![warm ones](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400821016_8689e43c39_z.jpg)
It was hot yesterday, but I clipped a few blooms for some simple vases. I like to participate in the In a Vase on Monday meme--especially when I have homegrown flowers to share. As I gathered the lot and assessed, I realized I had two simple collections: one warm and one cool. I used a small Dutch-themed vase for the warm group, with the deep blue complementary to orange on the color wheel.
![ligularia](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400962537_3966eb61f0_z.jpg)
Rocket Ligularia (L. stenocephala) has been in this garden longer than I have (nearly 20 years), but I never thought to use it as a cut flower. That's embarrassing and too bad, because it works quite well, and some research told me it has a decent vase life. The flowers mature from the bottom up, and I've never liked the browning lower ones. So, I simply stripped them off before placing the stem in the water.
![zinnias](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400821886_df09177cc4.jpg)
I always plant Zinnias for cut flowers, and my favorites are 'State Fair Mix' and 'Zowie! Yellow Flame.' The former give me large and tall blooms in a great mix of colors, while the latter are just delightful with their bright, hot colors. I also added Cosmos foliage to both vases.
![cosmos](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400962737_f200ca9a2f_z.jpg)
The nice thing about Cosmos (C. bipinnatus 'Sensation Mix') is that the foliage is as fun as the flowers. Actually, there are many nice things about Cosmos: long vase life, pretty flowers, buds for continuous blooms, foliage that holds up under water, plants that grow and rebloom very fast...so many things....
![pastels](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400962412_7e44c3f264_z.jpg)
As the Cosmos buds open, they'll fill this arrangement with more blooms. Maybe I'll find some more "fillers," too. Companions in this vase are Blazing Star Liatris (L. spicata) and a Tall Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus 'Rocket Mix') that was standing upright after a couple hours in cool water.
![pink zinnia](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400962247_61c3947ff0.jpg)
Oh, and some cool pink Zinnias.
![stargazer](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400961967_90b5b93f70.jpg)
Earlier in the week, I'd picked some Stargazer Lilies (Lilium orientalis). I cheated with the background here, but they served out their time in a simple, single-stem glass vase.
In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at "Rambling in the Garden."