Time to Make a Wreath!

I recently rediscovered dried flowers and stems in my stash of crafting supplies. I thought: "Let's make a wreath!" While I'd originally planned to incorporate evergreens in the mix, instead I gathered additional dried items from the winter garden to add to the store-bought supplies:



Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra) for the base.



Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) for a little extra flourish.



Staghorn Sumac berries (Rhus typhina) for a bit of color.



And dried Fiddlehead Fern fronds (Matteuccia struthiopteris) for spicy structure.



I didn't use the fake plastic apple from the store-bought supply (it's cute but...). However, I did grab some of the Statice (Limonium sinuatum), Straw Flowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum), and dried/dyed grasses. The finished product:

It's simple and a little wonky, but it's kinda growing on me.

I'm linking in with "In a Vase on Monday" over at Rambling in the Garden, even though this isn't a vase. I hope that's OK with Cathy, our wonderful host. Head on over to her blog to check out all the creative arrangements!

Coleus in a Vase on Monday

The Coleus (C. scutellarioides) plants in my outdoor pots were top-heavy. So, after deadheading them, I decided to create a display dedicated to Coleus, alone. Last year, I made an arrangement with foliage, alone, but it included foliage from several plant genera and species. This arrangement, in this post, (above) is simply several varieties of Coleus.

I gathered as many plant tags as I could to ID them, and while I didn't get them all, among them are 'Wizard Jade,' 'Rainbow Multicolor,' 'Red Green,' 'Wizard Scarlet,' 'Kong Lime Sprite,' and 'Black Dragon.' Here they are, in no particular order:

They provide plenty of color and variety for their vase.

For more arrangement ideas from around the world, check out Cathy's 'In a Vase on Monday' meme, over at Rambling in the Garden.

Wordless Remains in the Vase

Narcissus opening: It was a bud in the vase from my previous post.

Indoor/Outdoor Blooms in a Vase

The weather is slowly warming, and a few things are blooming or just about to bloom outdoors. The day I gathered flowers for this little vase, however, it was chilly, and I clipped a few things quickly. I added a couple of companions from the sunroom for color and effect.



It's a cute little collection for a bud vase.



The Gerbera Daisy (G. jamesonii) forms the colorful focal point.



This Daffodil (Narcissus) bud and foliage from the garden give it structure and height. Very soon, many of these bright spring beauties will be blooming all over the garden.



Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), another sunroom sample, adds bright and cheery highlights.



And Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno') add bright, white edging to the rim.

It's a cheery little arrangement.

Head on over to Cathy's Rambling in the Garden to see more floral arrangements, or to join in the "In a Vase on Monday" meme!

Surprising Garden Remnants in Late-Autumn Vases

I'm pleased to have so many blooms still bright and available this late in the season. Still no hard frost, but the forecast says it's just around the corner, likely sometime in the week ahead.

Most plants in the garden are faded and flopped or dormant, but the ones shown here reside in protected areas near the house and the rock wall.

I'm joining in with Cathy's In a Vase on Monday meme, and she's challenged us with the theme of "11": She's celebrating the 11th anniversary of her meme! So here are 11 plants, in little vases, in no particular order. I'm including the common names and genera and species, but please forgive me for leaving off the varieties--some tags are gone at this late date.

Marigolds (Tagetes patula)

New Guinea Impatiens (I. hawkeri)

'Autumn Joy' Sedum (S. spectabile)

Mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

Fuchsias (F. hybrida)

Lesser Calamint (Clinopodium nepeta)

Impatiens (I. walleriana)

Lantanas (L. camara)

Zinnias (Z. elegans)

Angelonia (A. angustifolia)

Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima)

It's been a gentle transition this year from summer through fall. I'm thankful for these blessings.

And thanks, again, to Cathy for hosting! Stay warm, everyone. On to winter...

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.