Today's 'In A Vase On Monday' was nearly a solitary stem of roses but I could bit bring myself to snip it as it could well be the last of the year. There are buds still to open on 'Blush Noisette' but they will probably be zapped by the first frost of autumn whenever that arrives. Today's vase was nearly a cloud of the white cosmos bipinnatus 'Purity' but I have not made it to the allotment. There is a distinct chill in the air and no sun about. Wimp that I am plans to work on the plot were shelved.
So instead in today's vase are a couple of now going over heads of ivy flowers, the dangling flowers of leycesteria formosa, the intense purple of salvia 'Amistad', aster' Little Carlow' (yes I know that asters are now called something else), the purple foliage and tiny fuzzy flowers of perilla frutescens, some asparagus foliage and the crimson tapers of persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail'. The latter was the only plant that I bought at the Malvern Flower Show last month. For some reason I didn't have my plant buying head on, as not only did I come home with one solitary plant it's one that is already growing in the garden! Having said that it's a really good do'er which flowers for months, so I'm more than happy to have a spare. More about the perilla in another post.
The garden is slowly coming to a standstill flowering wise but there are signs of exciting times ahead. The first snowdrop of the new season is already through and showing white! Thanks as always to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for hosting.
I can understand the hesitancy to cut that last rose stem - I had a single 'California Dreamin' rose make an appearance this week and couldn't bring myself to cut it either. But even with frost hovering in the wings, you managed to put together a very pretty arrangement. Asters always tug at my heartstrings and you've done far better than I have with the Leycestria and Salvia 'Amistad'. For some reason, the latter has a very short lifespan here.
ReplyDeleteIt may not be roses or cosmos, but I think you turned out a very fine arrangement this week, Anna!
ReplyDeleteI do like the contents of your nearly but not quite vase - just as pretty as the last rose of summer or a cloud of cosmos. And I really envy you your Amistad - I have (shhh) sneaked a piece of what is probably Amistad from a Council planting before they are yanked out at the end of the season in the hope that some late cuttings will take... there, I have openly confessed :( The perilla thingy is interesting and I look forward to hearing more about it. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteps and your first snowdrop...sigh... Must confess that it did occur to me only yesterday that the some of the earliest ones may begin pushing through soon, but I have none as early as yours though
DeleteI do understand your reluctance to cut the last roses - I always enjoy mine so much as I walk around the garden at this time of year that I rarely cut them. Your vase is beautiful this week - light and airy and without the usual heaviness of autumn arrangements. Incidentally I have ordered the Autumn anthology you are reading - I do love a good seasonal book! J x
ReplyDeleteNice blog. Spotted you at Cathy's ( in a vase Monday) so just taking a look see. Enjoyed your last few posts. Got a hoot out of last weeks Monday post only because you used a glass not a fancy vase, regardless very pretty.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to still be able to find flowers at this time of year - the asters really lift the arrangement - mine are in a container at the moment and very short. I wonder if they will grow to full size next year when I remove them? I still have one or two roses blooming and one or two buds still to come, but I doubt they will open now.
ReplyDeleteA lovely autumnal collection of flowers Anna, and maybe more seasonal than white cosmos anyway. My rosebuds were cut yesterday as there is no way they will flower now, and the cosmos will have to be cut down this week too. How exciting to see your first snowdrop in October!
ReplyDeleteA lovely, pretty vase that more than makes up for not being roses!
ReplyDeleteWhy they need to keep changing the names of plants? To me the little asters that flower at this time of year will always be Michaelmas daisies. That's what they were when I was carrying a bunch to school as a child and that is what they will stay.
ReplyDeleteYour arrangement is so pretty. There's still quite a lot of colour around at the moment but I don't think it will last much longer now, it's much cooler and we've already had our first frost.
ReplyDeleteLove the intensity of that blue Salvia; it really brings out the depth of colours in the others flowers too.
ReplyDeleteI love Little Carlow, it is one of the prettiest asters. Have you noticed how the centres are yellow at first and turn red once they are pollinated?
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