IAVOM- Iris & Campanula

Posted on July 7, 2019 by Eliza Waters

flower arrangementI’ve chosen my Garden Kitty pocket vase for this week’s In a Vase on Monday arrangement, hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

Campanula punctata
Campanula punctata, Iris x

I’ve featured Spotted Bellflower (Campanula punctata), which is blooming profusely right now in a bed of Siberian Iris with this possible Japanese (Iris ensata x siberica) cross that I bought at a roadside stand. It has a unique look to it.

Cat Pocket Vase

I’ve also added Beardstongue (Penstemon Digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’) and some small blooms of Creeping Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) as a filler. A collar of chartreuse Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ leaves finishes the vase.

Click the link above to see what other gardeners are featuring this week from their gardens.

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Silent Sunday

Posted on July 7, 2019 by Eliza Waters

Summer pond reflection

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Independence Day

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Eliza Waters

Red, white and blue flowersThe Fourth of July is Independence Day here in the USA and I’ve made a red, white and blue floral arrangement in honor of the day in my blue speckled ‘MILK’ jug vase.

Papaver somniferum
top view
Allium caeruleum

Red Poppies (Papaver somniferum), which always bloom in time for the holiday, are the stars here, along with red Astilbe x arendsii. White Hosta (H. ‘Francis Williams’ ) blossoms and wild Malva moshata are sweetly scented additions. Blue Globe Onion (Allium caeruleum) and purple Catmint (Nepeta racemosa) are currently the only blue tinted flowers in my garden. A collar of blue Hosta leaves finish the arrangement.

For those observing the day, I wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday weekend.

In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

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IAVOM-Summer

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Eliza Waters

flower arrangementWith the advent of summer solstice, many of the flowers I associate with warm, summer days have started blooming and it is hard to pick just a few with so many vying for my attention.

Peonies, Nepeta
Peony, Thermopsis, Daisy

Caroline Lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana) has started its reign in the big garden (you can see its blurry, yellow mound to the right of the arrangement above). Smaller, secondary buds of the Peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are now blooming, which make them perfect for vases.

Kalmia latifolia ‘Carousel’
Peony, Thermopsis, Kalmia

A branch of Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia ‘Carousel’) begged to be included, though it seems more red than pink in the photos. I love the pattern that looks like stitched smocking.

Thermopsis

Thermopsis, Daisy

Purple Catmint (Nepeta racemosa) is a favorite addition for vertical accent and fillers of Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) and Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) complete my first vase of summer.

I’m joining other gardeners at Rambling in the Garden’s In a Vase on Monday in creating arrangements from our gardens. Click the link to see what other gardeners are featuring this week.

 

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Silent Sunday

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Eliza Waters

Peony

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Summer!

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Eliza Waters

Sunflower with bees

Happy Summer Solstice to my northern friends

and Winter Solstice to my southern ones!

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Peonies & More

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Eliza Waters

Flower arrangementJune is a wonderful time in the garden and with abundant rain, things are advancing rapidly. With so much in bloom it is hard to pick just a few things to feature in a vase.

Peony
Siberian Iris
Clematis

I chose my heavy cut-glass vase in which to put weighty branches of red Weigela, pinwheels of Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), pink Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and Paeonia. Siberian Iris (I. sibirica) and Catmint (Nepeta racemosa) add purple, while fluffy white Clematis and chartreuse Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) finish the arrangement.

Main Garden 6/18/19

Main Garden 6/18/19

These flowers were picked from beds around the house, but I wanted to share a few photos of the large main garden that starts slowly, but gains momentum in late June to finish out the garden season with a bang. I have planted annual cut flowers throughout the left side of the bed this year and am looking forward to seeing what it produces.

Iris, Lamb’s Ears, Veronica
Bearded iris
Veronica ‘Crater Lake Blue’

While this all used to be vegetables many years ago, the only thing that keeps showing up is potatoes that I miss every fall, even though I swear I’ve dug them all. A truly permanent crop! Similarly, a few garlic persist along with sunflowers that the birds miss. I’m waiting for the seedlings to grow bigger before putting down mulch. I’m not fond of relentless weeding, especially as the days grow hotter. I’ll post updates as it progresses.

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Wordless Wednesday

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Eliza Waters

White bearded iris

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IAVOM-White Iris

Posted on June 9, 2019 by Eliza Waters

flower arrangementFor this week’s In A Vase on Monday arrangement, I’m using the last of my white Bearded Iris (I. germanica), which have been blooming abundantly for the last 10 days. The clump offered nearly four dozen blossoms, the best it has ever bloomed.

White bearded Iris
White bearded Iris

To fill my grandmother’s milk jug, I stuffed it with pink Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), dark and light pink Clove pinks (Dianthus caryophyllus), hot-pink Cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum), white Wood Anemone (A. canadensis), white Bridal Wreath (Spirea vanhouttei) and buds of chartruese Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis). I finished with the accent of a few grass seed heads.

Geranium, Bleeding Heart, Lady’s Mantle
Spirea vanhouttei

Hop over to Cathy’s Rambling in the Garden site to see what other gardeners have made from their gardens this week.

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IAVOM–Burgundy

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Eliza Waters

Floral arrangementBurgundy rules this week’s arrangement with my first blossom of dark German iris (possibly I. ‘Frontier Marshall’), opening today. The original plant was a gift from a friend so ID is uncertain.

Burgundy German Iris, possibly ‘Frontier Marshall’
Aquilegia oxysepala

Oriental Columbine (Aquilegia oxysepala) reminds me of Chinese lanterns with creamy corollas and burgundy sepals. Acer japonica leaves add more burgundy.

The white blossoms of Geranium renardii, streaked with burgundy, are with us only a short while, but the heavily textured leaves add interest to the garden all season long. A few pale Bluestars (Amsonia tabernaemontana) were also added to the mix.

Geranium renardii
Amsonia tabernaemontana

Tiny blooms of wild yellow buttercups (Ranunculus sp.), picked from the lawn, touch upon the yellow ‘lanterns.’  White Anemone canadensis have just started to bloom around the yard. They can be rather invasive, but all is forgiven when the field blooms en masse. Field grasses finish the wild look.

Check out what other gardeners are arranging this week at Cathy’s Rambling in the Garden site.

 

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