Vignettes for Six on Saturday

For this "Six on Saturday," I'm focusing on plant combinations and "vignettes" that have met or exceeded my expectations this summer. The first is the grouping in the center of the back garden under the middle Oak tree.

At the center, Wild Senna (S.  hebecarpa) isn't blooming yet, but its tall, healthy stalks provide structure. In the pot, the purple Shamrock Oxalis (O. vulcanicola 'Zinfandel') is happy in the partial shade. Patches of lavender Alliums (A. tanguticum 'Summer Beauty') flank the sides, and ground covers and Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) frame the front and back.

My potted plants in this partially shady spot just off the patio are colorful and overflowing, as usually happens by this time of the summer. They get dappled sun, off and on all day. The pots combine a mix of various Coleus, Impatiens, Dracaena Spikes, and Callas.

In the side garden--which gets continuous, western sun all afternoon--the Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia 'Goldfinger') and the False Sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) are performing beautifully this year, with bright and complimentary colors. While I've planted them near each other in the past, they seem particularly happy this summer.

Nearby, the Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) seem happy, too, paired with 'Autumn Joy' Sedums (Hylotelephium spectabile). I had to plant some new Butterflyweed seedlings (Asclepias tuberosa), because the plants in this spot sadly disappeared during the winter (not enough snow cover?). Hopefully, they'll return and fill in next spring and summer. Fortunately, I have other Milkweeds in other locations for the monarch butterflies.

Another combination I've planted together in the past pairs Tropical Impatiens (I. hawkeri) and Angelonias (A. angustifolia). This duo is SunPatiens 'Compact Purple Candy' and AngelDance 'Violet Bicolor' Angelonia. The colors are luscious, and the plants are great companions in the pot.

Finally, I added 'Summer Beauty' Alliums (A. tanguticum) around the mailbox a couple of years ago. They've filled in, they're VERY happy in this spot, and they're covered with pollinators of all types. More on that later...

Thanks to Jim for hosting the "Six on Saturday" meme! To join, head on over to Garden Ruminations.

Six on Saturday in the Sunroom

My garden is currently "reset" on winter, after one storm dropped more snow in one day than during the entire month of January. I admit it's prettier, and the plants now have a white blanket of protection. I'm joining in Jim's "Six on Saturday" meme at Garden Ruminations, but I hope it's OK if I focus on my indoor garden in the sunroom...



I'm thrilled to see that some shoots of the 'Canova Rose' Canna Lily (Canna x generalis) are breaking through the soil in their pot. (If you see lava rocks in my pots, it's to protect the plants from digging squirrels and chipmunks when the pots are moved outside during the growing season. The rodents don't like to dig through the tough lava rocks.)



Fuchsia  'Marinka' (F. hybrida) is putting on more buds.



And there are plenty of edible Fuchsia fruits, too!



The potted Passionflower (Passifloria incarnata) vine that I bring indoors for the winter is budding. I have another Passionflower outdoors, and I hope it survived the bitter cold of January with no snow.



Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is full of buds, too. When open, the blooms are a beautiful bright yellow.

Purple Shamrock Oxalis (O. triangularis) is happy all winter in the sunroom. Its companion in the pot is variegated English Ivy (Hedera helix).



And the Gerbera Daisy (G. jamesonii) is the brightest star in the group. I have to smile when I see these happy faces.

So much to celebrate (in the plant world) indoors and out. Happy Six on Saturday and Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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.

Last Blooms Before the Frost?

My area had a light frost last week. I gathered plentiful flowers and foliage, thinking it might be my last vase with "fresh" elements for the season.

But here in the woods, on the hill, near the lake most of the plants remain untouched and growing strong!

The vases in this post were compiled last Tuesday; some are still looking fresh almost a week later. And there are more thriving blooms and plants in the garden. Yay!



The first vase pictured at the top includes Cosmos (C. bipinnatus 'Sensation Mix');



Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima);



Weigela foliage (W. florida);



Fading Hydrangea blooms (H. arborescens subsp. radiata 'Invincibelle Lace');



'State Fair Mix' Zinnias (Z. elegans); and



'Zowie! Yellow Flame' Zinnias (Z. elegans).



I put a little 'Zowie!' in a bud vase in the restroom.



I also added a pot of mixed elements on the wicker shelf.



It includes Mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium, unknown hybrid);



Some Cosmos blooms and foliage (C. bipinnatus 'Sensation Mix') in the middle; and 



More Weigela foliage (W. florida).



A few cuttings of the Mums created a classy hat for my lady bud vase.



As it turns out, more of these elements remain in the garden, so I'll have new cuttings and fun in the week ahead.

Head on over to Cathy's 'In a Vase on Monday' meme at Rambling in the Garden to see more beautiful vases.

Garden Vase Elements That Continue to Deliver

I know frost and freezing are inevitable, but they seem far away. We're having a very mild autumn in much of the Upper Midwest. Here in the Madison area, our average high temperature this time of year is in the mid-60s F (18 C), but our 10-day forecast includes some highs in the 70s and 80s F (20-27 C). There's no frost in the forecast yet.

Anyway, the flowers keep blooming, so more bouquets! The arrangement I'm sharing here is very simple but fun.



The Hydrangea foliage (H. macrophylla) continues to deliver. It's a great frame for, and long-lasting element in, any arrangement.



Sedum flowers (Hylotelephium telephium 'Autumn Joy') seem appropriate for this time of year.



The Cosmos blooms (C. bipinnatus 'Sensation Mix'), with regular harvesting, will continue until frost.



And Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima) seems a good companion for the Sedums.

These elements have long vase lives and gracefully decorate their corner.

Do you have arrangements to share? Head on over to Cathy's 'In a Vase on Monday' meme at Rambling in the Garden.

Quick Cuttings in Vases on Monday

Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia 'Goldfinger')

It's the end of the summer (happy autumn!), but the flowers are still bright and perky. I must admit I've been plopping elements into vases quickly, without a lot of planning, for various reasons.



This particular vase (above) was a composite of quick clippings from the garden. I wasn't thinking much of it, but then the Fishman mentioned he liked it. And the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated its less-than-perfect blooms and its scruffy appearance: sort of emblematic of the changing seasons.



It includes foliage from Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima)...

'Zowie! Yellow Flame' Zinnias (Z. elegans)...

'Sensation Mix' Cosmos (C. bipinnatus) foliage...



And some very scruffy False Sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides).



Another recent arrangement includes blooms from Mixed Zinnias, Blue Mistflowers (Conoclinium coelestinum), 'Sensation Mix' Cosmos (C. bipinnatus), 'Invincibelle Lace' Hydrangea (H. arborescens subsp. radiata), and Hydrangea foliage (H. macrophylla).



Similar, in a different vase; some white mixed in with the blue Conoclinium coelestinum.

Sometimes the simple things are the sweetest. Our recent windstorm blew over the Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia 'Goldfinger'), so I clipped the flowers and gave this little miss a colorful hat.

Do you have some arrangements to share? Head on over to Cathy's 'In a Vase on Monday' meme at Rambling in the Garden.