Graceful Vases With Buds and Blooms

Center: Fuchsia hybrida 'Dollar Princess.' Clockwise from top left: Tagetes patula 'Durango Outback Mix,' Chrysanthemum morifolium, Impatiens walleriana 'Beacon Violet Shades,' Clinopodium nepeta, Zinnia elegans 'State Fair Mix,' Lantana camara 'Bandolero Pink,' Impatiens x hybrida 'SunPatiens Compact Hot Pink,' Zinnia elegans 'Zowie! Yellow Flame.'

Surprisingly, many plants are still blooming here in Southern Wisconsin. Just a very light frost has allowed the plants shown above to survive and even thrive...so far. It won't be long now, but I gathered some remaining buds, blooms, and foliage for some vases.



This vase (above) includes quite a few Zinnia (Z. elegans) buds and blooms.



Most are 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' Zinnias.



Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima) adds some structure.



I also included some Weigela foliage (W. florida).



More Zinnia buds.



In the lady vase: one bloom, some buds, and some foliage.



The star of her hat is a 'State Fair Mix' Zinnia (Z. elegans).



Some Chrysanthemum foliage and Cosmos (C. bipinnatus 'Sensation Mix') buds and foliage give her hat some height and personality.



Finally, another vase in another room displays more Zinnias and Dusty Miller.

We're having a warm autumn, and I'm welcoming the continuing options for cut flowers. Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting "In a Vase on Monday."

Warm Autumn Bounty

We aren't breaking daily high temperature records for October here in the Madison area...but we've been consistently warmer than normal. The community's had several frosts, but my garden has only briefly flirted with light frost.

Long story, but the location on a hill, in the woods, near the lake protects it a bit, and many plants near the house and other structures continue to flourish. I know this won't last long, but I'm enjoying the blooms and bounty as long as possible.

Most years, I clip a few Hydrangea (H. macrophylla) blooms to dry for display in the months ahead. I simply fill a vase with flowers and water, and let it evaporate/drain. I eventually cut off the leaves and the flowers retain their color as they dry.



Recently, I put a bouquet in the powder room, and it creates such a graceful statement.



The muted colors are so fascinating...



The shades of green and magenta and pink are very calming and lovely.

I also cut several other bouquets for display in other locations in the house, including this grouping of various Zinnias and a mix of foliage. With props, it celebrates autumn and the holiday ahead. Happy Halloween!

Will I have blooms for display next week? Time will tell. Until then, head on over to Cathy's "In a Vase on Monday" meme at Rambling in the Garden to see more fun creations.

Last Blooms Before the Frost?

My area had a light frost last week. I gathered plentiful flowers and foliage, thinking it might be my last vase with "fresh" elements for the season.

But here in the woods, on the hill, near the lake most of the plants remain untouched and growing strong!

The vases in this post were compiled last Tuesday; some are still looking fresh almost a week later. And there are more thriving blooms and plants in the garden. Yay!



The first vase pictured at the top includes Cosmos (C. bipinnatus 'Sensation Mix');



Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima);



Weigela foliage (W. florida);



Fading Hydrangea blooms (H. arborescens subsp. radiata 'Invincibelle Lace');



'State Fair Mix' Zinnias (Z. elegans); and



'Zowie! Yellow Flame' Zinnias (Z. elegans).



I put a little 'Zowie!' in a bud vase in the restroom.



I also added a pot of mixed elements on the wicker shelf.



It includes Mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium, unknown hybrid);



Some Cosmos blooms and foliage (C. bipinnatus 'Sensation Mix') in the middle; and 



More Weigela foliage (W. florida).



A few cuttings of the Mums created a classy hat for my lady bud vase.



As it turns out, more of these elements remain in the garden, so I'll have new cuttings and fun in the week ahead.

Head on over to Cathy's 'In a Vase on Monday' meme at Rambling in the Garden to see more beautiful vases.

Berries on My Mind

 Common Yew (Taxus baccata)

Lately I've been noticing and thinking about berries, so I thought I'd reflect on them here on the blog. Some are poisonous and some are edible, but this post is simply about how beautiful they are and how they provide food for birds and other wildlife. For information on human edibility, check out this link. All berries shown here are in my garden.

Smooth Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)

Fuchsias (F. 'Marinka') (unripe berries above the flowers)

White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)

Cranberrybush Viburnum (V. trilobum)

Beautyberry (Callicarpa 'Pearl Glam')

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

There are more, but this was a quick reflection. How are the berries doing in your garden? Happy autumn!