July 'Vases' of Plenty

At this time of year, the options seem endless for floral arrangements. It's such a dramatic contrast to midwinter; although the slim pickings of midwinter help me appreciate the plenty of July. The flowering annuals I started from seed are great companions to perennial offerings.



In the arrangement at the start of this post, I used Hosta flowers at the top and back to help frame the collection. I don't know the variety; all Hostas in the garden were here when we moved in more than two decades ago, and they weren't marked.



Also framing the arrangement are Glads (Gladiolus grandiflora hybrids). I planted the corms in the garden after the last frost in early May.



Foliage from Hosta and Hydrangea (H. macrophylla) anchor the background of the arrangement.



Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) add beautiful structure. 



A couple of 'May Night' Sage sprouts (Salvia x sylvestris) dot the sides.



Perhaps the stars of the grouping are the various Zinnias (Z. elegans) from the cutting garden, which I grew from seeds started in the sunroom in March.



The Zinnias shown here are 'State Fair Mix,' although I also have 'Zowie Yellow Flame' and 'Giant Purple' in the garden.



The Cosmos (C. bipinnatus 'Sensation Mix') flowers are so very plentiful and delightful. Their seeds were planted directly in the garden in early May.



I also added some Hosta flowers and Cosmos foliage to this second vase.



Finally, I've continuously placed single, tall Glads in this slender vase, which seems perfect for their regal stature.

I'm linking in with Cathy's In a Vase on Monday meme over at Rambling in the Garden. Head on over to see some amazing arrangements.

In a Vase on Monday: Late-Season Lovelies

At this point in October, I always wonder when the garden's fresh flower gifts will end. Still no frost here, so the cut flowers continue...but next week's forecast looks cold.



The first photo in this post shows my arrangement without Mums, but I added some. These Mums are hybrids of several varieties that have been on-site here for years. They are likely some hybrid of Daisy Mum (Chrysanthemum x. morifolium). The next photo shows the same arrangement as in the first photo, but with the Mums added.



I don't know if I prefer the arrangement with the Mums or not, but I kept them in.



The grouping also includes a few cuttings of Hubricht's Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii), a  clump-forming perennial that becomes quite golden after the first frost. 



Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (S. spectable) adds some bulk and structure.



The Hostas throughout the garden are slowly yellowing, although they're still erect. It's nice to have an extended season in this stage. This large-leaved Hosta variety was here when we moved in and not marked, so I don't know the variety.



'State Fair Mix' Zinnias (Z. elegans) just keep on giving until a hard frost. I grow them from seed and they're such a joy from late May through October.



In addition to the larger arrangement, I had a few Cosmos (C. bipinnatus), also grown from seed, from a previous grouping, which I plopped in a bud vase.



And finally, 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' Zinnias keep me smiling. How can a person be sad looking at these cheery blooms?

That's it for now. Will I have more fresh cut flowers this season? Time will tell. Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting this lovely meme.

Cut Flowers Aplenty

While I could spend hours arranging cut flowers, indecision and abundance are guiding me toward "quick creativity" lately. Not as "perfect" as it could be, but this arrangement serves the purpose for a happy display.



In addition to Hydrangea foliage, I included yellow and orange Gladiolus...



Various shades of Zinnias...



Bright pink Cosmos, and...



Spikes of Liatris.



About a week ago, I used similar flowers in this arrangement, also featuring Rudbeckia branches and Hosta flowers.

So many cut flowers; I feel rich with options. Have a great week!

In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at "Rambling in the Garden."