The Fourth of July is Independence Day here in the U.S. and as everyone is celebrating with fireworks and parades, my arrangement this week reflects the holiday spirit with the patriotic colors of red, white and blue.
For the Stars and Stripes, I have tiny white stars of lady’s bedstraw (Galium triflorum) and red and white stripes of sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), along with starbursts of Blue Allium (A. azureum).
Trumpets of white foxglove (Digitalis purpurea alba), foamy panicles of meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), umbels of common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and pure white sweet William contrast with bright red sweet William and my first sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus), that surprised me by being scarlet! It is the first time I have grown them (inspired by last summer’s IAVOM vases), and I am so pleased I did. They smell heavenly – thanks for the inspiration, ladies!
A note about the sweet William– they came with the house when we arrived 26 years ago and I expect they were planted at least 50 years ago soon after the house was built, coming back faithfully every year at the edge of the woods. Supposedly a biennial, I’ve found these to be perennial, unlike other more recent varieties I have planted.
The vase, fashioned to look like an old-fashioned milk can, is a thrift store find. Hard to see in the photo, but ‘MILK’ is embossed on the front.
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In the Garden, who hosts a weekly meme to showcase what is blooming in our gardens. Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week.
Eliza Waters 
I love this bouquet! The reds are so red! And the blues look like fireworks. Love the vase, too.
Thank you, Micheal. Hope you’re enjoying the holiday. I’ve taken the day off gardening and that is a welcome break!
It’s cooled down here over the past 2 weeks. Hooray! The next 3 days electricians will be here to rewire the whole house. That will make it more tolerable for them.
Wow, what a project. It is amazing how service folk work out in the heat. Hope it goes smoothly…
Happy July 4 to you. Your floral fireworks are zinging with patriotic fervour.
😀 Thank you, Maureen!
Happy 4th July Eliza! You have picked such approriate flowers – the Allium really make it festive!
Thank you, Cathy. I do love that Allium. 🙂
Very happy 4th of July to you and your family Eliza; your vase is perfect for the celebration. Very clever use of stars and stripes!
🙂 Thanks, Christina!
lovely, Eliza. Happy Holidays!
Thank you, Ann!
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie and commented:
perfect for the 4th July!
Thank you for reblogging! 🙂
Happy Independence Day Eliza – fabulous arrangement.
Thank you!
Wow! Amazing flower arrangement celebration! I didn’t know that foxglove also grows in pure white. The vase is perfect…lucky find!
Thank you, Alice. I didn’t need another vase, but I couldn’t resist that one. 🙂
Has little to do with what you “need”, but totally with what you enjoy & what you can picture using it for, giving it a happy home & using it for beautiful arrangements! 😍
🙂 You’ve got a point there!
Beautiful. Happy 4th
Thank you, Tosha – same to you.
You’re welcome
Beautifully done! Happy July 4.
Thank you, Belinda. Happy Fourth to you as well!
Thanks Eliza – actually we celebrate July 1 north of the border.
Oops, apologies, I forgot you were Canadian, 😉 belated greetings then!
Thanks🇨🇦
Oh, I envy the range of flowers you have! As we would say in Maine, that is some bouquet.
🙂 Thank you, Laurie. Happy Fourth!
Beautiful, as always:)
Thank you, Gigi. 🙂
Happy Independence Day, Eliza! Your arrangement is gorgeous. It makes me give some more thought to the colors in my flower garden. 🙂
Thank you, Robin. Happy Fourth to you as well!
All this AND the rockets red glare! Wow!
🙂 Thanks, Liv!
What a nice idea! Happy 4th of July, Eliza!
Thank you, Anca!
Now that is quite a Fourth of July vase….the alliums and dianthus are perfect as they look like fireworks….and so many wonderful white blooms that offset for those scarlet sweet peas.
Thank you, Donna. Happy Fourth to you!
Oh that works so well Eliza – and your dianthus has amazing stickability! Glad you have successfully tried sweet peas – what colour did you expect them to be? I must see if I can get these blue allium – such a change from the purple. Your milk churn find is brilliant!
Thank you, Cathy. My seeds were a ‘pastel mix’ so that accounts for the surprise. The red was timely and welcome all the same.
Yes, it would be a surprise in that case!!
Gorgeous, and I’ve never come across blue allium before, at first glance I thought they were agapanthus. I especially love the way you’ve combined airy flowers with more solid ones, really effective. Happy 4th of July Eliza.
Thank you. I’ve been really pleased with A. azureum – they are long-lasting in the garden and the vase. I think they have found a permanent place in my garden. 🙂
I used different flowers (e.g. Agapanthus instead of Allium) but sought a similar effect. I’m amazed by the persistence of your Dianthus. Happy 4th, Eliza!
Thank you, Kris. Same to you!
Your vase really captures the holiday spirit and fireworks. Nicely done. I’m so envious of your long-lasting Sweet William–what a treasure.
Thank you! They are sweet little gifts from some long past gardener.
This is truly a lovely bouquet and container on this special day. 🙂
Thank you, Judy. Happy Fourth!
You have nailed the bursting fireworks effect. I think the amazingly long lived Sweet William is a great addition and really like the blue milk jug. Happy Fourth!
Thank you so much!
Happy Independence Day. A lovely interpretation for the occasion. I am not sure that I have seen blue alliums before, but they are great!
Thank you, Allison. 🙂
Fantastic!…enough said:-)
Thank you, Stephanie!
Another beautiful bouquet. I love those alliums. Happy Fourth to you!
Thank you, Lisa!
So lovely, Eliza.
Thank you, Cynthia!
Wonderful Eliza! I confess I actually made a bouquet (for my art show reception), and I called it my 4th of July tribute – also red, white, and blue but not as brilliant as yours. Beautiful arrangement!
Thank you, Kathy! How did your reception go?
As expected Eliza-wonderful turnout but alas, no $ales …
Well hopefully, you’ve planted seeds that will bear fruit. 🙂
This is an absolutely gorgeous vase! A little too late yesterday, I realized I should have taken pictures of red, white and blue flowers while on the dog walk. I’m glad someone had the patriotic spirit, even if I forgot to!
Thank you, Sarah!
I hope you enjoyed the celebrations Eliza. Your vase captured the stars and stripes so well, clever!
Thank you, Dorris. 🙂
A lovely vase, Sweet William is a favourite, I have found it to last more than two years. We can have our own Independence Day now.
🙂 Yes, I expect so! Thanks, Brian.
Very nice work Eliza
Thank you, Maria.
A gorgeously inspired vase; I am impressed with how closely the colors complement each other!
Thank you, Jaya!