A cold front swept through Friday night and temperatures plummeted within a few hours from summer to autumn. With frost warnings for Sunday night, I was scrambling Sunday afternoon to pick my tender annuals for vases in the house, three of which I’ll share here.
I took down my large Polish glass vase once again and filled it with an armload of zinnias (Z. elegans ‘County Fair Mix’), white spider flower (Cleome hassleriana), and cosmos (C. bipinnatus ‘Sensation Mix). For filler, I used heart-leaved blue aster (Symphotrichum cordifolium) which is peaking this week, much to my delight.
My orange Blenko vase (a gift from my sister) was pressed into service for an arrangement of orange zinnias (Z. ‘Apricot Profusion’), black-eyed-Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), speedwell (Veronica spicata) and tall white aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum).
A simple glass vase of zinnias, a ‘Voodoo’ dahlia and shiso (Perilla frutescens).
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. I wonder how many other gardeners have had a frost?
This is my first foray into joining Christina at 
The biggest changes from last week are the sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) have been decapitated by a hungry squirrel and the heart-leaved asters (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) have begun to bloom on the far left and in the middle (in front of the zinnias and behind the coneflowers). By next week, they will be big lavender clouds, airy and light.
While I was taking these photos this morning, I was graced with the presence of yet another migrating 
Continuing to provide color are purple, pink and white cleome (C. hassleriana), white, dark and light pink cosmos (C. bipinnatus ‘Sensation Mix’), zebra mallow (Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’) and zinnias (Z. elegans ‘County Fair Mix’). Calendulas (C. officinalis) are mixed through the left middle. Purple morning glories, on a teepee at the back, brighten the early hours.
Dahlia ‘Voodoo’ is casting its magic over the garden these days and I’m spellbound by its deep, rich burgundy color. Naturally, I must share them!
Heart-leaved aster (Symphotrichum cordifolium) provides the filler and shiso (Perilla frutescens), the perfect foliage to play off the dahlias.
The amethyst crystal Art Deco vase was from my mother-in-law’s collection.
The Bridge of Flowers
There is a log book at each end and I’ve seen entries from all over the world – Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
The Bridge of Flowers is open from April through October and always has lots in bloom, from early bulbs to late asters and chrysanthemums.
Even though I think not much has changed, I look at last week’s photo and see that of course, change is constant. The biggest change is the sunflower has begun to bloom and it is a beauty. I featured it in my 
Along the back, purple, pink and white cleome (C. hassleriana) mix with white, dark and light pink cosmos (C. bipinnatus ‘Sensation Mix’), and dots of zinnias (Z. elegans ‘County Fair Mix’).
We’ve had several nights this past week where the temperatures dipped into the low 40sF (5C), which the heat lovers, like zinnias, do not like. I’m savoring the last of my garden blooms, as I know the end will come eventually.
