Tag Archives: Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)

In A Vase On Monday – Quartet

In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet

Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement every Monday using materials collected from our gardens. We have been a few days now without rain and more significantly, three days of cooler temperatures and lower humidity, blue skies and warm sun have brought luscious comfort to these last days of August.

Zinnias took over my design plans again this week. I had planned to feature some tiny stems of unsung workers in the garden—marigolds, lantana, celosia—but when walking around the garden I could not resist including gold, yellow and orange zinnias as well. These paired well with silvery Artemisia and richly colored Blackbird Euphorbia.

In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet

By using four straight-sided vodka glasses set inside another glass dish, I was able to mix and match heights. This enabled me to still use some of the tiny-stemmed flowers as well. I like the multi-colored blooms of common lantana. Butterflies are drawn to it also. In the bottom right corner perhaps you can make out the deep red of Marigold ’Spry Boy.’

In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet

The white-tipped undersides of this orange zinnia is strikingly different from others in this collection. Below it rests an apricot Dahlia ‘Fireworks.’

In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet

Although I like the vases collected into one arrangement, I was curious how they might look scattered more free-range.

I found this more interesting and versatile.

In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet

The interplay of forms is more obvious when the flowers are given space. The dahlias especially seem happier in this looser format.

In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet

Materials
Flowers
Celosia plumosa ‘Castle Mix’ (Feather Celosia)
Dahlia ‘Fireworks’
Lantana camara (Common lantana)
Marigold ’Spry Boy’
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Zinnia ‘Cut and Come Again’ (Zinnia elegant pumila), Botanical Interests.
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)
Vase
Vodka glasses and Glass dish

In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer Quartet

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—Red Pitcher

 

In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday

Each Monday brings an opportunity to join in Cathy’s weekly challenge called In A Vase On Monday. The goal is to fill a vase using materials collected from the garden.

Today’s offering is a simple collection of Zinnias in hues ranging from orange, apricot, coral, and pale yellow. Three sprigs of Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ contribute foliage in dark shades of purple and red. A burgundy dahlia and an umbel-shaped floret of Autumn Joy sedum,  now aged to a rich burnt sienna color, complete the arrangement.

In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday-4

The flowers are held in a bright red Waechtersbach pitcher accented with white hearts, a gift from my mother-in-law many years ago.

In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday

Materials

Dahlia ‘Blue Bell’
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)
Hylotelephium telephium ‘Herbstfreude’ (Autumn Joy)
Zinnia Cut and Come Again Mix

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting. Discover what delightful things she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday. Perhaps you will be inspired to share your own vase.

Early Morning In The Garden

The severe winter was rough on this Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ but I cut it all the way back in early spring. It has been looking strong ever since. There are flowers, but I became distracted by the colorful young leaves this morning.

Euphorbia 'Blackbird' (Spurge)

Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)

Euphorbia 'Blackbird' (Spurge)

Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ is barely blooming this summer, but a few were encouraged to give it try after this week’s rain.

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’

While I was photographing the Black and Blue saliva a handsome dragonfly landed nearby for several seconds before dashing off.

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

The heat suits the zinnias just fine. This one looked particularly fresh in the morning light.

Zinnia In Early Morning Sunshine

Zinnia In Early Morning Sunshine

In A Vase On Monday—Echinacea and Euphorbia

In A Vase On Monday

Technically it is not even summer yet it feels like summer is flying by. Monday is here again bringing the chance to practice flower arranging by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday. The goal is to fill a vase using materials gathered in one’s own garden.

When Echinacea ‘Big Sky Sundown’ began opening last week I brought one stem indoors, where I admired its red-orange color all week. This flower became the starting point for this week’s design.

For a deep blue contrast I chose Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ but there were not enough blooming just yet to make a large impact.

In A Vase On Monday-2

For more contrast to the echinacea’s strong hue, I included a branch of Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’. Its layers of dark leaves radiate out accentuating the rays of the echinacea.

A few sprigs of lavender extend the size of the arrangement and the color reflects some of the purplish highlights of the euphorbia as well.

In A Vase On Monday-4

I worked with several vases and settled on a dark blue matte-finished ceramic piece my daughter created. (She also built the cherry table.)  I have lots more to say about this arrangement but have to hurry off. Happy Vase Day!

In A Vase On Monday-5

Materials

Echinacea ‘Big Sky Sundown’ (Hybrid Coneflower)
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Spurge)
Lavender
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Pin frog (3-inch)

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