Today's vase was entirely unplanned. That is, I had a vase planned, but this is not the one. More on that in a moment. This one is very much a selection of what was available as I glanced out over the garden about noon. Three blooms from Wollerton Old Hall, a couple of Osteospermums, and two sprigs of lavender make up the whole.
As I say, I looked over the garden and quickly realized that my intended flowers would be unusable. I had hoped to create an arrangement with a fistful of Berlandiera, which is still blooming magnificently; but the fact is, Berlandiera is not made for cutting. It opens at night and closes early, and there really doesn't seem to be any reason to bring it inside with its folded petals making spindly spikes poking out from the centres. It is a powerhouse out in the garden, and I am having to admit that outside is where it belongs.
In the meantime, what to do for a vase? Two nights ago we had some rain. Celebrations! A couple of rose blooms were a little the worse for rain spotting but still usable, and these went into water immediately. Then another... Then I decided to snip a flower from Osteospermum "Sideshow", which I bought a few weeks ago from the almost-free-to-good-home shelf at Lowe's. (I am beginning to frequent that shelf; I just found a salvageable Anigozanthos and some perfectly good freesias there too. A dollar for each...)The Osteospermum is just starting to bloom again after its near demise, so one went into the mix today.
One good thing leads to another. Osteospermum "Blue-eyed Beauty" supplied an additional bloom.
Then a couple of sprigs from Lavender "Goodwin Creek Gray", and that was all.
They went into an unglazed pot I made last year while testing the new red clay. It is not my favourite pot, but it has a very small mouth, allowing use of minimal filler; and I did like the way the roses could drape over the shoulder. Something to remember...
It was a very impromptu mix of material. But sometimes that is the best way.
To see so many more lovely vases, please check out the meme that inspired all of this at
Rambling in the Garden.
Happy Monday!
Weather Diary: Sunny, High: 86 F (30 C)/ Low: 53 F (11.7 C)
Wolverton Old hall is possibly my favourite rose but will not bloom here until June so I have loved looking at yours! I think you are right about the pot - that is a great shape for the roses to drape over (and the colour works perfectly too).
ReplyDeleteI do think the high shoulder on the pot makes for some wonderful desgn possibilities, and this meme has encouraged me to test my own pieces regularly with flowers - all to the good! Share and share alike on the rose photos - I expect my bushes will falter a bit come full summer so I will be looking at yours then ;-) Thanks, Julie!
Deleteoh, to have so much choice in your garden ... although, I am in the process of making a cutting patch, so maybe I will have more choice soon too. Such a pretty combination - the roses are beautiful. (I love to salvage too - its always exciting to find something that can have another life).
ReplyDeleteYes, it is exciting, and as I cannot plan the garden with very much precision here anyway, there's no disadvantage to saving a few plants whose blooms had gone over and were therefore "unsaleable" - ha! Thanks, Ann :)
DeleteWhat a gorgeous rose, is it a David Austin? The arrangement looks lovely in that pot.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's from David Austin - 2011, if I remember rightly... So far I'm very pleased - everything about the plant is good! So glad you like the arrangement - thanks, Chloris :)
DeleteWhat a gorgeous rose, is it a David Austin? The arrangement looks lovely in that pot.
ReplyDeleteThat is a stunning rose. On the list..
ReplyDeleteIsn't it... I'm afraid it was a must-have from the first time I saw the pictures. I'm liking the growth habit as well as the flowers; the whole effect is "refined cottagey" if that makes sense! Flower colours actually seem to range from cream to pale apricot to primrose yellow - I've had all three on the bush already!
DeleteI can't believe you don't like that wee vase Amy, I think it is very pretty and the way you have dressed it makes it even more pretty. I almost picked that rose up today - I popped into the GC for some compost and couldn't resist having a wee look around. The roses looked so lush and healthy but I had to be brutal and tell myself I really didn't have enough room for any more! It will however stay on my wish list should any of last year's new ones not impress me.
ReplyDeleteI'm liking the vase better now it has flowers in it, Angie - surely a good sign. I know what you mean about being brutal though I don't have a good record on it! My issue here is not with space but with how much water I feel I can expend. I must add that some of the David Austin roses have a much narrower habit; I've squeezed The Alnwick Rose into a front corner... ;-)
DeleteIt's a beautiful rose, Amy - you've made great choices for your garden. I know what you mean about certain flowers not performing well in vases - my pretty Arctotis are a case in point.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting which ones just won't tolerate being in a vase - both Arctotis and my Berlandiera are so rugged outdoors... By the way, the Osteospermum from this vase are still looking hale and hearty. I find that if kept on the bright side of the room (in sunny weather!) they stay open and last very well. Thanks so much, Kris :)
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