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.

Six on Saturday in Seattle

We recently returned from a trip to Seattle, and I thought I'd make that destination the focus of this week's "Six on Saturday," hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations. The plants were incredibly robust and happy in Seattle and it was hard to narrow down the list, but here goes:



1. Beach Rose (Rosa rugosa): Wow, they seemed bigger than they are here in Southern Wisconsin. And they were stunningly beautiful.



2. Beach Rose hips: I mean, these guys seemed giant, too. I should have taken a picture of my hand next to them, but they seemed like they were larger than one inch in diameter. I was tempted to pick one and eat it right there.



3. Other beautiful Roses: OK, I didn't get the name of this one, but it was a lovely example of the stunning blooms throughout the city.



4. Bear's Breeches (Acanthus mollis): This is a fun plant, isn't it? I've seen it many times during travels, but it seemed especially happy in Seattle, for some reason. Unfortunately, it's not hardy to USDA zone 5b, so I can't grow it.



5. Sweetshrub (Calycanthus 'Aphrodite'): I can grow this one! But again, the blooms seemed huge in Seattle. A lovely shrub to consider...



6. Hydrangeas: Oh gosh, they were amazing! There were so many varieties all around the city. Most of them were blue or purple or dark pink because of the area's acidic soil. Gorgeous bloomers!

Amazingly beautiful, large, and healthy plants were everywhere we went, including at the famous Pike Place market. It was a fun trip, and I hope to visit Seattle again in the not-too-distant future.

To join in the "Six on Saturday" meme, head on over to Garden Ruminations.

Shopping Finds for 'Six on Saturday'

It's that happy time of year when the overnight frosts are ending, and it's time to plant up annuals in pots and in the potager/cutting garden. While I plan to purchase a few more plants, including a few edibles, my haul a couple of days ago is colorful and fun.

Since I'm posting for "Six on Saturday," I'll focus on a half dozen...



This is AngelDance 'Violet Bicolor' Angelonia (A. angustifolia). I've been planting Angelonias as spikes in a couple of my pots for several years now. There's something magical about the form and the shape of this plant.

Next, let's celebrate Lantanas (L. camara)! This is Bandolero 'Guava Imp.' I purchased a couple other varieties, too. I regularly plant Lantanas for the pollinators, and because I like them. They cheer me up.



Sweet Potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is a great side element in pots. The two varieties here are  'Sidekick Lime Improved' and 'Sidekick Heart Bronze.'



The mounding form of these hybrid Impatiens (I. x hybrida) works well in large pots. And the color of SunPatiens 'Compact Purple Candy' will work well with the other elements I plan to plant with them.



Caladiums (C. hortulanum) are always a joy to view. Their large, draping foliage is fascinating to observe throughout the growing season. Unfortunately, I purchased a plant with no tag, but with research, I believe  this is Heart to Heart 'Raspberry Moon.'

Finally, another joy with its bright, warm coloring is this Dahlia hybrid, Dahlinova 'Hypnotica Rose Bicolor.' Within minutes of planting it, bees and other pollinators were enthusiastically visiting. It's perfect for a view right outside my sunroom windows.

Check out other "Six on Saturday" posts at Garden Ruminations!

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!

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!

Wordless Wednesday: Eight Weeks of Growth

Top: 7/31
Bottom: 6/6

Wordless Las Vegas Area 'Arrangements'

Colorful mixed planting at the hotel

Buxus sempervirens and Cyclamen persicum

Ferocactus cylindraceus at Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area

Pelargonium × hortorum and Viola × wittrockiana

Senna artemisioides at Valley of Fire State Park

Mixed planting along 'The Strip'

Yucca schidigera and desert view at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

'Flowers' on the Sphere

June Bloom Day: Colorful, Strange, and Plentiful

On this June Bloom Day, I use the words colorful, strange, and plentiful to describe the garden for these reasons:

Colorful: While the blooms are always colorful at this time of year, for some reason they seem to "pop" more than usual on the landscape currently. I don't know why.

Strange: Where do I start? We've had weird weather in April, May, and June (so far). Near-record and record hot days followed by near-record, very cold days; some "perfect" days; and now we're in a drought (though we've had some recent light rain). The weather never seems to be "normal" for the time of year anymore.

Plentiful: So many things are blooming; I picked just a few...mainly plants at their peak, annuals, and colorful stars in the garden.



Alliums...I have many varieties in the garden. Some are faded; some haven't bloomed yet. But a few are lovely currently, including the tall, stately 'Ambassador' Alliums.



American Garlic (Allium unifolium) has had a good season, despite the temperature swings and lack of rain.





The annuals currently taking the stage are the Lantanas (L. camara). I get a kick out of their changeable colors; the Lantanas in both photos above are the same variety: Lucky 'Sunrise Rose.'



Companions with the Lantanas in color and placement are 'Snapshot Rose' Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus). These are somewhat shorter (10 inches) than many Snapdragons I've grown in the past, but the flower spikes are full and tall. 

'May Night' Salvia: While its parentage apparently is somewhat debated currently, it's been an anchor to the side sunny garden for two decades. It's a regal, reliable garden stalwart for the pleasure of humans and pollinators, alike.



On a whim, I purchased this 'Starsister Scarlet and Yellow' Dahlia. It's a compact, shrubby plant, and I currently have it placed in the side sunny garden. I haven't decided if I'll keep it in the pot or place it in the ground. I love the bright colors!

Near the Dahlias is this pot filled with French Marigolds (Tagetes patula), Spotlight 'Lime Heart' Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas), and 'Serena Blue' Angelonia (A. angustifolia). I think I need to deadhead the latter to encourage more blooms (and maybe give it a little more sun). But I expect it will be lovely through the growing season.

I'll plan to post about the other potted plants in the weeks ahead. All potted plants, including those shown at the beginning and end of this post, are bringing much color and joy to the garden, despite the strange growing season so far.

What's blooming in your garden? To enjoy other lovelies on this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, visit May Dreams Gardens.