Tag Archives: Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)

Early May, MidAfternoon

Iris Siberica ‘Concord Crush’

Yesterday (Wednesday, May 3) I had a few moments to wander the borders in midafternoon. I had been eying a patch of Siberian iris through the windows and finally had to inspect them.

Iris Siberica ‘Concord Crush’ and Iris ‘Immortality’

The day was sunny, bright, and very breezy, not great conditions for photographing the flowers, but it was a lovely opportunity to just be in the garden.

Added to the garden last year, this Siberian iris seemed unhappy last weekend after so much rain but rallied nicely.

Planted nearby is Peony Pink Parfait, the first peony I ever added to the garden. It’s been crowded out this year by irises and has only a few flowers.

Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’ (Peony)

Seeking a little shade, my favorite spot yesterday was underneath a Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud) in the southwest corner.

Southwest Corner. Dianthus, Artemisia, Heuchera, Iris

Southwest Corner

Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)

For a time Iris ‘Helen Colingwood’ and Heuchera villosa ‘Big Top Bronze’ (Coral Bells) pair up to form a dynamic color combination.

Iris ‘Helen Collingwood’

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ is quickly laying claim to this section of the garden as evidenced by its emerging green foliage surrounding the heuchera and beyond.

Iris ‘Helen Collingwood’

Given half a chance, Lamb’s Ears fill in anywhere and beyond. As they are fairly easy to remove I’ve left them to ramble for now.

Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)

Iris tectorum (Japanese Roof Iris) and Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)

Hellebores have been wonderful this year. I appreciate their long bloom time. Even as they fade they continue to add interest throughout this area.

Hellebores and Tansy

Iris ‘Helen Collingwood’

Wordless Wednesday – Early March Wonders

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Camellia ‘Coral Delight’

Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)

‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe

Narcissus ‘Delnashaugh’ (Double Daffodil)

In A Vase On Monday – Royal Sunset

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In A Vase On Monday – Royal Sunset

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 – Royal Sunset

As the garden transitions toward summer lilies are oh so close. L. ‘Royal Sunset’ is the first to venture forward into flower.

Lily ‘Royal Sunset’

Supporting florals come from an anemone dahlia, a passalong hydrangea and an overwintered snapdragon. Tips of a redbud tree that has volunteered in the south border provide foliage while softly echoing the hues of the lily and other flowers.

In A Vase On Monday – Royal Sunset

Dahlia Anemone ‘Totally Tangerine’

Hydrangea macrophylla

Lily ‘Royal Sunset’

In A Vase On Monday – Royal Sunset

Materials
Flowers
Antirrhinum majus ‘Speedy Sonnet Bronze’ (Snapdragon)
Dahlia Anemone ‘Totally Tangerine’
Hydrangea macrophylla
Lily Asiatic ‘Royal Sunset’
Foliage
Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)
Container
Black metal suiban. 4 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches. Japan.

Lily ‘Royal Sunset’

Thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for encouraging us to create and share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are enjoying this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Orchid With Redbud

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In A Vase On Monday – Orchid With Redbud

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

I am enjoying the garden’s daily transitions. Columbine is just about to open, as are the first bearded irises and peonies—all are caught in the almost stage.

Iris buds – Iris ‘Crimson King’

While scouting for today’s vase contents I found inspiration from a redbud tree, whose soaring branches are outfitted with ebullient flower clusters.

In A Vase On Monday – Orchid With Redbud

For several weeks I have been tempted by a moth orchid that has been flowering (indoors) for several months. Its color is almost jarring against other flowers, enough so as to make it a feature today. I do not expect it to last more than a few days, but chose it for the way it pulls out the pink in the daffodil’s trumpet and the magenta of the rosebud.

In A Vase On Monday – Orchid With Redbud

After photographing the flowers I went back and added a white daffodil and a grape hyacinth. The arrangement seemed to need the brightness of the white flower, but I am not satisfied with the placement. It was too late in the process to start fiddling.

In A Vase On Monday – Orchid With Redbud

Materials
Flowers
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
Helleborus x hybridus
Iris germanica (Tall bearded iris)
Muscari
Narcissus
Phalaenopsis (moth orchid)
Foliage
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
Container
Black metal suiban. 4 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches. Japan. With floral pin holder.

In A Vase On Monday – Orchid With Redbud

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

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 (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 – Cerinthe With Pink

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In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

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

I noticed some of the cerinthe is beginning to set seed. It’s the first time I’ve really seen it bloom so I’m not sure if cutting it will help it keep growing, but it seemed like a good choice to feature in this week’s vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

Small stems of redbud and spirea were used as color accents.

In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

A Fenton handpainted glass vase echoes the colors displayed in the cerinthe and makes the redbud pop.

In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

Materials
Flowers
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
Foliage
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Container
Hand painted Fenton Glass Vase – USA

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.

In A Vase On Monday – Harbinger of Spring

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In A Vase On Monday – Harbinger Of Spring

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

Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and ‘King Alfred’ signal spring in this southern garden.

Narcissus ‘King Alfred’, Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and Hyacinthus orientalis

A few hyacinths are blooming also and this pale, pale yellow one is actually the starting point of today’s vase.

Hyacinthus orientalis (Dutch hyacinth)

Stems were inserted into a florist’s frog and placed on a white ceramic square dish for a quick arrangement, as in the first image.

I tried two different vase options—I like both. Here is a shallow blue ceramic dish with purple overtones.

In A Vase On Monday – Harbinger Of Spring

Materials
Flowers
Hyacinthus orientalis (Dutch hyacinth)
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’
Foliage
Daffodil leaf
Vase
Florist’s frog
White ceramic square dish / Blue ceramic vase

Another One

A generous mixed bouquet in a large porcelain vase graced the refreshment table this past Saturday as I participated in an all-day silent yoga retreat. The retreat was a lovely experience, a great mix of yoga, sitting and walking meditation, journaling, mediation and more yoga. At the end of the day I was offered the chance to select some flowers to bring home. Not wanting to break up the arrangement, I chose just this one, richly colored perfect Gerbera daisy.

Gerbera From Silent Yoga Retreat

I paired the gerbera with a branch from the native eastern redbud, added the first anemones of the year and tucked in a sprig of soon to bloom candytuft.

In A Vase On Monday – Harbinger Of Spring

Materials
Flowers
Anemone coronaria ‘Mr Fokker’
Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud)
Gerbera
Foliage
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Vase
White ceramic square dish. Florist’s frog in black plastic cup

Have a great week everyone. I am behind reading blogs but trying to catch up soon. Love seeing what you are up to in your own gardens.

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 – March Parallel

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In A Vase On Monday – March Parallel

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from the garden. This week she is celebrating her fifth blogging anniversary and her Monday In A Vase sensation is in its fourth year. Congratulation Cathy!

In A Vase On Monday – March Parallel

Spring is finally official and the temperatures are moderating after a brutal cold snap last week. My garden club is sponsoring a flower show this spring that includes three classes (groups): Functional Table For Two, Small Design and Parallel Design.

Unfortunately my schedule has been such that I have been unable to attend the preparatory floral design workshops this year. I decided to try a parallel design on my own this week.

The inspiration comes from the verticality of a now-fading white Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) that has been blooming since before Christmas,

Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)

Staging three or more groupings of plant materials placed in strongly parallel arrangement is the basis behind this creative design. Guidelines emphasize it is important to retain negative space between each group while creating a unified overall arrangement.

Accompanied by long green leaves of iris and narcissus the orchid was given central placement.

In A Vase On Monday – March Parallel

The second grouping, on the right side, features several iris buds that survived this week’s cold, another cluster of narcissus leaves, and a single Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’ flower.

Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’

Branches of Eastern redbud form the third segment of this arrangement. They are joined by a folded-over narcissus leaf and another purple-blue anemone.

Each grouping of materials is inserted into its own florist’s frog or pin holder. Large round leaves of Begonia ‘Erythrophylla’ are used to hide the mechanics.

In A Vase On Monday – March Parallel

Clusters of white Iberis sempervirens and more redbud flowers are used across the base of the arrangement to unify the design.

In A Vase On Monday – March Parallel

Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)

Materials

Flowers
Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’
Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Iris germanica ‘Orinoco Flow’
Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)
Foliage
Begonia ‘Erythrophylla’ (Beefsteak Begonia)
Iris germanica leaves
Narcissus leaves
Container and Mechanics
Shallow, round, black dish
3 small black plastic Solo bowl
3 florist’s frogs (floral pin holders), 2.5 inch and 3 inch
Black polished stones

In A Vase On Monday – March Parallel

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us a chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her to discover what she and others found this week in their winter gardens to place In A Vase On Monday.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

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In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from the garden.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

Spring forward—yesterday marked a return to daylight savings time and we set clocks ahead by one hour. Despite the optimistic spring forward mnemonic, I gathered my flowers well ahead this week, on Friday, to stay ahead of winter’s return. A light snow fell briefly Sunday morning dusting the garden for a couple of hours before giving way to bright blue skies and sunshine. Early forecast models had predicted this might be a much bigger event than it was, but we could not escape below-freezing temperatures for several nights.

With impending cold and snow in mind I collected freely and was able to assemble a couple of designs.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

Both arrangements include Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’ for a rich punch of color and lovely pure white Narcissus ‘Thalia’ for springtime freshness.

Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’

Narcissus ‘Thalia’ just opened during the past week.

White Narcissus ‘Thalia’

The first arrangement places Mr. Fokker in a Portmerion porcelain vase with a botanic pattern with echoes of blues, greens and a blush of pink. Camellia x ‘Coral Delight’ enlivens the effect, subtle hellebores add balance.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

Although designed to be viewed from the front, the back of this arrangement shows off the Acuba’s gold flecks on dark green leaves.

Outside, arching branches of Eastern redbud are in bloom.

Back view highlights Acuba foliage. Eastern redbud is visible outdoors.

The second arrangement was intended to be a simple pitcher of daffodils, the newly opened Narcissus ‘Thalia’, and mostly is.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

In my experience daffodils are strong-willed, non-compliant participants in flower arrangements and work best when used alone. I forgot that lesson this week and fiddled with them for way too long. After a struggle I conceded and let them sit where they wanted; however, I did insist they share the vase with several anemones, grape hyacinths, candytuft and a single Tahiti double daffodil.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

The small bits of muscari and Iberis sempervirens add interesting texture and work well with the colors scheme.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

The stoneware container holding this second design was a wedding gift from my college roommate. I enjoy using this piece. It was made by a well-known local potter, Jim Pringle.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

Materials

Flowers
Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’
Anemone coronaria ‘The Bride’
Camellia x ‘Coral Delight’ (Synonym: Camellia japonica x Camellia saluenensis)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Hyacinth orientalis ‘Blue Jacket’
Hyacinth Sunrise Mix
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
Narcissus ‘Thalia’
Foliage
Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’ (Gold Dust Aucuba)
Vases
Portmerion- Botanic vase made in England
Stoneware pitcher glazed with bands of cream, green, blue. (from set of 4 cups and pitcher, Pringle Pottery, North Carolina, circa 1977)

Snow or no, this looks like spring to me. Has the season changed for you yet?

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

In A Vase On Monday – Shades Of Pink

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In A Vase On Monday – Shades Of Pink

Spring-like temperatures alerted flowers throughout the borders to awaken early this year. Then weekend brought the dreaded below-freezing lows that make farmers and backyard gardeners alike wring their hands. As I looked out Sunday morning, sure enough the neighbor’s saucer magnolia that had seemed primed for loveliness this year instead stood sagging with browned flowers.

In anticipation of joining Cathy at Rambling In The Garden in sharing a Monday vase, I browsed the garden late Sunday morning to gather materials. Surprisingly I found plenty of blooms still looking perky and bright. The ones I collected this week were mostly pink, starting with a winter flowering Camellia x ‘Coral Delight’ that had begun showing color by February 24 and finally opened last week.

Camellia x ‘Coral Delight’

I used hellebores last week but these stood out in that each stem had two flowers with very different colors. The top, more recently opened bloom was pink but the lower one had matured toward a striking lime green.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Several branches of native Eastern redbud covered in tight clusters of pink flowers were used to add height, rhythm, and a bit of drama to the arrangement.

In A Vase On Monday – Shades Of Pink

Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)

Mounds of pure white Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft) are the final ingredient in today’s Monday offering. This is one of my favorite ground covers.

Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)

Materials
Anemone coronaria ‘The Bride’
Camellia x ‘Coral Delight’ (Synonym: Camellia japonica x Camellia saluenensis)
Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
2.5 inch florist’s frog (floral pin holder)
Small black plastic Solo bowl
Black glazed, square ceramic pot base

In A Vase On Monday – Shades Of Pink

In A Vase On Monday—Spring Assortment

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In A Vase On Monday – Spring Assortment

Monday brings the chance to share cut flowers from the garden by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday.

Finally in full bloom in the southwestern border, hellebores were the starting inspiration for today’s arrangement. These are not the ones recently purchased at the hellebore farm, but were passed along from Vicki, a yoga and garden club friend, about five years ago.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Assortment

Growing on the north side of the house Camellia x ‘Coral Delight’ is full of flowers and plenty of fat buds promise many more. One branch of this camellia was included to add color interest and serve as a focal point.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Assortment

A redbud twig and five or six stems of spiraea were selected to add height and movement to the design. Both of these springtime favorites burst into blossom just in the past couple of days.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Assortment

Added as a last minute impulse, bright yellow from a trio of Narcissus ‘King Alfred’ lifts the arrangement and ties the other flowers together.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Assortment

I grabbed a cranberry-colored glass vase just to hold the hellebores while they were being conditioned, but ended up sticking with it. Not only is the vase a perfect size, but the dark red brings an unexpected element of drama to the spring assortment.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Assortment

Materials
Camellia x ‘Coral Delight’
Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’ (trumpet daffodil)
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
Cranberry red glass vase

On yesterday’s gray afternoon there was little light for picture-taking in the dining room where I moved the arrangement for display. The flowers will brighten up our meals this week (if we eat indoors! Last week we had most meals on the screened porch enjoying the birds and the view of the awakening garden.)

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Assortment

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly flower addiction. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.

In A Vase On Monday—Over The Top

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In A Vase On Monday

Monday brings an opportunity to practice flower arranging by joining in Cathy’s weekly In A Vase On Monday, where the goal is to fill a vase using materials gathered from one’s garden.

It has been years since I had planted hyacinth bulbs and they’ve been fun to watch. What an exuberant kind of flower. I had been reluctant to cut any but with Saturday night’s temperature predicted to drop down into the twenties, there was no better time. Still I chose only three, one ‘Blue Jacket’ and two ‘Woodstock’.

All over town native redbuds are blooming, Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud). Mine popped into flower suddenly Friday, really it seems it just opened without warning. I cut a branch, thinking it might be useful in preparing a Monday vase because the color is similar to ‘Woodstock’ hyacinth.

Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)

Also I discovered a newly opened Leucojum from among several my sisters shared with me last March from their garden. Thought I might as well rescue it too and appreciate it at close view.

I placed all the material into water for conditioning overnight, using two vases that were conveniently at hand. When I was ready to arrange the flowers I liked the way they looked with the vases so decided to stick with them. I used a floral pin holder to hold the large, arching branch of redbud, but kept the pin holder out of view by placing the branch behind a vase.

In A Vase On Monday

Having such rich colors in bloom is intoxicating. I took dozens and dozens of photos. I played around with the arrangement of the two vases in relation to each other and to the branch, until finally the entire arrangement seemed a bit excessive and over-the-top. Less is more, but this was more and more. I could not stop. Eventually the heavy fragrance of the hyacinths became overpowering and that was that.

In A Vase On Monday

Materials
Hyacinth orientalis ‘Blue Jacket’
Hyacinth orientalis ‘Woodstock’
Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)
Leucojum (Giant or Summer Snowflake)
Narcissus leaves

Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting. Please visit her to see what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.

In A Vase On Monday—Branching Into Spring

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It is Monday evening and I am joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday to create a floral arrangement from materials gathered in one’s own garden.

I dashed out late this afternoon when today’s heavy rain finally had paused. Brilliant white branches of spiraea, now in full bloom, draped gracefully downward under the weight of the day’s water. Thinking I simply would gather a few stems to place in a vase for today, I happy found the long spires were resilient after giving them a quick shake to remove the water. [Note: I am grateful to Marian at Hortitopia for helping me identify this as bridal wreath spiraea.]

Nearby I noticed the strong pink magenta flowers of the redbud tree. Deciding to switch directions, I cut a few branches of this also. Now my new goal was to display the curving, arching lines of several branches of redbud against the backdrop of a black container. My vision called for sophisticated restraint.

To support the arrangement I placed three florist’s frogs into a low black acrylic dish. As I started assembling the arrangement, each placement felt interesting, but it can be hard to know when to stop. Eventually I had included the spiraea also, making the design a bit more exuberant, even frillier, than I had intended. But I like the way it turned out.

Black stones set among the flower pins complete the arrangement.

I photographed the flowers on a handwoven silk table runner, a thoughtful gift from one of my sisters.

Materials List

Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting. Visit her to see what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.

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Tag Archives: Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)

Early May, MidAfternoon

Wordless Wednesday – Early March Wonders

In A Vase On Monday – Royal Sunset

In A Vase On Monday – Orchid With Redbud

In A Vase On Monday – Abundance Of Autumn

In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

In A Vase On Monday – Harbinger of Spring

Another One

In A Vase On Monday – March Parallel

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Forward

In A Vase On Monday – Shades Of Pink

In A Vase On Monday—Spring Assortment

In A Vase On Monday—Over The Top

In A Vase On Monday—Branching Into Spring