This may be the mildest and most beautiful September I've experienced. High pressure has dominated, so we've had clear blue skies, light breezes, and temps in the 70s and 80s (21-30C) all month. Some folks are eager for cooler fall days, but the conditions are perfect in my book.
Anyway, the garden is happy with a little help from the gardener with watering. And the flowers in the cutting garden continue to bloom with abandon.
The arrangement at the top includes various Zinnias (Z. elegans),
Foliage from Cosmos (C. bipinnatus) and Hydrangeas (H. macrophylla),
Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) blooms, which currently dominate the cutting garden, and
The arrangement at the top includes various Zinnias (Z. elegans),
Foliage from Cosmos (C. bipinnatus) and Hydrangeas (H. macrophylla),
Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) blooms, which currently dominate the cutting garden, and
Cheerful Cosmos (C. bipinnatus) blossoms, which brighten any day.
The second arrangement is more typically summer "warm" in its appearance.
A few creamy white spikes of Mistflower add some sparks,
Along with more Zinnias that look like sunshine itself,
And a few sprigs of various Coleus (C. scutellarioides) foliage for more color and framing.
It's such a joy to have bright flowers and foliage from May through mid-October (or maybe longer this year?). And most of these were grown from seeds started indoors in March or tiny seedlings planted in the garden in early May. I will miss them.
Head on over to Cathy's blog, Rambling in the Garden, to celebrate "In a Vase on Monday."
I really need to try some zinnias next year. I keep seeing their vibrant colors and they make me happy. Lovely bouquets!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jerry. Yes, the Zinnias keep replenishing throughout the season with cuttings. They are so cheery, as you say, and they have a long vase life.
DeleteBoth arrangements are gorgeous, Beth! I couldn't pick a favorite between them as they're equally beautiful in their own way. I'm glad you're enjoying your September weather and I hope you get a bit more of that before the cold creeps in.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kris. :) Some people don't like 80s and 90s, but I'm OK with them. But everyone seems to like the 70s. I hope there are more of those temps in the days ahead. 70s are common in your fall, winter, and spring weather, right? Lucky you!
DeleteOoh, I don't know that mistflower, and it comes in different colours too? Must check it out. I love the pink abundance of the first vase, but the brightness and freshness of the second one is stunning, especially supported by that coleus.
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy: Yes, the Mistflower is lovely this time of year. It's somewhat aggressive, but if it's not caged the rabbits eat it here. Conoclinium coelestinum generally blooms lilac/blue, but occasionally some white/ivory blooms sneak in. Thanks for hosting!
DeleteThey are lovely Beth. We have been blessed with this amazing September weather. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe had five monarchs in the garden yesterday. :-)
Thanks, Carla. Yes, what a beautiful few weeks! I've been seeing so many monarchs during hikes and butterfly surveys. I hope their migrating numbers will increase this winter into spring. :)
DeleteWow, those are both gorgeous and really happy. The flowers look perfect, not a blemish to be found! Your temps sounds really nice.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a joy to have fresh cut flowers available for at least half the year. Yes, September has been amazing this year. I think if the weather was perfect all the time I might take it for granted?
DeleteThese are just lovely, Beth! Great choices for early fall color. Tina
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina. I feel fortunate to have a place to grow them and great conditions for them. :)
DeleteIt certainly sounds as September has been a glorious month for you Beth! Beautiful flowers in your vase - I especially love your mistflowers both blue and white. What an apt name for them š Do they flower for long?
ReplyDeleteHi Anna: Yes, September is usually nice, but this one has been perfect for weather (perhaps just a little more rain for the plants would have been nice, but otherwise wonderful). The Mistflowers are great. Apparently the white ones are less common in this species, but most of the blooms in my garden are lilac/blue. In most years, they seem to bloom in the garden from early September through the first frost. But I suppose they might fade a little before that this year because of the warm conditions. And time will tell when our first frost hits...usually in early to mid-October.
DeleteBeautiful, Beth ... once again. I'm back home and happy to be enjoying your flowers :)
ReplyDeleteoh ... and ... it has rained so much in Laramie this last month (weird for us) that the cool season grasses in the front yard were green when I got home!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's wild. We tend to be somewhat dry in September, but I know that part of the country is much drier. Enjoy your days back at home. :)
DeleteThose are absolutely fabulous! Impressed by your skill and your flower-growing!
ReplyDeleteThank you! The flowers and plants do most of the work. They are such a blessing. :)
DeleteYour vases are both lovely Beth! I especially like the mistflowers, which I am unfamiliar with. Beautiful big Cosmos flowers too. And your warm sunshiny vase of zinnias and coleus is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy: Thank you. Yes, the Mistflowers offer bright and cheery color to the end of the growing season. I think they would be nice paired with purple New England Asters, although I don't have any here.
DeleteI’ve just spotted your Blue Mistflower in the previous post - and oh my, how fabulous it looks in your vase. I’m glad you’ve had such a good September, ours has come to an abrupt end with rain and from tomorrow evening, weather warnings. Oh well, I’ve enjoyed our recent weather too, but you know what they say about ‘all good things’.. Both your arrangements are amazing! If it wasn’t for the Blue Mistflower, I’d choose the second as my favourite - but now I’m confused.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Mistflower is great in the garden and in vases. I have so much of it in the cutting garden, that I need to chop some out for more arrangements. Yes, indeed, all good things... These thoughts have me wistful re: the season and its conditions just around the corner...
DeleteLovely arrangements and images, the mistflower and zinnia are gorgeous flowers. White mistflower looks a bit like boneset.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom. They're great elements for display. :) Re: the white blooms of Mistflower, yes it does look like Boneset, but not quite. Apparently, Conoclinium coelestinum sometimes blooms white. I actually prefer the blue, but it's nice to have a few sprigs of white now and then.
DeleteWonderful arrangements & flowers. I really must try growing Zinnias again (I had a few bad years with them) as when they do well they look great & come in so many colours & forms.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous arrangements, Beth! Eliza
ReplyDelete