Seeing Cathy’s (Words and Herbs) sunflower vase last week, I was reminded that I hadn’t used my sunflower pocket vase this year. So, here it is, hand-painted in Ecuador by Artesa.
The large flowers are, of course, sunflowers (Helianthus annuus). I love the coppery blush on the largest one. No ID as it is from the CSA farm where we have we have a weekly share pick-up.
The yellow daisies are woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus) and the grass is yellow fox-tail (Setaria pumila).
I recently learned that certain foxtail grasses create a problem with livestock and pets, because the barbed seed heads can embed in flesh, entering through ears and nose, where they can fester. Like in a horror film, some cases have resulted in death when the barb migrates to the heart or brain. The particularly troublesome species to watch for is Foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum). Here is a short video to help identify it. Another is Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis). If you have a dog that runs free in fields, click here to learn more.
Even though Setaria isn’t on the really bad list, I’ve been on a campaign to pull and trash the seed heads ever since. They’ve been increasing in my yard over the past decade, probably brought in via an animal or hay bale. I found them attractive to look at both in the garden and in arrangements. However, I can forego the pleasure if it means avoiding a costly vet bill. I’d rather be safe than sorry. It may take a few years before I can get most of them out of the yard, it’s a work in progress.
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 
That’s gorgeous Eliza. The absolute perfect vase! I often read ‘CSA’ farm on American/Canadian blogs… can you enlighten me what it stands for? Oh, and wise words about that grass; when I was little we had a Cocker Spaniel and he had terrible trouble with those seeds working their way into his ears. It must have been very painful for him and cost us a fortune in vet bills too. We checked his ears constantly and avoided grassy areas, but still he got them almost every year.
Thank you, Cathy. CSA stands for Community Sustained Agriculture. It’s where members buy a ‘share’ of the future harvest to support the farmers ahead of time. So good year or bad, the farmers get to continue to practice their trade. Ours is horse-powered, so it is particularly special in our eyes. Here’s a post about the farm: http://wp.me/p3O3z4-wR
Your poor dog, I read that sporting dogs are particularly prone to getting them as they are often in fields.
Thanks for the link! I am so glad I asked you about CSA instead of just looking it up! That post about the haymaking is really wonderful! 🙂
It’s a great farm and community. Thanks for your interest!
The grasses add a special touch to the vase, it’s not easy to mix sunflowers with other flowers I find; and by picking the grasses you’re stopping them from seeding so very worthwhile. A good warning to us all about the hidden dangers for pets in our gardens and the countryside.
Thank you, Christina. I often use ‘invasive plants’ for arrangements before I throw them out. At least they add some value. 😉
Perfect vase and tablecloth for this delightful arrangement
Thank you, Derrick 🙂
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
Thank you for reblogging!
sunshine in a vase!
Yes, indeed. Thanks, Ann!
I had no idea about those grasses, thanks for alerting us.
Those flowers and that vase are perfect partners and so cheery. Thanks Eliza
Thank you, Dorris.
Beautiful.
Thank you, Sylvia.
Another vase of sunshine!
Indeed, grab it while we can!
My sunflowers are in bloom. I had to tie them up being so top heavy.
Dad often complained about the foxtail and giant foxtail weeds. Not because of livestock issues. He grew corn and soybeans. He liked ‘neat’ fields.
Weeds are always at odds with the farmer/gardener. A weed is only a plant growing in the ‘wrong’ place!
Beautiful arrangement, the vase is good to show off on its own. I like the addition of grasses, shame they cause so much trouble.
I know, I’m comforted that these aren’t the really bad ones. Thanks for your stopping by. 🙂
That arrangement has quite the face, especially in the first photo! Yes, a shame about the grasses, but we must look out for our dog buddies.
Thanks, Laurie. 🙂
I agree with all the comments, Eliza. The vase contributed so nicely to this arrangement.
Thank you, Kim. 🙂
What a gorgeous happy looking vase….should be used every day, even in winter (indoors of course) so pretty.
Thank you, Kim. It is usually displayed on top of the hutch, out with two other Artesa vases. The rest don’t get to see daylight often enough. 😉
The joy of summer, so many flowers, all of the vases get a turn😊 your gardens are gorgeous…. 😊🌻🌺🌹🌷🌼💐🌸
Thank you so much!
Perfect name for this beautiful arrangement! I tried to grow some sunflowers and a ground squirrel ate all the tops off … except for the one in a pot on the deck.
Thank you, Denise. Squirrels can really ruin a garden. Once they discovered my stand of sunflower heads, the birds didn’t get another seed. They trashed the lot. Thugs!
I love the sunflowers – and the grass is a very nice (and unexpected) touch!
Thank you, Sarah. Did you ever read up on the Canada rye grass and foxtails? I think your area has a bit of it and with Choppy running the fields, it is good to check for. Can you tell I’m a mother-worrier? 😉
I read a long article on a blog not that long ago. I try to get everything off of her when we come in the house (obviously, I don’t always do a perfect job or I would not have so many tick stories).
Ticks are a tough one and I think worse than a few seeds. No matter what we do, a few get through.
Choppy is a living example of this!
Beautiful but dangerous things growing out there.
Indeed!
It’s a beauty, Eliza!
Thank you, Cynthia!
You might even have more vases than flowers!
Just might! ;-D
Oh, one of my favorites! I love the grass blossoms but yikes yes, better safe than sorry.
Thanks, Kathy. Grasses add a nice meadowy feel to arrangements.
So beautiful, both the hand painted vase and the flowers in it!And thanks a lot for the info about fox tail and dogs, I did not know!
Thank you, Anca. Glad to spread the word about foxtails.
That’s a absolutely wonderful vase, made even more so by the flowers you put in it!
Thank you so much, Kris. 🙂
Very nice combination, love the flowers and the vase. Blue and yellow make wonderful partners, I like the grass as an accent, but, it is nasty business. We have a similar barbed grass here, ugh, and a vast collection of nut grass. The spurs here can cut through tires.
Splendid combination – even the cloth joins in 🙂
Such robust flowers, but in no way do they overpower the container or vice versa.
Thank you, Joanna!
Makes me want to samba!!! 🎉
Thats a party going on right there in that vase 💛
🙂 Thank you, Val. It has that vibe for sure!
Just gorgeous! What a wonderful collection of vases you have. You should line them up together one day and show us…
Thanks, Joanna. Ha! That would be a really long line! Maybe a photo of my 3-shelved hutch packed full. (I’ve been collecting for 40 years.) 😉
That’s what I call a happy arrangement! The vase is spectacular and even more so with the flowers in it. And yes, thank you for the info on fox tails and the danger to dogs. We were just pet sitting with a golden retriever who glories in running free around our property. Hope he missed any of those nasty foxtails.
Thank you, Dor. Glad you found the info helpful and I hope there are none around your property, too.
What a very happy arrangement. Oh, haha, I see that dorannrule just said that. The whole arrangement makes me happy. Beautiful, Eliza!
Thank you, Mary, I’m glad to spread the sunshine!
The flowers were meant for that vase, beautiful!
Thank you, Belinda. I can’t imagine any other flowers working quite so well with that vase. 🙂
Eliza, what a terrific arrangement. The flowers suit the vase perfectly.
Thank you!
Well, now, that certainly is a show stopper. I can’t decide which one is more beautiful – the vase or the flowers. I guess I’ll just enjoy them both because they are gorgeous. 🙂
Thank you, Judy. What is summer without sunflowers? 🙂
Oh I do like that!
Thank you, Brian!
I really love that vase. And the flowers are so cheerful. Just gorgeous.
Thank you, Karen.
I like all these studies Eliza!
Thank you, Maria!
I really like this one, Eliza. Such a happy looking arrangement.
Thank you, M. It is a cheerful one, that’s for sure. 🙂
Warm and beautiful!
Thank you!
Very nice
Thank you, Sally.