Another accidental vase from me. Amongst the occupants the tiniest snippet from one of my new purchases from the Southport Flower Show last week, namely
kalimeris incisa "Charlotte', which I bought for its late summer colour. It has dainty daisy like mauve flowers which apparently flower from June - October and it suffers little in the way of pests. Unfortunately the poor plant suffered slightly in transit back home but hopefully normal service will resume next year. Next the victim of the recent unseasonable strong breezes, a flower from my one and only
'Vanilla Ice' sunflower. I grew a few of these for the allotment this year but all came to grief bar one. They were munched by molluscs as soon as they were planted there having been grown from seed at home. The sole survivor has sulked at the allotment and no sooner than there were signs of flowers the stem bearing them snapped and is hanging on by a thread. I'm not sure whether the remaining flowers will go on to open, so bought this one home with me to enjoy at close quarters. I will definitely attempt to grow this particular variety again next year hopefully with better results.
The sunflower needed some help to prop itself up so the other occupants of the vase have a supporting role and were not arranged as such just plonked. Also coming from the allotment some stems of fennel with their yellow flower heads and some oregano flowers. Both are prolific self seeders so I must soon be quite ruthless and chop their heads off to save me from more weeding next year. Another prolific self seeder and also scented a couple of flowers from a buddleia which is located in the garden. The final touch was the inclusion of some
clematis jouiniana 'Praecox', (the colour of which Cathy and I just can't agree on) to wrap itself around and hold up the sunflower.
I'm fairly sure that the vase is one that my mum gave to me after a clear out.
Although I'm not often here with a vase I do enjoy seeing other blogger's inspiring and colourful creations as they are generously shared each Monday, courtesy of the lovely Cathy over at
'Rambling In The Garden'.
I love your collection of accident victims and their supporters, Anna! I, too, found one pretty sunflower to add to my vase this week - the foliage had been decimated by what I suspect was the grasshopper I've seen jumping about but I was glad a was able to save the flower itself. I wish I had some fennel like yours to add to my vase.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I do like seeing sunflowers in a vase. Mine suffered the same fate this year, eaten by the dreaded slugs as soon as they were planted out, two survived but with so few blooming at the allotment, I didn't like to snip them in their prime for the house. I'll try again next year and hopefully have more.
ReplyDeleteThose colours with the vase are so so PLEASING! and all things i don't have in my garden. What a beautiful happy arrangement!!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear that some of the blooms were rescues and given a second chance as floral display indoors. Wonderful colours Anna!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte sounds a good 'do-er', doesn't she, and links nicely with the d***y l******r coloured clematis, although to be honest yours is a much more definitive colour than mine. What a shame about your sunflowers as Vanilla Ice always looks lovely - at least this one should last quite some time in water. Thanks for joining in, Anna - another happy accident!
ReplyDeleteAnna I love accidental vases. That is how I made my first vase was with blooms that were felled by storms. Now I can't stop making vases. And I adore the pitcher/vase as well.
ReplyDeleteMy Vanilla Ice sunflowers went the same way as yours - I didn't get a single one. They are such a nice colour though so I shall try again next year hopefully with better results.
ReplyDeleteThat is so delicate and still looks so summery. Such a pretty sunflower - I also only managed to get one plant to survive, and it had one single flower! The Kalimeris is nice - I am waiting for my asters to open but they are all fairly late ones.
ReplyDeleteI like this pretty vase very much, very delicate and summery and Cathy above said. Rescue stems are the perfect additions for a vase as there is no guilt at all picking them from the garden.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments and a special welcome to gardensunshine. I'm reassured to discover that it's not just me having problems with getting sunflowers to maturity. I liked both the size and colour of 'Vanilla Ice' so will definitely persevere next year. One of these days I will succeed .... :)
ReplyDeleteThe kalimeris incisa flower looks like out Aster x frikartii 'Monch'
ReplyDeleteYes it does indeed Sue - a very similar colour although the flower is smaller I think and the foliage is definitely different from the aster.
DeleteSuch a gorgeous vase Anna, and that sunflower sets it off nicely. Such a shame it didn't make it at the allotment, but at least it hasn't gone to waste.
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you again Paula! :) The sunflower lives another day. Will visit soon to see what you've been up to.
DeleteLovely colour combination. I love the Clematis.
ReplyDelete