September 02, 2024

It's Only Foliage in a Vase on Monday

arrangement 1

The garden is still bursting with blooms!

But I needed to trim some of the foliage on my potted plants, so I thought it might be fun to do a "foliage only" arrangement. I clipped, clipped away out in the garden, gave it a little thought, and here's what I came up with. The "foliage only" grouping includes:

Coleus 1

Coleus 2

Coleus 3

Coleus 4

Several mixed cultivars of Coleus (C. scutellarioides) that I grow in pots;

Hydrangea macrophylla

The wonderful framing element of Hydrangea foliage (H. macrophylla);

Jacobaea maritima

A couple sprigs of the sprightly Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima);

Cosmos bipinnatus

A fun, squiggly spot of Cosmos (C. bipinnatus);

Hypoestes phyllostachya

And several groupings of Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya), to add some character.

arrangement 2

This was a fun one! I might try to do this more often in the future...it's a slightly more challenging departure from the equally delightful bloom-focused arrangements.

Thanks so much to Cathy for hosting In a Vase on Monday!

August 21, 2024

Wordless Discoveries After an August Rain

Lotus corniculatus with Cupido comyntas
Lotus corniculatus with Cupido comyntas

Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea purpurea
(and grass)

Lobelia siphilitica
Lobelia siphilitica

Solidago canadensis
Solidago canadensis

Trifolium pratense
Trifolium pratense

Helianthus spp.
Helianthus spp.

Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon gerardii

Rubus allegheniensis
Rubus allegheniensis

Monarda fistulosa
Monarda fistulosa

Asclepias syriaca
Asclepias syriaca

Sorghastrum nutans 1
Sorghastrum nutans

Erigeron strigosus
Erigeron strigosus

Cirsium discolor
Cirsium discolor

Lotus corniculatus
Lotus corniculatus

Sorghastrum nutans 2
Sorghastrum nutans

Verbena hastata
Verbena hastata

Oenethera guara
Oenethera guara

Oenothera biennis
Oenothera biennis

Rhus typhina
Rhus typhina

Wordless Wednesday

August 13, 2024

Fond Memories of Chanticleer

waterlilies in bowl

Chanticleer is a magical place.

I shared a few of my thoughts about it and photos last September, after the Philadelphia Garden Fling. But when I couldn't attend this year's recent Puget Sound Fling, it had me thinking about Chanticleer again.

My words and photos can't do it justice, but it seems like a good time to share a bit. I don't have tags for all the varieties of plants in my photos, but I did my best to ID most of them. Mainly, while at Chanticleer, I wanted to simply take it all in at this special place instead of focusing on the details too much. I definitely want to go back again...

palms, elephant ears, and spider plants

The plantings were regal throughout the grounds, including these groupings of Birds-of-Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta), and Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum).

walkways

The pathways throughout the grounds were well-maintained and great for visitors of all abilities; subdued, but also beautiful.

meadow edges

The meadow edges were naturalistic, but at the same time artfully arranged.

hedge and borders

This grouping of hedges and border plantings was organized, yet comfortable.

ruin garden

The Ruin Garden was fascinating--combining the beauty of historical structures with lush, beautiful, draping plants.

potted succulents

Here and there were surprise combinations, like this potted grouping of succulents.

pollinator house and surrounds

The naturalistic, yet creatively placed, elements throughout the grounds really appealed to me--like this pollinator house paired with beautiful rocks, mosses, plants, and structures.

great blue heron

The wildlife seemed at peace at Chanticleer, too, like this juvenile great blue heron.

While I don't have all the variety names, here are some individual blooming plants that captured my eye:

tricyrtis formosana
Tricyrtis formosana

physostegia virginiana
Physostegia virginiana

lantana camara samantha
Lantana camara 'Samantha'

hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangea macrophylla

echinacea green jewel
Echinacea purpurea 'Green Jewel'

dahlia pinnata 2
Dahlia pinnata with Symphyotrichum spp.

dahlia pinnata 1
Dahlia pinnata

colchicum autumnale
Colchicum autumnale

anemone x hybrida
Anemone x hybrida

floating display

The water features, perhaps most of all, really captivated me during our visit. Many who reported on Chanticleer after the Fling noted these lovely floating displays of mixed colorful blooms and foliage.

waterlilies and koi
Nymphaea mexicana with koi

The koi fish enjoyed the Waterlilies as much as we did.

nymphaea nouchali
Nymphaea nouchali

nymphaea mexicana
Nymphaea mexicana

Our time at Chanticleer was enchanting and way too short. I must go back.

To learn more about the Garden Fling--past, recent, and future--visit gardenfling.org.