Amaryllis Trio – A pot of three amaryllis bulbs courtesy of our beautiful niece Julie
Amaryllis Trio
Amaryllis
Amaryllis Trio
Amaryllis Trio
Amaryllis Trio
Wordless Wednesday – Amaryllis Trio
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Tag Archives: garden photography
Flowery Views
Deconstructed Vase II
I spent a few minutes this morning deconstructing yesterday’s In A Vase On Monday contribution, the one composed of purchased bouquets.
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
I wanted to pursue an idea to create an Ikebana design using the Gerbera daisies in the black rectangular container, but I shifted gears right away. It proved more practical to lift out the Gerberas and style them into a different vase rather than to remove all the other materials from the black vase. The vision in my head never materialized but I ended up with two distinct arrangements, that diverge from the original in interesting ways.
Deconstructed Vase I
Deconstructed Vase I
Eventually I removed that tall Sweet William in back at left, which I had liked, but the second version feels more balanced and less tense.
Deconstructed Vase I
The remaining flowers required some shifting around but nothing major. There’s no daring but I ended up liking this incarnation with its soothing, limited palette.
Deconstructed Vase II
Deconstructed Vase II
Deconstructed Vase II
Deconstructed Vase II
It would be fun to rework the vases everyday all week but that probably won’t happen. This was a good exercise though.
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens. I confess this week only the box and gardenia foliage comes from my garden.
I have a new Amaryllis ‘Tres Chic’ stem exploding with blooms to share this week. Since this photograph was taken more buds have opened–now five of seven buds are fully open on this gorgeous Hippeastrum.
Second stem of Amaryllis ‘Tres Chic’ had 7 buds
A hurried shopping expedition ahead of the weekend’s winter storm altered my plans to feature only the amaryllis. At the grocery store I gave in to an impulse purchase of fresh cut flowers.
First I was smitten with the red Sweet William and green and white hydrangeas and I pictured they would look nice combined with the amaryllis. I chose a companion bundle of pink dianthus for filler to keep the arrangement from being just Christmas colors; nevertheless, green, red and white were the colors of the amaryllis so I stayed with them instead of giving in to some lovely and tempting orange roses. Green chrysanthemums looked very fresh and the offering of Gerbera daisies in rich red was irresistible.
A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain fell upon the garden all day Sunday. In the afternoon I entertained myself by preparing the flowers for today—bright splashes of color to counter the gray winter skies.
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
Materials
Flowers
Chrysanthemum
Dianthus
Gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii)
Hydrangea
Foliage
Boxwood
Gardenia
Container
Black metal suiban. 4 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches. Japan.
Floral foam
The container is the cast iron one introduced last week. It is a perfect shape and size.
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
In A Vase On Monday – Flowery Impulse
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.
Silent Sunday – Wintry Mix Meditation
In A Vase On Monday – Très Chic
In A Vase On Monday – Très Chic
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 – Très Chic
An Amaryllis Christmas gift from our dear friends in California bloomed magnificently this week and it’s a beautiful star in today’s vase. (Buds on a second stalk are beginning to open as well.) Amaryllis ‘Très Chic’ is described as a pattern of stars within stars starting with dark red and ending with green and crimson.
Amaryllis ‘Très Chic’
I relied heavily on a variety of foliage to form the framework of the design, creating a textural background for amaryllis. I hoped Winter Daphne which is showing color at the tips would make more impact here than it did. It mostly ended up in back. The foliage was not enough on its own.
In A Vase On Monday – Très Chic
It would have been nice to have more flowers to use this week to accent and complement the bright amaryllis. Outdoors, hellebores have formed buds now but have not opened and nothing else even promises blooms for now, so yes, those are the same calla lilies from a vase on November 29, 2021. I had not planned to use them a fifth time but this arrangement needed support beyond just the greenery. A stem of pink anthurium and a few fading nandina berries contribute the only other color I could scavenge (without reverting to the holidays and using poinsettias). Several magnolia seedpods left over from the dried arrangement that celebrated Cathy’s IAVOM anniversary awhile back add texture.
In A Vase On Monday – Très Chic
Magnolia Seedpod With Nandiina Berries
Materials
Flowers
Amaryllis ‘Très Chic’
Anthurium
Calla Lily (Zantedeschia)
Foliage
Boxwood
Daphne sp. (Winter daphne)
Lavender
Gardenia
Magnolia cones
Nandina berries
Container
Black metal suiban. 4 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches. Japan.
Floral foam
The container comes from a recent estate sale and belonged to a garden club friend and horticulture judge. Nearly 5 pounds in weight, it seems to be cast iron. It has a decorative Asian motif around the sides and ornate pedestal feet.
In A Vase On Monday – Très Chic
In A Vase On Monday – Très Chic
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.
An Anniversary Note
pbmGarden became live on Friday, January 7, 2011, eleven years ago. Since that time I’ve been buoyed by your presence here. I am grateful for the old and new friendships that intersect this space. Thank you.
In A Vase On Monday – Winter Red
In A Vase On Monday – Winter Red
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens. I have had my eye on several Amaryllis buds but they’re not quite open. Several other ideas did not pan out, so today although the year is new the vase materials are not.
In A Vase On Monday – Winter Red
These calla lilies had been blooming in a pot for a couple weeks before I cut them (and the lavender) to use in a vase on November 29, 2021. This marks their fourth appearance being featured in a Monday vase. I have been amazed at their vase life. Other callas have not had this kind of staying power.
In A Vase On Monday – Winter Red
Keeping them company are beautiful magnolia foliage from large branches my neighbor brought over in mid-December for the holidays. I chose a few of the smallest glossy green leaves to accent the flowers and I used a different vase—the blue seemed to work well with the flowers.
In A Vase On Monday – Winter Red
Materials
Flowers
Calla Lily (Zantedeschia)
Foliage
Lavender
Magnolia
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)
I’ve been exploring recently-added features to some photo software. I like the effect of the cleaner look after removing the background.
Happy New Year to everyone! Wishing you a year of good health, good gardens and good deeds (giving and receiving) in the upcoming year. 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.
Silent Sunday – Flower Play
Flower Play
Butterfly Journal – 2021 Review
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Monitoring butterflies in my garden this year was enriching and endearing.
When I committed to the idea of recording all my observations it was April. I’d already seen a few butterflies. In 2020 I had seen over 30 individuals and I imagined if I were diligent it would be possible, or at least very cool, to see 100 total during 2021.
My projection was way off. By late November as I recorded my last observation of 2021, an American Lady, the final count had risen to 600 individuals from among 30 species. I assembled some simple charts to help me put my butterfly records into perspective.
The butterflies appeared slowly at first, beginning in April. The peak month was July.
PAPILIONIDAE – 8 spp. in NC
Eight species from the Papilionidae butterfly family are found in North Carolina. I saw four of them this year in the garden.
Swallowtails (Papilioninae)
Some of the largest and prettiest are swallowtails—colorful and fast-moving.
The first butterfly of the season was an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. They are described as Common/Abundant in the Piedmont region where I live. (Interestingly I did not spot a Spicebush Swallowtail this year though it is listed as common in all parts of the state.)
June 28, 2021 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) – Male
The other three swallowtails that visited (Black, Pipevine, Zebra) are listed for my county as uncommon and were indeed outnumbered by the Eastern Tiger 70 to 15.
September 11, 2021 – Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
June 9, 2021 – Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
July 20, 2021 – Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
PIERIDAE – 16 spp. in NC
Of sixteen species in the Pieridae family found in North Carolina, three visited my garden in 2021. The abundance of Cabbage White and Cloudless Sulphur are listed as Uncommon/Common for my section of the state. (That designation seems confusing, but the region is geographically large and populations can be local within a region.) Sleepy Orange is listed as Common.
Sulphurs (Coliadinae)
September 20, 2021 Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) -Open Wings
September 18, 2021 Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
Whites (Pierinae)
June 21, 2021 – Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
LYCAENIDAE – 30 spp. in NC (Gossamer-winged butterflies)
In the Lycaenidae family only about half the species are seen in my area. I saw 3 species of Hairstreaks and two species of Blues.
Hairstreaks (Theclinae)
The White M Hairstreak is considered Rare/Uncommon here. This year was the first time seeing them. I am told they do not often frequent a garden setting so I was particularly happy to twice see one.
September 16, 2021 -White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)
September 17, 2021 Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
July 3, 2021 -Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) on Liatris spicata ‘Blazing Star’
Blues (Polyommatinae)
Listed as Common here, Summer Azure is the only butterfly recorded this year for which I did not get a photo. Just as a point of reference I include a picture taken in 2013, the only other year I recorded one in my garden. Eastern Tailed-Blue is listed as Common/Abundant in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, but I saw just four.
Archive Photo. August 15, 2013 – Summer Azure (C. neglecta) on Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange Coneflower)
September 29, 2021 Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas)
NYMPHALIDAE (Brush-footed butterflies) – 50 spp. in NC
The Nymphalidae family is also known as brush-footed butterflies. This year I saw species from two of the sub-families: Milkweed Butterflies and True Brush-foots.
Some were noticeably absent. In my garden two years ago (2019) I saw Painted Lady, Gulf Fritillary and Variegated Fritillary, last year (2020) I saw Viceroy, Red-spotted Purple and American Snout; however this year in 2021 none of those Nymphalidae species appeared in the garden. (I finally did spot a Painted Lady at the grocery store one day!)
Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae)
National reports of increased populations of Monarchs were good news this year. In my garden I recorded 24, but it feels like fewer visited than normal.
November 13, 2021 – Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
True Brush-foots (Nymphalinae)
I saw my first Question Mark this year. It sped away before I could get close. The species is listed as Common here, as is American Lady. Common Buckeye, Pearl Crescent are Common/Abundant.
June 14, 2021 Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
July 21, 2021 – American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
June 12, 2021 Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
September 14, 2021 Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
HESPERIIDAE (Skippers) – 73 spp. in NC
Thirteen species from the Hesperiidae family came to the garden this year. Of the 7 lifers I excitedly observed this year, 5 were from this family: Hoary Edge, Southern Broken-Dash, Eufala Skipper, Little Glassywing and Common Checkered-Skipper.
Dicot Skippers (Eudaminae)
July 26, 2021 – Hoary Edge (Thorybes lyciades)
September 13, 2021 Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae)
October 3, 2021 – Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis)
July 10, 2021 -Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae)
September 2, 2021 – Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris)
November 12, 2021 – Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
June 8, 2021 – Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho)
August 9, 2021 Little Glassywing (Pompeius verna)
July 9, 2021 -Sachem (Atalopedes campestris)
August 14, 2021 Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon), male
August 11, 2021 Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)
October 3, 2021 – Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)
August 16, 2021 Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
This brings to a close my butterfly project for 2021. Thanks for your keen interest throughout the past months. I’ve appreciated your comments, your sharing of your own butterfly sightings, your enthusiasm. Your encouragement kept me motivated.
Happy Butterflying!
References
pbmGarden 2021 Butterfly Journals
Checklist of the 105 Butterfly Species of Chatham County, NC as of 12/29/2021 (PDF)
In A Vase On Monday – Gardenia Hips
In A Vase On Monday – Gardenia Hips
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.
In some years gardenia hips form on the shrubs like a decorative motif. On Christmas Eve I found this couple and brought them indoors. The container is a sugar bowl from our daughter’s childhood tea set. It is sitting on top of a walnut table she designed.
In A Vase On Monday – Gardenia Hips
In A Vase On Monday – Gardenia Hips
2021 Favorites
As year 2021 closes I thank you for reading and Cathy for hosting In A Vase On Monday. There are many fine and interesting garden memes but this one caught my imagination. I have long loved having fresh flowers in the house when they were available. By participating in IAVOM I have been inspired to grow more flowers for every season. I derive pleasure and many ideas from seeing the vases of others shared weekly from across the globe, and am heartened and encouraged by those of you who take time to check out my vases on Mondays.
I chose a few of my favorite florals from my collection of 2021 vases (see Floral Design menu for other years).
Glimpse Of Spring -March 1, 2021
Daffodils In Green Vase -March 8, 2021
Iris Spring -April 19, 2021
Coral Trove -April 26, 2021
Sunrise and Dark Night -June 28, 2021
Summer Flowers In Black Vessel -August 30, 2021
Savoring The Moment -October 18, 2021
Holiday Mood -December 20, 2021.
Wishing you a floriferous and peaceful year ahead!
Visit Cathy at Rambling In The Garden to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.
In A Vase On Monday – Holiday Mood
In A Vase On Monday – Holiday Mood
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 – Holiday Mood
The Calla lilies and vase used the previous two Mondays are back for a third appearance. I don’t think I have ever had an arranged flowers last so long. The lilies, still looking fresh, remain mostly in their original spots, with the last three flowers from the potted calla lily plant added to fill in the design.
The lily foliage, which had faded to a golden yellow last week, finally browned and was removed. Greenery used today is from the garden, columbine and fragrant sprigs of rosemary and lavender.
Columbine and Callas
Calla Lilies with Rosemary
A lovely Amaryllis bulb gift from a yoga friend just before Thanksgiving produced 4 large red flowers on a single and has a second stem as well.
Amaryllis
I was photographing the amaryllis this week, unfortunately knocking off one of the blooms in the process. Saved a few days in a small vase, today the flower serves as a bright red focal point.
Amaryllis Surrounded By Columbine
With the addition of the red amaryllis, the design called for more red. My solution was to add a spare cutting of Poinsettia and a stem of faux berries. They helped with balance and with composition.
Callas, Poinsettia And Faux Berries
In A Vase On Monday – Holiday Mood
In A Vase On Monday – Holiday Mood
In A Vase On Monday – Holiday Mood
Materials
Flowers
Hippeastrum (Amaryllis)
Calla Lily (Zantedeschia)
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Foliage
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
Lavender
Rosemary
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches.
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 – Claret With Age
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Age
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.
We have had warm days recently and a slight amount of rain. Later this week temperatures will return to the 70s, but this morning it is 26°F. I expect I could locate a camellia to share but instead I have chosen to share an example of aging.
Last Monday’s vase featured a new container and inside, cuttings from a potted calla lily to which I was drawn due to its deep claret flowers. I have enjoyed this pairing immensely and my husband even has commented on it several times during the past week.
Original Design Last Week: In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Texture
Today, these flowers remain quite fresh, but the foliage of the calla lily has aged considerably.
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Age
I considered replacing the greenery with something evergreen, but with each day’s changes, increasingly I have come to admire the transforming leaves, as over the course of time they have assumed a honeyed-pineapple glow.
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Age
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Age
The aging process brought a new appreciation, a new perspective to the arrangement.
Materials
Flowers, Foliage
Calla Lily (Zantedeschia)
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches.
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Age
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 – Claret With Texture
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Texture
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 – Claret With Texture
I purchased a beautiful potted calla lily a couple of weeks ago enticed by its deep claret flowers, knowing some portion of it might end up in a Monday vase. These alluring waxy flowers quickly came together into a comfortable assemblage I find pleasing.
Calla Lily (Zantedeschia)
It is perhaps the vase, not the flowers, that is the primary focal point of today’s design. Newly purchased through an online estate sale of vases, this refined container belonged to a garden club friend, Jinny. A respected floral designer, horticulture judge and long-standing member of our local garden club, Jinny was the first person I met in the club when I joined—she welcomed me then and always with a friendly smile. In 2013 when I participated in the garden club’s floral design classes, she was one of the excellent teachers. I appreciated Jinny’s encouragement and am ever grateful for her inspiration.
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Texture
I am looking forward to experimenting with this vase so you may see it often.
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Texture
Materials
Flowers, Foliage
Calla Lily (Zantedeschia)
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches.
In A Vase On Monday – Claret With Texture
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 – Red Flowers
In A Vase On Monday – Red Flowers
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 – Red Flowers
Overnight temperatures in the 20s F. spoil any opened camellia flowers, but buds remain plentiful on Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’. Flowers open afresh daily, so I was able to collect several stems of red camellias for today’s vase.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Materials
Flowers, Foliage
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)
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.
Butterfly Journal For 11/19/2021 – 11/28/2021
American Lady – Vanessa virginiensis
Since my last Butterfly Journal report I recorded a single observation, bringing the 2021 annual butterfly total for my garden to 600 (30 species)*.
[*Including a Painted Lady seen in town the overall 2021 annual butterfly total is an 601 (31 species).]
Butterfly Sightings 11/19/2021 – 11/28/2021
11/28/2021 American Lady – Vanessa virginiensis 1
A fortuitous glance out the window and a flash of orange led me outdoors just to double-check and yes, it really was a butterfly in late November nectaring on dandelion. There was time only for two quick snapshots.
American Lady – Vanessa virginiensis
American Lady – Vanessa virginiensis
What might December bring?
In A Vase On Monday – November Curiosities
In A Vase On Monday – November Curiosities
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.
With temperatures now below freezing at night the garden has receded considerably, yet it offered surprises this week. More of the white plicata bearded irises with their purple stitching and stippling that featured in last Monday’s vase have continued to form new flowers and Russian sage in the side garden suddenly is covered with fresh flowers.
In A Vase On Monday – November Curiosities
In A Vase On Monday – November Curiosities
Even as photographed in the weak light of late afternoon, these November oddities, nestled into a porcelain Ikebana vase, make an intriguing combination.
In A Vase On Monday – November Curiosities
Materials
Flowers
Tall bearded iris, reblooming
Salvia yangii, previously known as Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Foliage
Container
Container Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)
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.
Butterfly Journal For 11/13/2021 – 11/18/2021
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Cleome
Since my last Butterfly Journal report I recorded 2 observations, bringing the 2021 annual butterfly total for my garden to 599 (30 species)*.
[*Including a Painted Lady seen in town the overall 2021 annual butterfly total is an even 600 (31 species).]
Butterfly Sightings 11/13/2021 – 11/18/2021
11/13/2021 Fiery Skipper – Hylephila phyleus 1
11/13/2021 Monarch – Danaus plexippus 1
Last Sunday, November 13, was our first morning waking up to temperatures below freezing. It was also the only day of butterfly activity detected in my garden this week. A glorious late-morning sighting of a fresh, male monarch sent me outdoors to document this late arrival.
The butterfly flew in and among the beds tasting a number of plants along the way, including dianthus.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
For a time it settled in the meditation circle attracted to verbena bonariensis and eventually to cleome. Determinedly fighting a gusty wind the butterfly resembled someone in a storm wrestling an unwieldy umbrella.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Throughout the week the thermometer readings dipped a few times again below 32F, but ironically we had beautiful and warm days with highs reaching to mid-70s. Seeing the monarch Sunday lifted my expectations that a few more stragglers might wander through, but searching most days among the remaining flowers yielded no further butterfly treasure.
One afternoon I saw a good number of yellow jackets reigning over the camellias, while two sluggish carpenter bees had the chrysanthemums to themselves. Lady bugs flew by (some are creeping into the house) and, so it goes.
Eastern Carpenter Bee on Chrysanthemum
After spending months looking so closely inward toward the garden, in the early hours of this morning my attention focused skyward to observe the full Beaver Moon of November 2021 in the longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years. Around 4 a.m. EDT, near the peak of the eclipse, I joined my fellow curious humans to observe the moon 97% covered by the Earth’s shadow. Bathed in a reddish glow our planet’s natural satellite was resplendent as it cast light over this little garden.
Hope awe and wonder filtered through your life this week.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
In A Vase On Monday – Abundance Of Autumn
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.
Butterfly Journal For 11/05/2021 – 11/12/2021
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Since my last Butterfly Journal report I recorded 6 observations, bringing the 2021 annual butterfly total for my garden to 597 (30 species)*.
[*The overall 2021 annual butterfly total to 598 (31 species).]
Butterfly Sightings 11/05/2021 – 11/12/2021
11/9/2021 Cloudless Sulphur – Phoebis sennae 1
11/12/2021 Cabbage White – Pieris rapae 1
11/12/2021 Ocola Skipper – Panoquina ocola 1
11/12/2021 Fiery Skipper – Hylephila phyleus 3
From a window on Tuesday I spotted a Cloudless Sulphur floating above the garden for a minute or two, but it quickly moved on without making a stop. There are still a few floral enticements it might have tasted: saliva, lantana, a few zinnias and cosmos. Or how about some fresh button chrysanthemums? Yesterday a Fiery Skipper found a sunny spot to pause among the flowers of this passalong plant.
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
After a busy week it was a relief to spend some time in the garden yesterday afternoon. The day was sunny and mild. I planted narcissus, hyacinths, muscari and allium yesterday—still a few more bulbs to place.
A butterfly drew me outside. I had spotted it earlier but it didn’t stay. When it returned (presumably it was the same one) it paused among a large planting of shasta daisies before moving through the garden. I couldn’t get very close to it but I don’t think I have ever been so pleased to see a Cabbage White! This was the tenth one of 2021 and the first one here since mid-July.
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
While trying to photograph the Cabbage White I noticed skippers in front of me. I shifted the camera toward them just as the Cabbage White took off and felt their touch. I’ve never had a butterfly land on my hand before, much less two. It was a sweet moment but the timing was decidedly awkward.
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
I helped them settle back onto lantana.
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Autumn color exploded this week and throughout the neighborhood and along our routes around town the views have been spectacular. The last time I wrote a butterfly journal entry there was a prediction for our first freeze that never materialized. Tomorrow (Sunday) a hard freeze (30°F.) is expected.
In A Vase On Monday – Year Eight
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.
Butterfly Journal For 10/29/2021 – 11/04/2021
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) at Fresh Market
Since my last Butterfly Journal report I recorded 1 observation in my garden, bringing the 2021 annual butterfly total for my garden to 591 (30 species).
Also I had a first-of-year sighting in a commercial landscape planting at the grocery store this week. I have been on the lookout for a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), but it is a little bittersweet that I finally saw one this year away from home and not in my garden. I am excited nevertheless; this encounter brings my overall 2021 annual butterfly total to 592 (31 species).
Butterfly Sightings 10/29/2021 – 11/04/2021
10/31/2021 Clouded Skipper – Lerema accius 1
11/2/2021 Painted Lady – Vanessa cardui 1 FOY [not in my garden]
A Clouded Skipper frequented the back garden for much of one day. I also think I saw another one nectaring at the sasanquas but I could not get a photograph of that one for verification. This one landed on Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ .
Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)
It was nice to capture an open-wing view of the skipper taking off among coreposis leaves.
Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)
There is a freeze warning for tonight, our first this fall. Butterfly season is waning but I intend to keep an eye out for any late activity.
In A Vase On Monday – Pink In Painted Glass
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.
Butterfly Journal For 10/22/2021 – 10/28/2021
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Since my last Butterfly Journal report I recorded 7 observations (2 species), bringing the 2021 annual butterfly total for my garden to 590 (30 species).
Compared to the previous report this is 3 more observations but 2 fewer species. Nectar sources are still available for any last minute guests but the butterfly party is closing down for this year.
Butterfly Sightings 10/22/2021 – 10/28/2021
10/22/2021 Monarch – Danaus plexippus 3
10/24/2021 Fiery Skipper – Hylephila phyleus 3
10/27/2021 Fiery Skipper – Hylephila phyleus 1
Frequent visitors to the garden since mid-June, Fiery Skippers are uncommon now.
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
On October 22, 2021, I was particularly happy to see 3 monarchs feeding at the lantana. This male had a unusual light coloration on it’s right upper wing.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
At one point it moved perilously close to ensnarement by a huge orb spider. Alarmed, I disassembled the web quickly but was unable to relocate the spider. A master at escape, it simply dropped out of sight. The next day it’s web was rebuilt and once again I took it down. One thread of the web is visible in the lower left quadrant of the photo below.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Butterfly season has been an enriching time here in my little garden this year. Thanks to all for sharing this little adventure.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
In A Vase On Monday – Zinnias And Zest
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.
Butterfly Journal For 10/15/2021 – 10/21/2021
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
Since my last Butterfly Journal report I recorded 4 observations (4 species), bringing the 2021 annual butterfly total for my garden to 583 (30 species).
Butterfly Sightings 10/15/2021 – 10/21/2021
10/15/2021 Cloudless Sulphur – Phoebis sennae 1
10/15/2021 Ocola Skipper – Panoquina ocola 1
10/16/2021 Pearl Crescent – Phyciodes tharos 1
10/21/2021 Monarch – Danaus plexippus 1
None of the butterflies stayed around long enough for more than quick snapshots. With the Pearl Crescent the time was only enough to recognize and record its presence with an obscure image.
Last weekend there were promises and some reports of rain throughout the region but nothing more here than a brief splash. Though there are still plenty of flowers on the Lantana camara (Common lantana), skippers have all but disappeared from their favorite nectar source in my garden.
Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
In mid-October despite their now deeply mildewed foliage, zinnias continue to provide a resounding zing of color to the borders. I’ve been in no hurry to clear them, preferring to enjoy for myself the pops of pink, orange and yellow that dominated this year’s crop, knowing too butterflies might enjoy them. Yesterday I embodied an old clichéd phrase: my heart soared when I spotted a fresh female monarch nectaring on the zinnias.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) -female
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) -female
Occasional sightings are possible into next month but butterfly season here is coming to a close.
pbmGarden 