With my eye on the weather forecast and William Shakespeare's words coming to mind I picked the flowers for today's vase on Saturday afternoon. It proved to be a sound move. As 'The Bard' succinctly wrote "summer's lease has all to short a date". It was the day before the autumn equinox and we had enjoyed a wonderful few days of soft and warm September sunshine and glorious blue skies. The imminent equinox was heralded in by some heavy rain later that same Saturday afternoon, which persisted throughout Sunday before finally petering out at lunch time today. There still could be more today - the skies look as if they haven't quite decided. In my vase gathered before the deluge are :
- Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer', a perennial helenium which has been in flower for a good spell. It started life as a division from a plant that I admired in the garden of a cottage where we were on holiday. The owner who had called in answered my query as to it's identity and then most kindly pressed a pot into my hands as we handed the cottage keys back to her on leaving. It seems most easy going only perhaps flagging a bit in dry summers. Not a problem this year!
- Some angelica seedheads which were cut down earlier that afternoon as didn't want them to set seeds. Unfortunately I was too late with one or two which had already turned brown and generously scattered seeds around as I dealt with them. Grrrrrr ....
- A single no name hardy chrysanthemum. I bought it as part of a collection and will have to check whether the stockist still sells the same collection for identification purposes.
- A couple of flowers of dahlia 'Kick Off' which was new to me this year. I like the flower but am puzzled by the name.
- Finally and a bit of a blur a couple of stems of foliage from a shrub the name of which is eluding me. Cathy of 'Words and Herbs' originally kindly identifed it for me some time ago. Cathy if you see this and can make out what it is could you please jog my memory
Thanks as always to Cathy our hostess over at 'Rambling In The Garden' who kindly invites us to share our vases on Mondays all year round. Gardening plans may have to be fine tuned this week as we're threatened with more rain, wind and cooler weather as the week goes on. Time to clear the greenhouse maybe. Autumn is well and truly here! 🍂
What a beautiful bunch of fall-colored flowers.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna - fall coloured yes but picked on the last day of summer 😀
DeleteYes, Kick Off is a strange name for a dahlia - which looks very similar to David Howard! Last year Chloris, I think it was, featured some chrysanthemums including a pretty coloured orange one called Chatsworth, which I have given a try - I wonder if yours might be that, although looking at yours now the blooms look much larger than theirs are. Your lemon marmalade jar is perfect for this marmaladey selection, which is very warmingly pretty
ReplyDeleteOh, sweet. I opened your post and immediately smiled. The colors, the container, the seedheads...all the elements are so cheerful. September is a beautiful month, for sure. :)
ReplyDeleteA lovely collection, Anna. I like the chrysanthemum. Every year this time I remember I meant to plant some.
ReplyDeleteThat vase is perfect for the delicious dahlias and mums, Anna! In fact, as I'm late in getting to the IAVOM posts today and it is nearly dinner time here, your arrangement made me feel decidedly hungry ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful Helenium with rich accents and I love the jam jar used as a vase. 'Kick Off' is an American football term for when the ball is first put into play, so perhaps the breeder may be American alluding to the opening of fall football season? Eliza
ReplyDeleteHi Anna. Such a lovely autumnal arrangement! I am afraid I couldn't really make out the shrub, but seem to remember last year we both used an Itea virginica in a vase…. ? It sounds like we have had similar weather, albeit a day or two later than yours…. hopefully dry today but more rain on the way!
ReplyDeleteVery autumnal colours.
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