Tag Archives: in a vase on monday

In A Vase On Monday – June Sunshine

26 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – June Sunshine

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase with materials selected from our gardens.

For almost a week I have enjoyed watching a long row of Asiatic lilies slowly reveal their colors. They are from a collection called “Sunset Mix”. The yellow ones were the last to open, shining brightly like sunshine itself.

In A Vase On Monday – June Sunshine

I also had collected an orange lily and a purple gladiolus to use, but decided they were not necessary, settling instead on the simplicity of a single yellow lily nestled in greenery.

In A Vase On Monday – June Sunshine

In A Vase On Monday – June Sunshine

Materials
Flowers
Lily Asiatic “Sunset Mix”
Foliage
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Leucanthemum superbum (Shasta Daisy)
Containers
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches.

In A Vase On Monday – June Sunshine

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – May Blooms

20 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – May Blooms

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase with materials selected from our gardens.

The vases more than the flowers were to be the focal point today. My daughter gave me a wonderful pair of modern sculptural vases for Mother’s Day.  The oval shaped donut vases interlock and can  be uses singly or paired.

Mother’s Day Vases 2023

I wanted to introduce them with a more stellar design but I will need to experiment and get to know the vases better. I stubbornly chose the wrong materials this morning, knowing the stems were too stiff to work well with the curving lines of the vases. So after much brute force, I manipulated the flowers enough to have something presentable, but only after adding a third vase into the mix.

In A Vase On Monday – May Blooms

In A Vase On Monday – May Blooms

The oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’) is doing great this year, unlike last year. It likes the rains we’ve had this spring. I was determined to use it today.

In A Vase On Monday – May Blooms

It took a lot of years and trying (and eventually, buying plants rather than seeds) to establish Bachelor’s Buttons in the garden. These are Centaurea cyanus ‘Blue Boy’ in their second year.

In A Vase On Monday – May Blooms

I included two yellow snapdragons that surprised me this week and a pink Hydrangea macrophylla, just coming into flower.

In A Vase On Monday – May Blooms

Materials
Flowers
Centaurea cyanus ‘Blue Boy’ (Bachelor’s Button, Cornflower)
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Snapdragon
Foliage
none
Containers
Modern oval donut vase pair. Large vase – h: 8.4” w: 6.3” caliber: 1.7”; Small vase – h: 6.8” w: 5.4” caliber: 1.3”
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches.

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Peony Pinks

25 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Peony Pinks

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase with materials selected from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Peony Pinks

Today’s vase features the last of the peonies. Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’ has had a good run this spring.

Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’

P. ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ did not have many flowers this year, but I did not mind cutting them. The weather has turned hot and dry so they will not last well outdoors. I went ahead and prepared this vase on Wednesday. (Update: Saturday night brought a nice rain, but more would be welcome.)

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’

I used an orangey-pink snapdragon and a few newly flowering Bachelor’s Buttons to provide some relief from all the pink.

Centaurea cyanus ‘Blue Boy’ (Bachelor’s Button, Cornflower)

Materials
Flowers
Centaurea cyanus ‘Blue Boy’ (Bachelor’s Button, Cornflower)
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’
Perennial Everlasting Sweet Pea
Snapdragon
Yarrow
Foliage
Italian Oregano
Container
Red/black raku vase, Charles Chrisco, Chrisco’s Pottery—Seagrove Potters

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Purple With Fragrance

23 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Purple With Fragrance

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase with materials selected from our gardens.

I didn’t have a plan for today but the irises called out once again. They are having a stellar year. The earliest-blooming irises flowered at the end of March and, in the weeks since there has been a steady succession of irises.

An abundant armful of Iris ‘Helen Collingwood’ stuffed tightly into a large, heavy glass vessel reflects this particular flower’s vigorous, bountiful nature in the garden.

This is a large display, 20-inches tall by 17-inches across.

In A Vase On Monday – Purple With Fragrance

I. ‘Helen Collingwood’ is distinctively scented (meaning I can smell it easily and it smells nice). It may be difficult to tell from the photographs, but the standards are very pale lavender. The falls are violet-purple.

Iris ‘Helen Collingwood’

Iris Siberica ‘Concord Crush’ gets much less real estate in the borders, but in its second year it’s making an impact as well. It seemed natural to tuck in a few right out front.

Iris Siberica ‘Concord Crush’

Iris Siberica ‘Concord Crush’

Materials
Flowers
Iris ‘Helen Collingwood’
Iris Siberica ‘Concord Crush’
Foliage
None
Container
Glass Vase, 12” tall by 7″ wide

I’m way behind reading and commenting but I hope to catch up soon. I appreciate hearing from you and look forward to virtual visits to your own gardens again.

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’

29 Replies

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase with materials selected from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’

Today’s vase features Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’. A weekend of relentless downpours and thunderstorms could not dampen her beauty.

In A Vase On Monday – Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’

In A Vase On Monday – Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’

In A Vase On Monday – Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’

Materials
Flowers
Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)
Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’
Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’
Foliage
Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Container
Hand painted Fenton Glass Vase – USA

In A Vase On Monday – Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome II

15 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Rose Array

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase with materials selected from our gardens. I have two vases again this week, both with a single color focus.

Virgie’s Rose

Graceful arching branching of pass-along roses caught my eye in the garden this morning and I decided to feature the rose and try to recreate the its elegant flowing lines.

In A Vase On Monday – Rose Array

The container is a sculptural centerpiece designed by my daughter. She turned a slight crack in a piece of walnut into a design feature by shaping and carving the board. Small holes bored down the length of the wood are just the right size to hold tea candles and small vases (I’ve used narrow vodka glasses today).

In A Vase On Monday – Rose Array

In A Vase On Monday – Rose Array

Materials
Flowers and foliage
Virgie’s Rose
Container
Handcrafted centerpiece, walnut. MLB.

Iris

Before I was bewitched by the roses my intention was to feature an Ikebana-style arrangement using a yellow passalong iris. Something simple with a bit of foliage.

In A Vase On Monday – Yellow Iris

Since I spent most of my free time with the roses, there was little time to fiddle with the iris design or frame better photographs. It looks cheery though in the foyer.

The various leaf shapes and textures are interesting and worth exploring another time. I particularly like the hydrangea nestled against the iris.

In A Vase On Monday – Yellow Iris

In A Vase On Monday – Yellow Iris

In A Vase On Monday – Yellow Iris

Materials
Flowers
Narcissus x medioluteus (Twin Sisters / Cemetery Ladies )
Iris germanica (Tall bearded iris)
Foliage
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Polygonatum biflorum(Solomon’s seal)
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)

In A Vase On Monday – Yellow Iris

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

42 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase with materials selected from our gardens. With both in their prime, it was difficult to choose between irises and peonies so both get a deserved moment in the limelight this week.

Iris

The irises coloring the front yard this week are passalongs that came without a name. Their delicate flowers are more petite and flowy than many of my irises.

Iris With Raindrops

I love their pure violet blue hue and their slender confident stature rising above the green grass and wanted to translate this monochromatic growing scheme into a simple vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

Reusing Lamb’s ears in the same container from last week, the vase came together quickly. Versatile Cerinthe used as filler made a pleasant partner to the iris.

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

Materials
Flowers
Iris, a passalong
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Foliage
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches, with floral pin holder.
Black stones

Peony

With more rain forecast I cut most of the open Coral Charm peonies Friday morning.

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

Fern-like foliage of Tansy brought its own calming texture to the complex structure of the flowers.

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

In A Vase On Monday – Monochrome

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ (Coral Charm Peony)
Foliage
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Container
Black metal suiban. 4 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches. Japan.
Black stones

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Intention

36 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Intention

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase with items collected from our gardens.

It is easy to become distracted in the spring garden. The only thing I knew I wanted in today’s vase was cerinthe and then when I went out to gather materials this morning I completely forgot to get some, realizing the omission only after this vase was assembled. So much for intention; I’ve come to appreciate flexibility and resiliency just as much.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Intention

A single Coral Charm peony was available this morning. At its feet was a large spread of Stachys byzantina, fuzzy lamb’s ears, glistening in the sunlight. The combination was serendipitously satisfying in its contrast of texture and form.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Intention

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Intention

A touch of recently planted Purple Bicolor Sweet William, along with hellebores heading to seed, and bulbous seed pods of summer snowflakes fill out the design.

Dianthus ‘Purple Bicolor’ (Sweet William)

Seeds forming on hellebores

Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake) seed pods

Materials
Flowers
Dianthus ‘Purple Bicolor’ (Sweet William)
Helleborus x hybridus
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ (Coral Charm Peony)
Foliage
Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake) Seedheads
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches, with floral pin holder.
Black stones

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Intention

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Intention

Had to include one more image. Since bringing the peony inside it is already opening more fully.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Intention

Have a wonderful week. Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Crimson King

29 Replies

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

In A Vase On Monday – Crimson King

Spring is coming on too quickly for me to keep up. Suddenly the early irises are in full bloom.

In A Vase On Monday – Crimson King

In A Vase On Monday – Crimson King. Side view

A passalong from a dear neighbor ever so many years ago, the dark and intense reddish-violet Iris ‘Crimson King’ is the main star in today’s vase.

Iris ‘Crimson King

Amassed onto one side for impact, white Cheerfulness daffodils were selected to brighten and to provide contrast against the intense purple of Crimson King.

Iris germanica ‘Orinoco Flow’ brings texture and pattern to the design, while reinforcing the purple and white theme. Similarly Hellebores, chosen originally to serve as fillers, also heighten and enhance the color theme.

In A Vase On Monday – Crimson King

In A Vase On Monday – Crimson King

In A Vase On Monday – Crimson King

In A Vase On Monday – Crimson King

Materials
Flowers
Iris ‘Crimson King’
Iris germanica ‘Orinoco Flow’
Narcissus ‘Cheerfulness’
Helleborus x hybridus
Foliage
Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches, with floral pin holder.
Black stones

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Branches And Iris

25 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Branches And Iris

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens. Our flowering dogwood opened a couple days ago so, braving a few strikes of lightning and raindrops, I clipped a few branches to highlight today.

In A Vase On Monday – Branches And Iris

At the same time I rescued a deep yellow daffodil and one with pink accents from the pending rains.

In A Vase On Monday – Branches And Iris

In A Vase On Monday – Branches And Iris

A reliable clump of Dutch iris circa 2001 bloomed en masse yesterday and I felt they deserved to be featured as well, as much for their resilience as for their beauty.

In A Vase On Monday – Branches And Iris

The selections turned out to be not particularly compatible in shape or color, but with no time to search for more materials they managed to keep their co-starring roles. The result is far afield from my original vision. The daffodils I believe tied the dogwood and irises together. There are always lessons to learn but in the end, fresh spring flowers are glorious and fill our house with joy.

In A Vase On Monday – Branches And Iris

Materials
Flowers
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)
Iris × hollandica (Dutch Iris)
Narcissus ‘Delnashaugh’ (Double Daffodil)
Narcissus (no ID)
Foliage
Iris leaves
Container
Black metal suiban. 4 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches. Japan.
Black stones

In A Vase On Monday – Branches And Iris

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Tulips and Daffodils

27 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Tulips and Daffodils

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens.

On the last day of February a friend stopped by with a pot of tulips in bud. They’ve been a marvel. I resisted cutting them until recently, spurred on by wishing for a little something else to add to this set of pink-centered daffodils.

In A Vase On Monday – Tulips and Daffodils

I had tried some pink daffodils a few times but last year finally established a grouping in the garden. This one came in a mixed bag so I’m not sure of its name.

In A Vase On Monday – Tulips and Daffodils

This lovely double one is a perfect accompaniment for the single.

Narcissus ‘Delnashaugh’ (Double Daffodil)

So I selected a few tulips to include in the vase. I like the pleasing way the colors blend.

In A Vase On Monday – Tulips and Daffodils

In A Vase On Monday – Tulips and Daffodils

In A Vase On Monday – Tulips and Daffodils

In A Vase On Monday – Tulips and Daffodils

Materials
Flowers
Narcissus ‘Delnashaugh’ (Double Daffodil)
Narcissus (no ID)
Tulip
Foliage
None
Container
Dark blue matte ceramic jar

Last week I had prepared a fresh vase of white daffodils, Narcissus ‘Thalia’, but didn’t manage to get them photographed in time to join other Monday vases, so I am sneaking them in today. Thalia are a particular favorite and I’m pleased to see their numbers increasing again after a few years of poor showing.

Narcissus ‘Thalia’

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her vase and check out those of other gardeners from around the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Hellebores With Shades Of Blue

29 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Hellebores With Shades Of Blue

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens.

A quickly assembled vase for today in blue (more purple really), pale green and white was not quite balanced when I took the photos. (Later I removed the hyacinth on the left and was somewhat more satisfied.)

My friend since college, Susan, brought me pansies last fall for a bit of color throughout winter. With the warmer weather the blue/purple, white and apricot flowers have come into their own. For this vase I connected several of the the bluish ones with strongly fragrant hyacinths of similar shades. In contrast, white summer snowflakes and greenish white hellebores stand tall above the darker layer.

In A Vase On Monday – Hellebores With Shades Of Blue

In A Vase On Monday – Hellebores With Shades Of Blue

In A Vase On Monday – Hellebores With Shades Of Blue

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus
Hyacinth Orientalis ‘Shades of Blue’
Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake)
Pansy Grandio True Blue’
Pansy Grandio Deep Blue W/Blotch’
Foliage
Helleborus
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches, with floral pin holder

In A Vase On Monday – Hellebores With Shades Of Blue

My husband’s medical issues continue to be a challenge, but I managed an hour in the garden Sunday afternoon, sprinkling some seeds and imagining and designing and reaping the benefit of just being outdoors. I dug some summer snowflakes to share with our caregiver’s mother. Passing along plants is gratifying, especially since I’ve so often been the recipient of gardeners’s generosity.

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her hellebores and check out others’ vases from many parts of the world.

In A Vase On Monday – Lightly Scented Yellow

25 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Lightly Scented Yellow

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Lightly Scented Yellow

‘King Alfred’ daffodils continue to open around the garden. I grabbed a few minutes this afternoon to pluck a couple handfuls and place them in an earth-toned ceramic container. I bought the vase one spring day many years ago at an Apple Chill Festival on downtown Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street. I scanned back through pictures and I believe the last time I used it for a Monday vase was 2015.

In A Vase On Monday – Lightly Scented Yellow

Narcissus ‘King Alfred’

One non-Alfred with pale yellow petals made its way into the vase as well, it’s name long forgotten.

In A Vase On Monday – Lightly Scented Yellow

In A Vase On Monday – Lightly Scented Yellow

In A Vase On Monday – Lightly Scented Yellow

Materials
Flowers
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’
Narcissus sp.
Foliage
Gardenia jasminoides
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Lavandula (Lavender)
Container
Glazed ceramic pot

The daffodils are nicely scented and it’s hard to overstate how cheerful they are. Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week. Visit her blog to see her hellebores and check out others’ vases from many parts of the world.

In A Vase On Monday – First Daffodils

25 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – First Daffodils

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens.

Late in the day I plucked a handful of flowers, a joyful signaling of the awakening garden.

In A Vase On Monday – First Daffodils

Daffodils began opening last Thursday followed by a few more each day. First were Narcissus ‘King Alfred,’ tall trumpets and quite fragrant.

Narcissus ‘King Alfred’

Suddenly today a little patch of N. ‘Tete-a-Tete’ were in full bloom along with a medium size one whose name I’ve lost.

Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’

In A Vase On Monday – First Daffodils (no name)

Materials
Flowers
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)
Foliage
None
Container
Glazed ceramic and small glass cylinder vases

Hope you all have a great week.  Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week.

In A Vase On Monday – Colors of February

21 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Colors of February

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Colors of February

Our new year has continued to bring medical challenges with two recent hospital stays. It was nice to get my husband home last week and nice to find two Hippeastrums in bloom to greet us. What a welcome sight. A holiday gift from my sister Cindy, Hippeastrum ‘Cherry Blossom’ is just gorgeous. It has a second stalk beginning to open so it was an easy choice to cut this one for today’s vase.

Hippeastrum ‘Cherry Blossom’

My sister-in-law Melanie, visiting this week from out-of-state, arrived at our doorstep with a colorful bouquet of roses in pink, coral and lavender.  With the addition of the special roses today’s arrangement feels suitable for an early Valentine’s Day celebration.

In A Vase On Monday – Colors of February

In A Vase On Monday – Colors of February

Materials
Flowers
Hippeastrum ‘Cherry Blossom’ (Amaryllis)
Roses (gift from Sister-in-law)
Foliage
Hippeastrum
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches, with floral pin holder.

Hope you all have a great week.  Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week.

 

In A Vase On Monday – January Boost

27 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – January Boost

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens. January has been a dreary, gray month, so watching four large flowers on this velvety red Amaryllis ‘Miracle’ open and bloom across the past couple weeks has been a big mood booster.

Hippeastrum ‘Miracle’

Just as the first flower to open was beginning to fade, the last one on the stalk opened fully. I hesitated to cut the amaryllis in case it might not last well, but the bulb has one more tall stalk with a promising bud.

Hippeastrum ‘Miracle’

Hellebores previously have appeared in the garden before Christmas on occasion. This year they feel late but a couple finally put in an appearance yesterday and I tucked them into the base of this arrangement.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

I began with a variety of foliage but ended up removing all but a couple stems of gardenia leaves. I made a quick half-hearted search for an interesting branch to use, but it proved to be oversized and only a fragment was useful in the end. Proportions seem all out of whack. The amaryllis stem could be shortened several inches to help it relate better to the vase, but for today I’m content to let it be.

In A Vase On Monday – January Boost

Materials
Flowers
Hippeastrum ‘Miracle’ (Amaryllis)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
Gardenia
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches, with floral pin holder.

The garden cleanup will start this week, forced by the loss of the last remaining ‘Carolina Sapphire’ (Arizona Cypress). A big wind storm two weeks ago brought it down and if one needs to look for a silver lining, the tree is resting gently, having avoided the fence! We have had five or so of these cypresses at a time at the corners of the back fence, having replanted them at least one other time. They have been short-lived.

Storm damage ‘Carolina Sapphire’ (Arizona Cypress)

It has been such a long time since the garden has had a nice mix of trees and shrubs enough to create interesting long views. I’m sure in July 2013 I was complaining about the bare patch in the right foreground where I had been digging out asters that had taken over some irises, but I long for this view now.  The right corner, where the tree that recently fell had stood, was empty that year as well, but on the left corner two of the tree’s ancestors were thriving.

Garden View – July 2, 2013

 

I haven’t yet bought seeds or bulbs or dahlias this year but I have started dreaming. Hope you all have a great week.  Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week.

 

In A Vase On Monday – Miracle

19 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Miracle

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens. Today is Tuesday and although I passed by this lovely Amaryllis ‘Miracle’ many times on Monday I had scarcely a moment except to glance at it appreciatively and send a mental thank you to our thoughtful niece for the selection.

In A Vase On Monday – Miracle

Described as a resplendent Symphony variety, deep cardinal-red with a velvety sheen, and one of the best, large, solid red varieties for holiday display, this sturdy-stemmed amaryllis began opening last week and arrived to this stage over the weekend.

In A Vase On Monday – Miracle

Happy to be home again, we have been away dealing with health-related woes the past few days, so the miracle used in the title (besides the flower’s name) is that I am finding time to post. Taking time, I should say, to let flowers, photography and reconnecting with gardening friends, perform the miracle of nourishment and rejuvenation.

In A Vase On Monday – Miracle

Materials
Flowers
Hippeastrum ‘Miracle’ (Amaryllis)
Foliage
Various houseplants (Philodendron, orchid, anthurium, Dracaena deremensis warneckii ‘Lemon Lime’)
Container
Handwoven basket

Hope you all have a great week.  We look forward to an uneventful one. Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week.

 

In A Vase On Monday – Accents Of Silvery-Green

17 Replies

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens.

This Monday after Christmas Saint Nicholas sits atop the mantel. A gift from a neighbor, the silvery green epiphyte-bearing Christmas spirit joins a similarly-colored, small hydrangea cluster left in place since summer.

Materials
Flowers
Hydrangea macrophylla
Foliage
Tillandsia spp. (Air plant)
Container
Ceramics

We had a delightful Christmas weekend spent with family. Good wishes to everyone this holiday season. Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week.

In A Vase On Monday – Accents Of Silvery-Green

 

In A Vase On Monday – December Amaryllis

25 Replies

Every Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase with materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – December Amaryllis


In A Vase On Monday – December Amaryllis

I haven’t had a chance to participate the past few weeks, but I’m back today sharing a just-emerging amaryllis. The bulb was a gift several weeks ago from a friend. It’s been so fun to watch it spring into action. This one opened just in time for joining in today. 

In A Vase On Monday – December Amaryllis


In A Vase On Monday – December Amaryllis


In A Vase On Monday – December Amaryllis

Materials
Flowers
Amaryllis
Foliage
Mixed greenery
Container
Chalice Vase

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting each week.

In A Vase On Monday – A Posy For Nine

33 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – A Posy For Nine

In A Vase On Monday turns nine today! Every Monday for the past nine years Cathy at Rambling In The Garden has shared a vase highlighting blooms and foliage from her garden and she has encouraged other garden bloggers to join her. I’ve joined with her 452 weeks.

In A Vase On Monday – A Posy For Nine

Yesterday Cathy hosted contributors from around the world to meet each other on Zoom. I was excited to meet with this dedicated group of gardeners. By now we are like old friends really and it was very special to be able to connect gardens and names with faces and voices.

Last week Cathy posed an anniversary challenge to create a hand-held posy. We shared our posies with each other yesterday during our get-together.

In A Vase On Monday – A Posy For Nine

My posy was created during a hurried wandering through the garden. Consisting of zinnias, cerinthe for foliage, angelonia for filler, two white semi-cactus dahlias and fragrant ginger lily added in back at the last moment, the bouquet is a colorful achievement for so late in the year.

In A Vase On Monday – A Posy For Nine

In A Vase On Monday – A Posy For Nine

In A Vase On Monday – A Posy For Nine

Materials
Flowers
Angelonia ’Serena Blue’
Button Chrysanthemum
Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ (Semi-cactus)
Leucanthemum x superbum (Shasta Daisy)
Hydrangea macrophylla
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)
Zinnia ‘Cactus Flowered Mix’
Zinnia ‘Cut & Come Again’
Foliage
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’ (Butterfly Gaura)
Hedychium coronarium (Ginger lily)
Hippeastrum (Amaryllis)
Container
Glazed ceramic vase

In A Vase On Monday – A Posy For Nine

Happy Anniversary to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden and thanks to all Monday vase aficionados, arrangers and readers.

In A Vase On Monday – Savory And Tang

33 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Savory And Tang

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 – Savory And Tang

In A Vase On Monday – Savory And Tang

Temperatures Saturday and Sunday were around 80 F°, a lovely weekend. White, semi-cactus type Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ produced several nice blooms this week and I found one pinkish D. ‘Great Silence.’ There are still a few buds on the plants. Skippers and bees are finding their way to the few zinnias scattered through the beds. I was excited to notice a couple of hydrangeas that still have some nice color. Most flower heads turned brown long ago.

In A Vase On Monday – Savory And Tang

In A Vase On Monday – Savory And Tang

In A Vase On Monday – Savory And Tang

Materials
Flowers
Button Chrysanthemum
Dahlia ‘Great Silence’
Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ (Semi-cactus)
Echinacea ‘Sombrero Flamenco Orange’
Hydrangea macrophylla
Zinnia ‘Cactus Flowered Mix’
Zinnia ‘Cut & Come Again’
Zinnia ‘Senora’
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’ (Butterfly Gaura)
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Ellagance’ (Ellagance Lavender)
Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage)
Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald’ (Arborvitae)
Container
Textured, incised ceramic pedestal vase, rice or bone color. 5×6-inches.

In A Vase On Monday – Savory And Tang

In A Vase On Monday – Savory And Tang

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 – Autumn Dahlias

29 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Dahlias

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

Several late-season dahlia surprises guided the direction of today’s vase. Last week I had written off ever seeing Dahlia ‘Fairway Spur,’ but it turned out to be a true “late bloomer.” Over the weekend a single flower, one large peachy specimen emerged on an elegantly long stem which I stubbornly refused to cut, making the vase a little top-heavy I realize in retrospect.

Dahlia ‘Fairway Spur’ (Dinnerplate)

Dahlia ‘Fairway Spur’ (Dinnerplate)

Another dinnerplate, Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’, had bloomed earlier but I thought it had died back completely in the drought of summer. Then yesterday I discovered one stem in its best iconic coffee-colored form.

Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’

Semi-cactus type Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ seems to take all summer to get going. Its autumn blooms are usually larger, better formed (and with fewer pests) and this year is continuing that trend.

Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ (Semi-cactus)

Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ (Semi-cactus)

There was a good variety of foliage to explore this week including gaura with a slight tinge of red and itea leaves with their unmistakeable redness.

In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Dahlias

In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Dahlias

Materials
Flowers
Button Chrysanthemum
Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’ (Dinnerplate)
Dahlia ‘David Howard’ (Decorative)
Dahlia ‘Fairway Spur’ (Dinnerplate)
Dahlia ‘Noordwijks Glorie’ (Decorative)
Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’ (Ball dahlia)
Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ (Semi-cactus)
Zinnia ‘Cactus Flowered Mix’
Zinnia ‘Cut & Come Again’
Zinnia ‘Senora’
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Gardenia jasminoides
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’ (Butterfly Gaura)
Itea virginica ‘Sprich’ LITTLE HENRY (Virginia sweetspire)
Spirea
Container
Black metal suiban. 4 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches. Japan.

Thank you for your continued good wishes for my husband’s health. It’s not a straight path but he is doing better. The garden has carried on since mid-August on its own, literally no rain since Hurricane Ian brought a small amount here at the end of September.

A college friend brought a wonderful gift on Friday—dark and light purple, white and apricot pansies which I actually got planted the same day and watered. The earth in the meditation circle was so dry I couldn’t plant them along the paths as I’d planned. Instead I placed them around the dahlias which will soon be dying back.

In A Vase On Monday – Autumn Dahlias

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 – A Mixed Floral

26 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – A Mixed Floral

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

Last week portions of the garden squeaked by without cold damage as temperatures danced around freezing for a few days. Late into October some dahlias are finally starting to produce reasonably-sized flowers and there are a good number of buds. How nice it would be to see them thrive a few more weeks.

After a poor season some zinnias too have rallied recently. Today’s vase began as all zinnias. Somehow it ended up a mixed floral.

In A Vase On Monday – A Mixed Floral

In A Vase On Monday – A Mixed Floral

The colors might be viewed as autumnal, but commenting a couple weeks ago Chris at Country Gardening described several of these dahlias as almost tropical. Since then I see these hues as mango, papaya and other exotic fruits rather than as fall tones.

In A Vase On Monday – A Mixed Floral

In A Vase On Monday – A Mixed Floral

In A Vase On Monday – A Mixed Floral

Materials
Flowers
Dahlia sp. (unknown)
Dahlia ‘Great Silence’ (Decorative dahlia)
Dahlia ‘HS Date’ (Single)
Dahlia ‘Noordwijks Glorie’ (Decorative dahlia)
Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’ (Ball dahlia)
Echinacea ‘Sombrero Flamenco Orange’
Tagetes ‘Durango Red’ (Durango Red French Marigold)
Zinnia ‘Cut & Come Again’
Zinnia ‘Senora’
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Gardenia jasminoides
Container
Red/black raku vase, Charles Chrisco, Chrisco’s Pottery—Seagrove Potters
[version 2: Ceramic Urn Stamped “Vintage 4”]

The flowers are arranged into a small plastic dish which gave me a chance to try out several vases but I didn’t find a perfect container today, but this was less heavy and fit the shape of the design well.

In A Vase On Monday – A Mixed Floral

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 – Moment Of Calm

28 Replies

In A Vase On Monday – Moment Of Calm

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

Time is precious. Dahlias continue to delight.

In A Vase On Monday – Moment Of Calm

In A Vase On Monday – Moment Of Calm

In A Vase On Monday – Moment Of Calm

In A Vase On Monday – Moment Of Calm

In A Vase On Monday – Moment Of Calm

In A Vase On Monday – Moment Of Calm

Materials
Flowers
Dahlia ‘Great Silence’ (Decorative dahlia)
Dahlia ‘Petra’s Wedding’ (Ball dahlia)
Dahlia ‘Tsuki Yori No Shisha’ (Semi-cactus dahlia)
Zinnia ‘Cut & Come Again’
Foliage
Gladiolus
Container
Dark blue matte ceramic jar (by NC potter Julie A. Hunkins, c. 2000)

My husband is back home and bouncing back after another brief hospital stay. The garden carries on. Bracing weather is forecast this week but will hover just above freezing.

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.