Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) has begun to bloom, a sign I interpret as the point where we begin to slide from mid-summer towards autumn. The seasonal cycles continue unabated, ‘time and tide wait for no man’ or woman, for that matter. Bittersweet as it is, I must accept it. Thankfully, there are yet many weeks of glorious summer weather ahead of us to enjoy.
As the title suggests, I’ve made my arrangement this week mostly of native plants. Soft-pink Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum) has been blooming for a week or two, another great late-season pollinator plant, along with Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus), all greedily visited by bees and butterflies. American Goldfinches have already started plucking seeds from the latter two, their cheerful twittering filling the air.
The only non-native are Hosta blossoms added to provide a bit of contrasting purple color.
Sweet peas
For the past month, I have enjoyed huge bouquets of Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) brought into the house, the heady perfume nearly making me swoon. I’ve been religious about cutting all the blooms from the vines in order to promote further flower production and it has been most effective. The heat and lack of good rain seems to be having its effect in slowing them down, so I expect there won’t be many more vases. It has been a good run, so I share today’s pickings with you here. I only wish I could add a ‘Scratch and Sniff’ to the post!
I’m joining other gardeners from around the world, sharing arrangements from their gardens, at Rambling in the Garden‘s In A Vase on Monday.
Eliza Waters 
Love the sweet peas. I had no idea Joe Pye weed was so pretty.
Thank you, Ellen. JPW has gained a foot hold and seems intent on taking over a section of my garden/field edge, but what a great ‘thug’ to have as it is a magnet for pollinators.
The sweet peas!!! You still have them!
Mine hung on valiantly longer than they should, here in The Holler heat. I couldn’t believe they were such troopers, filling bouquet after bouquet, long after the heat should have made them expire.
Your flowers are beautiful Eliza.
Thank you so much, Cindy. Sweet peas are truly a wonder, I’m hooked for life! 🙂
Beautiful vases Eliza, both of them, and a ‘scratch and sniff’ for the sweet peas would be amazing! 🙂💖🌺 xxx
Thank you, Xenia!
What a joyful vase of native flowers! I can imagine the lovely scent of sweet peas too – your home must smell lovely with them indoors.
Thank you, Anne. I have the vase of sweet peas next to where I write – a lovely accompaniment!
nice post. i have to admit the bouquets do look nice even though i don’t like them in the house. they are beautiful.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!
we are headed to maine tommorow love ya and see ya in a week.
Have fun!
such dope pictures too. i need to get a good camera
Thank you!
ill see all your posts if you email them too me in my primary mail. i just never look in my social mail catagory and thats what your blog is in.
Thanks for visiting and commenting, nice to see you here. I think that is a setting within your email server. Highlight the notification and move it to your other inbox… hope that helps!
It’s funny what sign makes you realise the season is changing. For me, it’s usually a tree that is changing colour. I always seem to see the first ones surprisingly early and get that rueful ‘enjoy summer while you can’ feeling.
Exactly – there is a little heart skip, and a bit of mental pressure to get out there and grab it while it lasts. Thanks for your visit, Susan!
Stunning and look at all those sweet peas! I am afraid mine had a bad start and haven’t really recovered!
Thank you, Karina. This has been my best year yet, probably due to a cool, wet spring and my keeping them deadheaded. I just love them!
I love sweet peas…
As I type, their scent is all around me… pure heaven. Wish I could send you a bouquet for your desk! 🙂
Thanks for the thought, Eliza. I can see them there!
You made Mother Nature proud with this gorgeous display. Native is a good thing. 🙂
Thank you, Judy. 🙂 We were trimming part of a meadow and I had to use some of the goldenrod so as not to waste it and the arrangement took off from there. 😉
Gorgeous bouquets, Eliza.
Thank you, Irene!
Those sweet peas are amazing!
They really are – I am hooked on them! As much as I love peonies, lilacs and lily of the valley as my scented favorites, sweet peas are giving them a strong contest by flowering 2-4x longer.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ARE FANTASTIC ELIZA I CAN ACTUALLY SMELL THE SWEET PEAS, CHINA
Thank you, China. I appreciate your reblogging!
Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
Again your sweet peas just grabbed a hold of my heart this morning, Eliza. Oh yes, Fall is most definitely in the air. There is now a yellow cast on much of the once lush green. *sigh* You’re right. Time waits for no one. Gorgeous photography!!! 💝
Thank you so much, Amy! 🙂
I’m reminded of the Joni Mitchell song about the “seasons go ’round and ’round…”
Exactly.
If only there were a scratch and sniff. No matter! I could practically smell them anyway. Wonderful bouquet with natives. Always sad when sweet summer winds down. But what an August it has been! Almost makes up for July.
It has been a pleasant start so far. I’m loving the cool nights, so great for sleeping!
We’ve had to shut the windows at night. Too cold in the morning when the windows are left open all night.
Yeah, it was 61 in here this morning, a bit chilly, but it warms quickly. Loving that part. 🙂
I know! Oh, August. Such a month.
So beautiful, Eliza! Inspiring as I am beginning to look at Fall planting for Spring beauty!
Thank you, Carrie. Can’t go wrong choosing natives – they thrive!
Lovely Native flowers. Interesting, there’s lots of Goldenrod here, in my southeastern-ish MA yard, none blooming. Great food for Monarchs!
Thank you, Alice. You’re right there. Goldenrod and asters are rich food sources for pollinators, esp. important at the end of the season in prep for winter. Not sure if their flowers are light or temp triggered, but I suspect the latter, as they are now blooming in the cooler north.
I adore sweet peas, as well as their colours and scent they always bring back memories of when I grew them as a small child in my own little patch of the garden! 🙂
What a sweet memory, Val, you must have been so proud! A scent like that is unforgettable. ❤
I was, thanks. 🙂
Beautiful
Thank you!
Fab sweetpeas
Thank you, Dorris!
When I saw your first photo, I thought you’d created a wreath. I didn’t realize it was a shot of the vase from above until I scrolled down. Regardless of its form, the native plants make a lovely arrangement. And you have sweet peas! Summer hangs on well into October here – maybe you need to pay SoCal another visit!
Yes, I thought it looked like one, too. I should try to make one to dry and see how it turns out. It’s been a while since I made a dried wreath, which will last all winter.
I would love to visit SoCal annually, timed to avoid winter here. I don’t want to think about that season right now with the current gorgeous weather making me quite happy here! 😉
I thought it was a wreath, too! 😁
🙂
Two glorious vases Eliza. Thanks for sharing all that beauty (and scent -;) ). Golden rod is just opening here too and is a lovely sight at the roadsides everywhere. 🙂
Thank you, Cathy! Autumn is trying to creep in quietly. 😉
Nature’s bounty. I love it all and the overhead shot is great! Sweet Peas all summer is nothing short of amazing to me. My native Chapman’s Goldenrod has sent up a big set of buds- I can tell the seasons are changing as well.
Thank you, Amy. Those SPs are amazing to me as well. They have been glorious!
You must be looking forward to cooler weather, but still a ways off yet.
60 days minimum to cool and counting.
Stunning arrangement, Eliza! And I do so love those sweet peas! 😍
Thank you so much, Julie! 🙂
My favourite golden Rod is Solidago Firecracker, different flower shape and well behaved. ie not invasive!
It is a good clumping cultivar with great form. We have many different species here, tough to identify, hairy, smooth, etc. Some much more invasive than others, S. altissima is a huge thug. 😉
Such beautiful arrangements Eliza! I feel the same way about this time of year, but still look forward to the warm days ahead.
Thank you, Belinda!
Your natives look amazing Eliza. The Goldenrod is such a good addition to arrangements. And the sweet peas are so pretty. I’ve never grown them successfully so glad you’re getting the most out of yours. I enjoyed your 6th blogging anniversary post and it spurred me back into action.
Thank you, Susie, glad to inspire. Somehow writing my thoughts out to share have had a similar effect. A good thing!
Beautiful. And yes, goldenrod always signaled impending fall to me as well. 🌺💜🤗
Thank you, Bela. That slippery slope to fall is upon us again. (sigh)
It always was my favorite time of year there, though. Thin air, fall colors … the holidays. 🥰
Ah – so lovely!
Thank you, Fi!
Lovely native arrangement Eliza, it’s frothy and rustic and cheering – and the sweetpeas are frivolous and lovely 🙂
Thank you, Andrea. Great descriptions– Sweet peas are like ladies in frilly tea gowns, complete with perfume!
I always enjoy seeing native plants from other areas – they are so refreshingly unique. These look good in the vase too, and that jug is most striking.
Thank you, Carol. I love the wild exuberance of native plants (and so do the bees)!
Love this weeks arrangements and so wish you could add a “scratch and sniff” element so I could enjoy everything about your amazing garden and flowers!
Thank you!
Beautiful. I can feel the seasons changing too!
Thank you, Allison. Down the slope we go!
I can almost smell those beautiful sweet peas.
Thank you, Jill. They’ve been wonderful this summer. I’ll be sad to see them go.
Beautiful flowers Eliza and I love the sweat peas. Ive so enjoyed mine this year and like you have been constantly picking bunch after bunch and bringing them in the house. The smell is amazing.
Thank you, Alison. They truly are amazing. 🙂
I love both arrangements, but because I am such an autumn and winter kind of gal, I am particularly drawn towards the one that is announcing autumn with the goldenrod.
Thank you, Robin. With your hot, steamy summers, I understand why you love the cooler months.
I wish I could sniff them all too 🙂
Such a beautiful array of blooms and so beautifully arranged too.
Thank you, Vicki!
Beautiful pictures, Eliza! And I especially love the sweet peas – one of my favorite flowers. (My mom used to grow them.) Thanks for reminding me – I need to plant some next year! 🌺😊
Thank you, Betty! SPs are so worth growing, and so long as they are picked, keep producing more – delightful flower!
Wow! Those sweet peas are rad, especially since it is August!
Neither Joe Pye weed nor goldenrod are native here. I would like to grow both because it seems that everyone else is familiar with them. However, I do not want to introduce goldenrod here if it is not naturalized already. I saw it in a nursery a while back, but did not look to see i it happened to be a sterile or non-invasive cultivar.
Thank you, Tony. The SPs are winding down, but still, I picked a large vaseful this morning. So wonderful to enjoy in the house.
You’re smart to be cautious of both JPW and Solidago, as they can take over. There are clumping (as opposed to stoloniferous) Solidago, which would be less threatening. Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ is one.
I have seen it in nurseries, but would be very hesitant to try any because there are so many aggressively naturalized exotic species here. I have seen a small bit of goldenrod growing wild, and can not help but wonder what sort it is, or where it came from. So far, the few I have seen do not seem to be aggressive. I have seen no others in those areas.
Here is a CA native: https://calscape.org/Solidago-velutina-ssp.-californica-(California-Goldenrod)
This one is excellent, but rarely seen. It blooms fast, and in this region, it lives in small colonies. It is much more colorful in Southern California, even if only for a short while. It is supposedly one of the flowers that contributes to the bloom around the southern edge of Antelope Valley, between Los Angeles and Lancaster. (I think it lives in the hills, but also spreads out into the flat spaces in between, although I have not noticed it out in the larger Antelope Valley.) I would not mind if it naturalized here. I do not even think of it as a goldenrod, but now that you mention it, I am wondering if those that I have seen ‘naturalized’ are actually of this species, and only look exotic because they can get bigger on the coast.
I would have never thought you’d be so successful with sweet peas, I always thought they just fade away in summer and never really take off, but yours are amazing!
The days are getting shorter here as well. I hate letting go.
I’ve been so pleased with my SPs this year. Not sure what factor(s) resulted in my success, but I’d like to be able to replicate it next year. It may have been the cool, wet spring or the fact that I religiously cut every blossom. Who knows?
“I hate letting go.” This is my problem exactly. 😉
Thanks for your visit, Frank!
The colors are amazing Eliza!
Gracias!
Gorgeous arrangements! I like the overhead view of the first!
Thank you, Denise!
Love these bouquets!!!! ❤❤❤
Thank you, Dev, nice to see your comment here. x
Hope your summer has been a good one. I’m running over to your site in case you posted, I want to see little B! 😉