I didn't plan to do it. I can't believe I did it. But I did. I cut the first 2 sunflowers to bloom in my garden for the floral bouquet composed in connection with the meme sponsored by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden. As perspective on my crime, I had recently read about a gardener who routinely cuts back her sunflowers to get shorter, bushier flower stalks later in the season. I'd wondered if that would be a good idea in my garden, where the tall sunflower stalks have previously blown over or been snapped by the strong winds that blow through here almost daily. However, I'd planted my sunflowers,
Helianthus annuus 'Valentine,' from seed and, given the spotty nature of my success in growing plants from seed, I was especially hesitant to cut them, particularly as they were the only blooms I had thus far. I don't know what possessed me but here they are, front and center, in today's bouquet.
I accented them with stems of
Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope,' Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold,' Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum' and sprigs of an unidentified lavender.
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| A slightly blurry close-up showing the beautiful variegated foliage of Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' and the feathery foliage of the Coleonema (aka Breath of Heaven) |
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| Bouquet photographed from the back |
Even my cat, Pipig, seemed surprised.
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| Do I sense judgment in her eyes? |
Please
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see her bouquet. You'll also find links to other gardeners' creations. I'm sure there are other surprises to discover.
It would be so Hard to cut those flowers! I feel your pain, but honestly it was worth it. That is a lovely arrangement. I hope your cat doesn't eat it. Mine would! :)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, she doesn't seem to eat cut flowers - she restricts her chewing to live plants :(
DeleteIt was worth it Kris, the arrangement is definitely sunshine in a vase!
ReplyDeleteIt IS a bright spot in the entryway.
DeletePipig looks adorable.
ReplyDeleteShe is, of course.
DeleteReally nice composition Kris. Hope you'll enjoy your sunflowers indoors and outdoors more will come. The arrangement is interesting from the back as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie. I am enjoying the sunflowers in the entryway. I just planted a few more sunflower seeds outside as back-up too...
DeleteYou have definitely been bitten by the vase on Monday bug Kris! I admire your courage cutting the sunflowers, but would say it was a good decision as the result is really lovely! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. I've always liked cut flowers in the house but I need a little push to get the scissors out.
DeleteWell done on taking the plunge! I hope the sunflowers reward you not only by lasting ages in your vase but by encouraging more on the plants! They do look lovely and the foliage is the perfect foil. Cutting choice blooms seems to be something most of us have a problem with until we make that first tentative step. I can certainly recommend cutting alliums though, as they last for ages in a vase. Thanks for joining in :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting, Cathy!
DeleteIt is lovely Kris, the colours go perfectly together. I hope they will reward you by lasting for ages in your vase. I have a problem cutting flowers from the garden but then I tell myself that I will be able to look at them all the time rather than a couple of times a day. Your cat is clearly posing for the photograph. How cute.
ReplyDeleteI think she was actually perplexed about why the bouquet was getting so much attention, which should of course have been lavished on her instead.
DeleteYour sunflowers look stunning and you have chosen some great company for them. I grow Valentine every year and you should have more flowers and a bushier stronger plant in no time - whatever your cat thinks!
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Julie!
DeleteI see gratitude in Pipig's eyes. As in "thanks mom I wanted to get up close to those BIG flowers but they were so so so tall, this way I can check them out and what they're all about"
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure gratitude is an emotion cats feel, Loree. Everything they receive they believe they deserve so gratitude is unnecessary. I think she was wondering why the flowers were getting attention that should rightly have been given to her.
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