returned but haven’t bloomed much. Looking forward to seeing your cactus zinnias–love those.
It’s such a shame about your dahlias, Susie
Tropical Drink is the perfect description.
Thanks Linda!
Rich color! I do like dahlias, even though I have not grown them for years. There are some at work now. They seem to be universally popular.
I’m a latecomer to dahlias but am enjoying their varied colors and forms. Most of mine have not done well this year but looking ahead to next year.
Embarrassingly, I have not grown many either. I do well with them, but then give them away, and may not grow them again for a few or several years. People of Italian descent, as well as people of Central American descent, are expected to appreciate them, but I have too many other flowers to grow also.
I love Zinnias and Dahlias, so this is a favorite! Great theme, too. 🙂
Thanks Beth. The theme was a bit of a fluke, but fun nevertheless.
Very clever, Susie. Looks like a floral MaiTai! 🙂
MaiTai sounds tasty Eliza! Thank you! Hope you didn’t have troubles from Henri this week.
Thanks, H let us down gently with just a bit of wind and just shy of 4″ of rain. We lucked out this time!
And what a summer fling it is! Great fun and fabulous. Those colours – just shining and lovely! Clever you!! Amanda
Hello Amanda! Thanks for joining my floral party!
“Drink only with thine eyes” Song to Celia by Ben Johnson came to mind.
Your title sent me off to read this poem. Thanks Noelle!
I am enjoying your clever use of textures and colours in this vase!
Thank you! This started out as a serious floral design but devolved into a bit of humor as it began taking shape.
Fun and beautiful. Your Zinnias are wonderful, I had Purple Prince as well and did not get many flowers..I put bamboo stakes about 3 inches apart all the way around my Blue Pea Vine the rabbits kept eating and that worked.
Thanks Amy. Glad you found a way to thwart the rabbits.
I loved your description of a tropical cocktail as much as your vase Susie! Now you need a fancy name for it, like Gin Zing Zinnia or something! LOL!
Ha! Ha! Your name suggestion pretty much captures it! 🍹