I've no drama to offer this week for "In a Vase on Monday," the weekly meme hosted by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden. Frankly, I get more than enough drama every time I turn on the news these days so I'm all for limiting the drama and sadness in other parts of my life for the moment. Taking my lead from the sunflowers towering overhead in my cutting garden, I kept my plant palette simple and my colors bright and cheerful for this week's arrangements.
Vase #1:
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| Is there anything more bright and cheerful than a yellow sunflower? |
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| So far, almost all of the 'Flash Blend' sunflowers look alike |
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| Only one of the 5 or 6 Coreopsis 'Big Bang Redshift' I planted years ago is left in the garden but that plant is blooming well this year |
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| Clockwise from the left: Helianthus annuus 'Lemon Queen', noID Helianthus (from the 'Flash Blend' mix), Coreopsis 'Redshift', and Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' |
Vase #2:
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| The pink Eustoma grandiflorum (Lisianthus) have just about been forgotten this year but they're a nice match to the pink-edged yellow variety that recently flowered |
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| The back view of this vase (an ornamental teapot) is dominated by Ozothamnus diosmilifolius |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: pink-edged yellow Eustoma grandiflorum, pink Eustoma, noID culinary Origanum, Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Tanacetum parthenium, and Westringia 'Morning Light', left over from one of last week's vases (Used but not featured: Mentha spicata) |
There are still dahlias galore in the cutting garden but the white dinner-plate variety I had bloom last week was past its prime for use as vase material this week and
'Loverboy' and
'Terracotta' have already had their time at base. Hopefully, I'll have one or more new blooms to offer next week as
'Hakuyou', 'Punkin' Spice' and
'Fairway Spur' all currently have buds.
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to find more vases.
All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Oh wow Kris look at those sunflowers.....I only have mini ones this year that are just starting to bloom....critters and weather killed off my bigger ones. And I adore the pink vase....you have used my favorite Eustoma....wish I could grow them!
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with my sunflowers this year. Last year's crop was disappointingly short in stature and limited in blooms. This year's crop is almost too tall!
DeleteThank you for the welcome and captivating dose of happiness in your vases today! Well done as always.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I could extend the circle of cheer beyond my own table, Peter.
DeleteI have a love/avoid-in-August relationship with sunflowers. I know, that sounds crazy. For some reason I got it in my head that sunflowers are representative of autumn, which is ridiculous right? They are high summer bloomers. That bight yellow one that's front and center of your first photo though, now THAT'S a summer sunflower. Thanks for helping me to see them in their proper light. It's a particularly lovely arrangement.
ReplyDeleteMost people, myself included, think autumn when they see the dark-colored sunflowers but I too think the bright yellow blooms scream summer. I have a mix of about half yellow and half reddish bronze. I thought I'd planted a peach-colored variety too but, if I did, it's a no-show.
DeleteGorgeous sunflowers - I've neglected picking mine this year so it's good to see yours in the first vase ;)The second one is such a clever blend of colours with the tanacetum and foliage the perfect foil for the two eustoma - very pretty and thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThat yellow Eustoma surprised me by developing a pink edge as the blooms aged. It offered the perfect bridge to link in the pink Eustoma, which I've largely ignored up to now.
DeleteYou are right, I sometimes have to turn off the news. Your vases are beautiful and cheerful and the sunflowers are real stars. I'm drooling over the coreopsis and the lisanthus (as usual).
ReplyDeleteIt's becoming increasingly difficult to escape the news here, Alison! I'm very pleased with the performance of that Coreopsis this year.
DeleteAgain two lovely arrangements...my favourite is the pink one in the teapot. Its the foliage and small flowers that make this one special for me.
ReplyDeleteIt helped that I decided it was past time to cut my Ozothamnus back in an effort to kick the spindly plant back into shape. That provided lots of pruned material I could add to the second vase.
DeleteNever seen a more beautiful sunflower, it has such a special colour!
ReplyDeleteThat sunflower really does glow!
DeleteFabulous, as usual, thank you for the cheerful pinks and sunflowers. The news here is nearly debilitating.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be nice to have a week without fearing what the next news report will reveal, wouldn't it?
DeleteIf you've got sunflowers, you've got drama! But flowers are so much more comfortable and soothing than all that other ghastly drama. Getting so one is afraid to get out of bed in the morning to discover what has happened . . .
ReplyDeleteEvery morning I turn on the news with a sense of anxious trepidation, Linda. It's almost become ridiculous.
DeleteCheerful, just right for a Monday.
ReplyDeleteI aim to please, HB!
DeleteNo doubt about it, sunflowers can't be beat for cheering up a room. But my heart leaps for vase #2 with the pink and pink/yelllow eustoma- so gorgeous in that teapot!
ReplyDeleteThe only problem with sunflowers is the amount of pollen they drop but, with those cheerful faces, I can forgive a lot.
DeleteYour sunflowers definitely have me smiling, Kris. And your Ozothamnus foliage looks so nice and green! Mine is once again terribly chlorotic. I'm thinking about pulling it up altogether and growing it in a large pot... Any recommendations welcome!
ReplyDeleteOur soil is probably different, Amy, but you might want to try treating the Ozothamnus with chelated iron or a high nitrogen fertilizer. Mine may have benefited from regular additions of compost and mulch. However, my own plant has become very spindly and I'm debating whether to replace it. San Marcos Growers indicates that the plants tend to look straggly after 3 years unless pruned frequently. I've taken pruners to the plant (hence the inclusion of cuttings in my vase) but I'm not sure it's going to bounce back.
DeleteOh yes, that sunflower put a smile on my face Kris! I love the orange ones too, but the colour yellow is just so sunshiny! Your second vase also made me smile - pretty pinks with that grogeous yellow/pink Eustoma. Aren't they wonderful, flowering for so long! Have a good week Kris!
ReplyDeleteThe sunflowers make me smile too every time I walk through my cutting garden, Cathy. The seed's worth planting for that impact alone.
DeleteThe pink arrangement with the Eustoma grandiflorum is simply gorgeous Kris; The ones I grew from seed last year remained very small and didn't survive the winter so I remain very envious of yours! You're right about the need for jollity and happiness when the news is so bleak; at least today the North Korean leader has proved himself a better diplomat and more intelligent leader than T, maybe he will at least sack his bad advisers now and good for the business community in showing they have some corporate integrity by resigning from T's panel of experts. Sorry about the rant but I am terrified by the world as it seems to be now. You did the perfect thing by giving us beautiful blooms.
ReplyDeleteIf you heard my own rants during virtually every newscast, you wouldn't feel the need to apologize, Christina. Every time I think #45 can't make things worse, he manages to up the ante. His support seems to be eroding, albeit at a slower pace than I find fathomable.
DeleteTurning on the news is indeed most depressing and bleak Kris so your vases are more than welcome tonic. I especially enjoyed your sunflowers - mine always get decimated by molluscs. Good to read your above comment that T's support is eroding albeit not at the pace that you and many others would like.
ReplyDeleteYikes, I've never seen snails or slugs anywhere near my cutting garden but then, if the raccoons are good for anything, it's keeping that population under control - I find empty snail shells all over the garden.
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