Tag Archives: autumn blooms

Charms Of Early November

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Except for a few quick vases I haven’t posted much the past several months. Suddenly it is November. Autumn has been dry and mild. Camellias are on center stage with Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’ providing the finest display of its 20 years or so.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

The camellia faces the street and sits between the corner of our house and the neighbor’s driveway. Further down the row is red C. ‘Yuletide’ just starting to flower, and a row of gardenias. Usually by now cold would have damaged the open flowers, although the buds would continue to open. This year with no frost yet most of the flowers that have opened are still looking pristine.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Two very different passalong chrysanthemums are blooming well also this year.

Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield Pink’

Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield Pink’

Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield Pink’

Button Chrysanthemum (passalong)

I’m always delighted to see flowers but irises in fall feel rather out of place. This yellow one has flowered for over a week. A purple one opened even earlier and there are a few more stalks with buds.

Iris (passalong rebloomer)

Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)

Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)

Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)

Perhaps I will get around to writing a review of butterflies in the garden this summer.  There were not many compared to last year but a highlight for the past month were daily sightings of Cloudless Sulphurs.

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

Sunday we’ll be returning to Eastern Time here in North Carolina. Have a happy weekend!

In A Vase On Monday – Abundance Of Autumn

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In A Vase On Monday – Abundance Of Autumn

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

With temperatures forecast to fall below freezing Sunday morning I cut flowers on Saturday for today’s vase.

My pass-along button chrysanthemums are having a banner year. Held on tall plant the fluffy pale yellow flowers lighten as they age, fading gracefully toward white with hints of pink.

Button Chrysanthemum

Button Chrysanthemum

Button Chrysanthemum (Passalong from Virgie)

A blogging friend suggested this reblooming iris might be ‘Autumn Circus.’ I read there are so many irises with this pattern they are very hard to be certain of unless you grow one of known variety next to yours. Our fall weather in central North Carolina has been so agreeable (except for lack of rain) that irises have been blooming for over a month. I was compelled to include one in today’s last pre-frost vase.

Tall bearded iris

Leaves of the Eastern Redbud glimmered in the afternoon sun while I was planting bulbs the other day. Up close they are marked by the aging cycle and the effect of cold weather but still I find them beautiful.  I cut a long branch that initially rose above the iris but eventually I cut it down.

Cercis Leaf With chrysanthemums and iris

The red vase and black vase is a mismatch in color but was the perfect height and shape to hold the flowers without the assistance of mechanics. I wish I’d kept looking to find the right vase but life has been busy and there was no time to second-guess. Often things like this are exaggerated in photographs but really look fine in person, but actually the red looks odd in person also. A few more handfuls of chrysanthemums cascading over the lip of the vase could hide that red and possibly make the entire design more interesting. I trust you to picture it in your mind’s eye.

Materials
Flowers
Button chrysanthemum
Tall bearded iris
Foliage
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
Hellebore
Container
Raku vase, Charles Chrisco, Chrisco’s Pottery

In A Vase On Monday – Abundance Of Autumn

Thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight

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In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight

Each Monday for the past eight years Cathy at Rambling In The Garden has invited us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.  She posed a challenge for IAVOM’s eighth anniversary: to share a vase without fresh blooms.

In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight

Temperatures have been lower but we have yet to get a frost yet. There are fresh flowers in the garden—even irises which have rebloomed—but in the spirit of meeting Cathy’s challenge I walked around the borders in hopes of finding enough dried materials to fill a small vase. Soon I had much more than expected: cleome, lantana, zinnia, echinacea, juniper with seeds and pods, dogwood leaves and berries, salvia.

In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight. Cleome seed pods, salvia, juniper.

In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight. Zinnia.

I moved out front to gather several camellia seed heads I had noticed a few weeks ago, but they were too fragile. Fortuitously my sweet neighbor Eileen was walking her dogs and when I explained what I was doing she invited me to come to her garden to search for more items.  She has a lovely, well-tended garden and offered beautiful, still colorful hydrangeas and more, including magnolia, salvias, grasses, heuchera leaves, and nandina berries and leaves.

In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight. Magnolia and nandina.

In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight. Nandina berries.

In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight

In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight.  Echinacea and hydrangea.

Materials
Variety of Dried Flowers and Foliage
in a Handwoven basket from Williamsburg, Va.

Congratulations to Cathy on this eighth anniversary of In A Vase On Monday. I appreciate her dedication and generosity in hosting us each week. I have really enjoyed participating through the years.  Many thanks Cathy!

Check out her anniversary dried arrangement this week and those of others at Rambling In The Garden.

In A Vase On Monday – Pink In Painted Glass

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In A Vase On Monday – Pink In Painted Glass

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Pink In Painted Glass

I think of early spring as the appropriate time for pink flowers but today autumn pinks star in this November vase. Sheffield chrysanthemums have been generously shared among neighbors in our community. I am not sure which homeowner planted them first but they thrive here and make good pass-alongs. Some are quite apricot but mine are definitely pink. Butterflies are said to like them but when I was gathering flowers for today’s vase,  bees were finding them delicious.

Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield Pink’

On the north side of our house Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana Jiman’ is in full bloom. Its delicate flowers carry a lovely scent.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana Jiman’

Clematis ‘Niobe’ has been reblooming robustly for a month or so. It spills over the scalloped edge of the Fenton glass vase, drawing the eye to hand painted floral decoration.

Clematis ‘Niobe’

Clematis ‘Niobe’

Fenton Painted Glass Vase

Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana Jiman’
Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield Pink’
Clematis ‘Niobe’
Foliage
Container
Hand painted Fenton Glass Vase – USA

In A Vase On Monday – Pink In Painted Glass

In A Vase On Monday – Pink In Painted Glass

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.

In A Vase On Monday – Zinnias And Zest

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In A Vase On Monday – Zinnias And Zest

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

Another week passed without rain and even the zinnias appear tired of the situation. Before the zinnias end their season I want to bring them to the forefront of a Monday vase. Throughout the summer they have provided nectar for pollinators while adding plenty of zingy color to the borders.

In A Vase On Monday – Zinnias And Zest

In searching for a vase today I found a unique ceramic piece, crafted in high school by our daughter. The container is sculptural, not functional, not built to hold water. Neither was inside the main compartment wide enough to hold an insert like a water bottle, but I couldn’t resist arranging the flowers in it anyway without water for a brief time.

This side of the vase has several compartments and a dark blue tree and bright yellow sun decoration.

In A Vase On Monday – Zinnias And Zest

The back view has a sun with a  larger tree design.

Back view with Sun and Tree

After a quick photo shoot on a beautiful October Sunday afternoon, I moved the flowers into a favorite stoneware pitcher to rehydrate and live out the week. The white semi-cactus Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ play a support role this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Zinnias And Zest

Materials
Flowers
Zinnia Cactus Flowered Mix
Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’
Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Button Chrysanthemum
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Containers
Ceramic Slab Vase with Tree and Sun Decoration. MLMB, circa 1997.
Stoneware pitcher. Pringle Pottery, North Carolina, circa 1977.

In A Vase On Monday – Zinnias And Zest

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.

In A Vase On Monday – Savoring The Moment

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In A Vase On Monday – Savoring The Moment

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

At mid-October as cooler temperatures arrive, today I am savoring the garden’s late-season  flowers.

In A Vase On Monday – Savoring The Moment

In A Vase On Monday – Savoring The Moment

The stars of the vase are Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’, ‘Gallery Pablo’ and ‘David Howard’.

In A Vase On Monday – Savoring The Moment:  Dahlias

Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ and Zinnias

Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’

The past two years sunset-orange D. ‘David Howard’ bloomed early and bloomed prolifically  until frost, but it is just starting to progress this year.

Dahlia ‘David Howard’

Angelonia AngelMist ‘Spreading Berry Sparkler’ pouted its way through summer and finally looks happy and exuberant. I chose it this morning to accompany the large white dahlias. As I kept adding other materials the angelonia became less prominent, yet worked beautifully to frame the vase.

Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’ and Angelonia AngelMist ‘Spreading Berry Sparkler’

Materials
Flowers
Angelonia AngelMist ‘Spreading Berry Sparkler’
Dahlia ‘David Howard’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’
Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’
Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage)
Foliage
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’
Container
Raku vase, Charles Chrisco, Chrisco’s Pottery

In A Vase On Monday – Savoring The Moment

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.

In A Vase On Monday – Dahlias In Textured Vase

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In A Vase On Monday – Dahlias In Textured Vase

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

Rain came at last on Friday, a nice long slow soaking, bringing  temporary relief. The next day I gathered a variety of dahlias and conditioned them in water overnight. I passed along many to a friend, then allotted the rest among multiple vases. For this Monday’s vase I settled on a few purple cactus dahlias with white centers, whose name I do not know. This has been the most prolific bloomer this dahlia season. I paired them with fragrant gardenias which are putting on a great fall show.

In A Vase On Monday – Dahlias In Textured Vase

The green container, a gift several years ago from my sister, is three-sided with purple glazing inside and a heavily scribed surface decoration.

In A Vase On Monday – Dahlias In Textured Vase

Materials
Flowers
Dahlia sp. – No ID
Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’ (Ball)
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’
Foliage
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’ (Dutch Lavender)
Container
Glazed ceramic vase

I had intended to feature Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’ today but couldn’t get them arranged and photographed to my satisfaction. The colors are so pretty so I will sneak them in anyway.

Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’

Likewise, I was happy to see Clematis ‘Niobe’  flowering again. It has quite a few buds. Out of proportion with its companions in this first attempt, it deserved to be included today but I ran out of time. Eventually I stood it upright behind the dahlias. I love its rich color.

Clematis ‘Niobe’ With Dahlias

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.

In A Vase On Monday – October Messenger

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In A Vase on Monday – October Messenger

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens. It has been another week without rain. 

Some of the dahlias are blooming more vigorously, like the one I’m featuring in today’s vase: Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’. [Apparently I’ve been misspelling the name of this flower as Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’.  I checked my records and it was sold under the latter name, but this year I noticed the change.]

Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’

I’ve grown this white semi-cactus dahlia for about three years. Bred in Japan and introduced in 1953 its name means “Messenger From The Moon.”  It seems to produce its best flowers in fall—some are finally reaching the promised 6-8 inches.

Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’

Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’

Gardenias are having one of the nicest re-blooming periods I can recall. Last week I used foliage of Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’. This week the shrub is in bloom and I was able to include stems whose flowers are open, releasing their signature sweet fragrance.

Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’

Last year all my dahlias seemed to be the nearly the same type and size, making it challenging to create arrangements. This year I ordered more variety, including a white ball form called Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’ that has been useful.

Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’

I like the white-on-white effect and had planned to use only white flowers today, but a few remaining bare spots forced my hand. After taking a long time to produce, D. ‘Totally Tangerine’ has found its stride so there are fresh blooms daily.

Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’

Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’

Maybe the design needed a bit of color after all.

In A Vase on Monday – October Messenger

Materials
Flowers
Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’ (Ball)
Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’ (Anemone)
Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’  (was: Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’)
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’
Foliage
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’ (Dutch Lavender)
Container
Dark blue matte ceramic jar

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.

In A Vase On Monday – Mixed Dahlias

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In A Vase On Monday – Mixed Dahlias

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

I was confused about the name of a dahlia last week—I had misremembered planting ‘Fairway Spur’ in its location.. But after a second flower opened Thursday with more distinctive coloring I checked my records and was able to identify it as Dahlia ‘Break Out’.  It matches the description used by the vendor in comparing it to D. ‘Café au Lait’, “Break Out’s petals are more pink than cream, and the center of the blossom has a golden glow. The flowers are also looser and more informal, with thick, velvety petals.”  I think it’s a lovely flower and planned to feature it solo for today’s Monday vase, using this photo.

Dahlia ‘Break Out’

But after our rains mid-week all the dahlias perked up a bit and I was able to cut a  good number of stems. I have been waiting all summer for these plants to produce and wanted to share the bounty with you today. While conditioning them in water I enjoyed the luxury of seeing each flower. I was particularly happy with ‘Totally Tangerine’, which until now had produced only one or two flowers at a time, malformed ones at that after suffering the drought and heat of summer. (Click an image for larger view.)

I considered arranging the flowers in the same vases as I had used to condition them, but as many of the stems were rather short, I decided to use floral foam so I could better control each placement.

I began with D. ‘Totally Tangerine’. The seller describes them this way: “flowers have a cluster of short and frilly orange petals in the center, surrounded by larger, daisy-like petals that may be flamingo pink, pale yellow or apricot, depending on the weather and time of year.” These flowers are brighter outdoors in sunlight and paler as they age. Mine feel almost coppery at times—I’m quite taken with them.

Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’

Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’

Not quite open fully – Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’

The arrangement went together fairly quickly but I soon ran out of the featured dahlia and enlisted the help of others in the same color range.

Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’ with Dahlia ‘David Howard’

Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’

Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’

In A Vase On Monday – Mixed Dahlias

At this point the arranging was finished but I had yet to settle on a vase. I tried two versions and both worked fine. The first vase I tested, a green pedestal, seemed a bit too tall, but I came back to it in the end.

Vase 1A – In A Vase On Monday – Mixed Dahlias

The second vase is a few inches shorter and makes the design seem fuller. The creamy color picks up the white flowers and makes them stand out more.

Vase 1B – In A Vase On Monday – Mixed Dahlias

The foliage drapes easier around the neck of the second vase. I used gardenia as foliage. A few stems had buds so the bouquet is slightly fragrant.

Foliage: Lavender, Gardenia, Everlasting sweet pea with white Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’

Materials
Flowers
Dahlia sp. (cactus, overwintered, prolific bloomer, no-ID)
Dahlia ‘Break Out’ (Dinnerplate)
Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’
Dahlia ‘David Howard’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Pablo’ (Border Decorative)
Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’ (Ball)
Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’ (Anemone)
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’
Zinnia
Foliage
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’
Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea)
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’ (Dutch Lavender)
Container
floral foam; plastic 6-inch Lomey dish
Ceramic Urn Stamped “Vintage 4”, 5-inches tall
Green Paper Mache Pedestal Urn, 8-inches tall

I have gone on too long but don’t you wonder what happened to the other flowers? I prepared them in a similar fashion, first arranging them into a small plastic dish and trying them with the two vases. Dahlia ‘Break Out’ is the focal point, supported by the purple no-ID cactus dahlias.

In A Vase On Monday – Mixed Dahlias

The green vase is too stark for these soft floral colors, so I settled on the creamy vase for this arrangement.

Vase 2A – In A Vase On Monday – Mixed Dahlias

Vase 2 B – In A Vase On Monday – Mixed Dahlias

Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’

Thanks for your patience and 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.

After The Morning Fog

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Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)

At first chance this morning I dashed outside drawn by the rich redness of the dogwood. The early fog had cleared leaving lush droplets caressing the garden.

It is 75°F. and cloudy on this quiet autumn day, a third of the way into November 

Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)


Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)


Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)


Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)


Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)


Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)


Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)


Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea) Tendrils With Button Chrysanthemum


Button Chrysanthemum


Button Chrysanthemum


Button Chrysanthemum


Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’


Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’


Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)

In A Vase On Monday – Chrysanthemum and Camellia

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In A Vase On Monday – Chrysanthemum and Camellia

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement assembled from materials collected in our gardens.

I love daylight saving time but the time shift yesterday brought an extra hour of early morning enjoyment. The ground was covered with a very light first frost that quickly disappeared. I used the time to gather chrysanthemums and camellias for today’s vase and place them into water for conditioning, before heading off to teach my weekly Gentle Yoga class.

In A Vase On Monday – Chrysanthemum and Camellia

Both these flowers have been blossoming for several weeks. Wishing I had used some Oasis to help keep the stems in position, I went round and round inserting, removing and re-inserting these flowers until it was simply time to stop and appreciate the gift of fresh blooms in November.

In A Vase On Monday – Chrysanthemum and Camellia

The sasanqua has a light, but sweet fragrance that makes it all the more enticing.

In A Vase On Monday – Chrysanthemum and Camellia

Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield Pink’ (Hardy Chrysanthemum)
Foliage
Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)
Iris leaves
Container
Raku ware, unknown artist, circa 1978.

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.

In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House

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In A Vase On Monday - Flowers For The House

In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House

Each Monday brings the chance to join Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden.

Both Camellia sasanquas are blooming now at the northeast corner of our home. Red ‘Yuletide’ began flowering about 5 days ago, joining the pinky-white ‘Hana-Jiman’ which had a three-week head start.

In A Vase On Monday - Flowers For The House

In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House

As weathermen predicted, yesterday, Sunday, November 13, 2016, brought our first freeze of the season. The temperature dipped to about 25°F. but it quickly warmed up. As a precaution I had gathered some of the tender camellias late Saturday and conditioned them in water to use in today’s vase.

For a couple of years now I have tried to find a way to use in a Monday vase this ceramic bird house, a gift from a dear long-ago neighbor.

In A Vase On Monday - Flowers For The House

In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House

As an experiment I simply began inserting the stems into openings in the top and front of the house, then allowed a few more blossoms to wrap around and past the side.

In A Vase On Monday - Flowers For The House

In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House

A scarlet pelargonium rescued from the impending cold sits with the little bird at the peak of the roof.

Pelargonium Cluster Atop The House

Pelargonium Cluster Atop The House

To the left a couple of spilled petals help balance the composition. A stem of tight camellia buds and greenery complete this week’s arrangement.

In A Vase On Monday - Flowers For The House

In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House

I really like the way this ephemeral design turned out. For a longer-lasting display I would insert stems into plastic water tubes, but since I did not have enough, I just decided to enjoy it for the moment.

Pelargonium Cluster Atop The House

Pelargonium Cluster Atop The House

Materials

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Pelargonium (Geranium)
Ceramic bird house

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday. Feel free to join in.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Three-Tuple

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In A Vase On Monday - Iris Three-Tuple

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Three-Tuple

Each Monday brings the chance to join Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden. But no ordinary Monday, this is IAVOM’s third anniversary and last week Cathy proposed the theme “Three” as a way to mark the day.

The theme was on my mind all week without inspiration, but Sunday morning during brunch a friend mentioned the term “tuple.”  A tuple is a finite ordered list of elements and a 3‑tuple is a triple or triplet. Keeping to a loose interpretation of tuple, I cut three stems of iris to serve as the focus of my design this week.

Reblooming Tall Bearded Iris

Reblooming Tall Bearded Iris

The height of the first iris, the white one, is roughly twice the diameter of the black dish, that of the second and third are 1.5 and 1 times, respectively.

In A Vase On Monday - Iris Three-Tuple

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Three-Tuple

Iris germanica 'Immortality'

Iris germanica ‘Immortality’

Joining the triplet of irises are a several sets of arching zinnias and a cluster of the pass-along chrysanthemums I have enjoyed for years.

Button Chrysanthemums and foliage of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'

Button Chrysanthemums and foliage of Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’

A branch of dark oak leaf hydrangea foliage adds weight for balance while echoing the dancing posture of the iris flowers.

In A Vase On Monday - Iris Three-Tuple

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Three-Tuple

Materials

Chrysanthemum
Reblooming Tall Bearded Iris
Zinnia
Foliage: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Oasis Lomey 11″ Designer Dish, black, round
Three-inch floral pin (frog)
Black Stones

On this third anniversary congratulations and extra thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday. Feel free to join in.

In A Vase On Monday – Pink Atmosphere

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In A Vase On Monday - Pink Atmosphere

In A Vase On Monday – Pink Atmosphere

Each Monday brings the chance to join Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden.

This October has been curiously mild and dry. As a result Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman,’ which began appearing several weeks ago, have seen no frosty nights to interrupt their flowering. Several pelargoniums have recovered from the heat and humidity of the summer well enough to produce a few more salmon-hued clusters. Zinnias continue to bloom as well.

Materials

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Pelargonium (Geranium)
Zinnia
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

In A Vase On Monday - Pink Atmosphere

In A Vase On Monday – Pink Atmosphere

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday. Feel free to join in.

In A Vase On Monday—Red Rust And Gold

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In A Vase On Monday - Red Rust And Gold

In A Vase On Monday – Red Rust And Gold

Each Monday brings the chance to join Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden.

My plan was to prepare one last vase of zinnias for this year but the cooler nights (with frost warnings) have claimed them. Usually Monarchs pass through this time of year and dine on zinnia nectar for a few days, along with lantana. While the zinnias have faded the lantana is going strong, but unfortunately the butterflies are a no-show.

Needing a substitute, on a whim I selected a bundle of French marigolds, one of my few successes with planting seeds (the other being zinnias). Unlike the zinnias the marigolds seem unfazed by the cooler weather.

In A Vase On Monday - Red Rust And Gold

In A Vase On Monday – Red Rust And Gold

As I cut the marigolds rather short in order to preserve the many buds still on the plants, it was a challenge to find a suitable container. I settled on a small white china fruit bowl and amassed the flowers to form a low, dense tapestry of reds, oranges and gold.

In A Vase On Monday - Red Rust And Gold

In A Vase On Monday – Red Rust And Gold

A lone garden phlox bloom, rescued from the ground, and several other purples were tucked among the marigolds for contrast.

In A Vase On Monday - Red Rust And Gold

In A Vase On Monday – Red Rust And Gold

In this week’s vase the bonfire intensity of the dominant colors and the sharp, pungency of the flowers combine to form a spirited salute to autumn.

In A Vase On Monday - Red Rust And Gold

In A Vase On Monday – Red Rust And Gold

Materials
French marigold
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)
Dahlia, spp.
French marigold
Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox)
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)
Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’ (Hardy Sage)
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)
White fruit dish

In A Vase On Monday - Red Rust And Gold

In A Vase On Monday – Red Rust And Gold

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday. Feel free to join in.

Wordless Wednesday—Pondering The Cosmos

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Cosmos sulphureus (sulphur cosmos) at NCSU Raulston Arboretum

Cosmos sulphureus (sulphur cosmos) at NCSU Raulston Arboretum

Cosmos sulphureus (sulphur cosmos) at NCSU Raulston Arboretum

Cosmos sulphureus (sulphur cosmos) at NCSU Raulston Arboretum

Cosmos sulphureus (sulphur cosmos) at NCSU Raulston Arboretum

Cosmos sulphureus (sulphur cosmos) at NCSU Raulston Arboretum

Cosmos sulphureus (sulphur cosmos) at R. C. Raulston Arboretum, N. C. State University, Raleigh, NC, September 24, 2016

Surprises Along The Southern Side Path

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Clematis 'Jackmanii'

Clematis ‘Jackmanii’

I have not shown the garden along the southern side of the house in a long time. The Southern Side Path is a narrow border with a winding stone walkway, that provides access from the driveway down to the main garden in the back yard. If you walk down the path, turn around and look back up toward the street, this is the view you will see.

Clematis 'Jackmanii' In Southern Side Garden

Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ In Southern Side Garden

(Be careful not to turn your head to the right or you’ll see the neighbors’ house looming large.)

Standing in the distance near the street and not really part of the border, a Betula nigra (River Birch) is visible. This tree began losing lots of its leaves several weeks ago, but after some heavy rains came it decided to hold on to the rest of its foliage a while longer.

In the foreground, Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ usually has a few flowers this time of year, but the weather has been especially encouraging to it this autumn. Behind and underneath the clematis is Muhlenbergia capillaris (Pink Muhly Grass). In front (not visible) are planted Iris tectorum (Japanese Roof Iris).

Clematis 'Jackmanii'

Clematis ‘Jackmanii’

In between the clematis and the river birch are a host of odds and ends. A few are:

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Lavender
Iris germanica (Bearded iris)
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Monarda didyma (Scarlet Beebalm)
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Plant)
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion)
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’

Amazingly, these and other plants that grow here are all ignored by the deer which make their way between the two houses quite often.

Sitting along the path just in front of the dark green Wintergreen boxwood shrub, (Buxus microphylla var koreana ‘Wintergreen’), is the current star of the Southern Side Garden. It is the fragrant Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily) .

Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)

Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)

Last winter was exceedingly cold so when spring arrived I was concerned whether the Ginger lily had even survived. Fortunately by mid-May a few stalks had emerged. Through summer it never grew as full nor tall as it had during the previous two years, but finally today a flower opened.

I had been eagerly watching this tender perennial for quite a few weeks, hoping it would bloom before a frost could wilt it back to the ground. I was curious when it bloomed last year. In checking my photo records I noticed the set of dates when I took pictures of the flowering ginger lily. An unscientific but interesting observation is that for the previous two years the ginger lily had flowered much earlier than usual and for an extended period of time.

Dates Of Photographing Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily) Blooms In My Garden
October 18, 2008
September 24, 2009 – October 25, 2009
2010 – ?
October 13, 2011
September 2 – November 2, 2012
August 10 – November 7, 2013
October 17, 2014

Leaving the Southern Side Path, turn around and come inside the main garden. Here yesterday, I again attempted to capture the elusive monarchs. This time a couple of the butterflies were nectaring on the Zinnias, which made it easier for me to get close and get a picture from the back with the wings open.

Monarch Nectaring On Zinnia

Monarch Nectaring On Zinnia

I particularly liked this image which not only captured the eyes clearly, but recorded pink reflections cast from the flower onto the underside of the wing and thorax of the butterfly.

Pink Reflections On Monarch Wings

Pink Reflections On Monarch Wings

October Cooling and Flowers

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I read this morning two different cold fronts are moving in today. Some drizzle was predicted but the day has been sunny with a big, blue sky full of white puffy clouds, and it is a bit breezy on this 65°F. afternoon. There is a frost warning for tonight and by Saturday we are advised temperatures could drop down near freezing for the first time this fall.

It seems a good time to record the blooms in the garden.

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) Near Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) Near Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)

Aster

Aster

Aster

Aster

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Herbstfreude) (Stonecrop)

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Herbstfreude) (Stonecrop)

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Herbstfreude) (Stonecrop)

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Herbstfreude) (Stonecrop)

Nepeta 'Walker's Low' (Catmint)

Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ (Catmint)

Rosa 'Iceberg'

Rosa ‘Iceberg’

√ A spider appears to have captured an insect on the Tradescantia.

Tradescantia (Spiderwort)

Tradescantia (Spiderwort)

Penstemon mexicali 'Pike's Peak Purple' (Beardtongue)

Penstemon mexicali ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’ (Beardtongue)

Pansy 'Majestic Giant Purple'

Pansy ‘Majestic Giant Purple’

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’

Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)

Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)

Pelargonium (Geranium)

Pelargonium (Geranium)

Pelargonium (Geranium)

Pelargonium (Geranium)

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua

Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)

Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) (foliage:Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue')

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) (foliage:Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’)

Angelonia 'Purple'

Angelonia ‘Purple’

Also Blooming

Waning: Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp Sunflower), Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange Coneflower), Lantana camara (Common lantana), Zinnia

Light Rebloom: Lavender,  Thymus serpyllum ‘Pink Chintz’

Blooming: Dianthus, Alyssum ‘Easter Bonnet Violet’, Salvia splendens (Scarlet Sage) – Red Salvia, one of the bearded Iris varieties, Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)

Just beginning: Chrysanthemum

Oddity: one Leucanthemum x superbum (Shasta Daisy)

October Sunday Flowers and Insects

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An old favorite pass-along plant, this Chrysanthemum has been part of my garden(s) for more years than I can remember. Found the first flowers just starting to open today, bringing sweet memories of the person who shared it with me. The flowers are small and grow from a woody stem.

Chysanthemum

A transplanted Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) began blooming several weeks ago bringing a fresh greenery and fresh blooms to the fall garden and attracting insects.

Gracing its flower was (I think) a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus).

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Soon a bee moved in to join the party.

Bee on Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Bee on Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

The bee and the butterfly shared this flower for only a second or two before the bee settled down on a nearby flower.

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Garden Walk In Early December

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During a late afternoon ramble through the garden I noticed the simple dignity and beauty of this fading Clematis flower.

Clematis 'Jackmanii'

Clematis ‘Jackmanii’

For the most part I have been letting the plants die back naturally, leaving seed heads for the birds and winter interest. This suits my gardening style and is a good way to postpone cleanup chores until at least January.

Four and five-foot stalks of Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’ criss-cross and lean along the southern side path, each topped with brown cones. At the base its large leaves are in various stages of change.

Seed heads of Rudbeckia hirta 'Irish Eyes'

Seed heads of Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’

Leaves of Rudbeckia hirta 'Irish Eyes'

Leaves of Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’

This fall there have been several brief periods of cold nights and a couple of hard frosts, but soon the weather warms again. A small Spiraea transplant, after experiencing this transition from cold to mild temperatures and detecting a similar amount of daylight as in spring, sent out a few more flowers this week, even as its leaves turned rich red-orange rust and rosewood.

Spiraea Blossoms

Spiraea Blossoms

Rust-colored Spiraea Leaves

Rust-colored Spiraea Leaves

In many areas mounds of Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine) soften the garden at this time of year and fill the beds with soft greens, reds, yellows and burgundies.

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)

The cold temperatures have damaged many of the sasanqua blooms, but the shrubs are full of buds and continue to brighten the northeast corner of the house.

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Almanac

Fifty-two degrees at 4:50 pm. Overcast most of the day. The sky was deep blue and clear during my garden walk but the sun was low and most of the garden had fallen into shadows. Chapel Hill and about two-thirds of the state are in a moderate drought with little chance of rain forecast. Temperatures will edge back up into the seventies by the weekend.

November Essence

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Lobularia hybrid ‘Snow Princess’ (Sweet Alyssum)

November passed quickly with the garden left largely unattended and mostly unvisited, except by the avian community. Most days colorful Eastern Towhees, Northern Cardinals (North Carolina’s state bird) and Eastern Bluebirds vie for turns at the feeders. Occasionally, Red-bellied Woodpeckers stop by and frequently, Brown-headed Nuthatches and Black-capped Chickadees watch for their chances to approach.

On November 22 there were ample flowers left in the borders to fill Thanksgiving day vases with fresh zinnias, echinacea, lavender sprigs and foliage, Iceberg roses, chrysanthemums, and there were pristine camellias to float in small ceramic dishes. The next day brought the first hard frost of the year and this week a few nights with temperatures down into the twenties finally have convinced many plants to consider winding things down.

I wandered around today to see what has survived the cold. The old-fashioned woody-stemmed pale yellow chrysanthemum looks very sad, but I included a couple of pictures below to illustrate an interesting transition. One image shows the original yellow of the flower and the next shows how the chrysanthemum flowers change to pink as they fade.  Most of the garden is wilted and tinged with brown, though a few flowers still look nice for this time of year.

As November’s end approaches the day is clear, the sun is low. By 1:30 pm much of the garden lay in shade cast from the Carolina Sapphires. The sunset will come early at 5:02 p.m., after making its late start this morning at 7:06 a.m. November accomplishments are few except for the addition of a few daffodil bulbs, but the garden and the gardener are content.