Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Monday Vase: a Favourite and a Few Digressions

perovskia, muhlenbergia capillaris regal mist, monday vase meme, amy myers, small sunny garden
Monday's vase came together of its own accord and is, in its rather quiet way, becoming a favourite of mine.  Unfortunately, some of the material had wilted when I managed to get the photographs, leading to a decision to postpone sharing until today, when I anticipated taking a second round of pictures.  However, this morning we are in the midst of a luscious autumnal rain, with dim light all through the house and no interest in going outdoors to get a bit more light!  Therefore yesterday's photos will be used a day late, and I will ask my viewers to imagine the artemisia leaves properly perked up and bushy (which they now are)!
monday vase meme, perovskia, artemisia, muhly grass, texas ranger, leucophyllum, desert garden, small sunny garden
It began with the grass plumes.  Muhlenbergia capillaris "Regal Mist" is now beginning a royal blooming spree.  I have waited exactly one year for this as it was about the first plant that went into the garden last autumn.  It sent up a few plumes last year - just to give an idea of what it could do, I suppose - and now in its second year it is loaded.  None of the stalks are fully opened yet, but they already combine nicely in a vase.
Muhlenbergia capilliaris "Regal Mist", small sunny garden, desert garden, pink muhly grass, flower arranging, monday vase meme
Perovskia is blooming happily now that the weather has softened and I am no longer trying to water anything much (except the new plants, more on them later).  It remains considerably wider than it is tall, but it looks healthy and I found a new bloom stalk yesterday.  At first I hesitated to cut any stems because the bees were enjoying it so much!  But there is plenty of bee fodder in the garden, and I was able to stuff a good handful of Perovskia in the vase.
perovskia, muhlenbergia capillaris regal mist, amy myers, small sunny garden, desert garden
The other blooming stems are from Leucophyllum frutescens "Compacta", the so-called Barometer Bush, which true to name has opened a scattered few flowers ahead of last night's and today's downpours.  It is a good source for foliage in a vase, and all the better when in bloom.
leucophyllum frutescens, texas ranger
Artemisia "Powis Castle" supplied a cluster of foliage as well.  As I say, it has brightened up considerably since these pictures were taken.  

All of the material used was fairly large-scale - enough to go into one of my larger handthrown vases: an unglazed stoneware vase with a narrow mouth and neck and some extra texturing around the shoulder.
monday vase meme, small sunny garden, amy myers, ceramics, stoneware, desert garden, perovskia, Muhlenbergia capilliaris "regal mist"
So the Monday Vase was a day late due to weather and wilt.  Finally linking, of course, with Rambling in the Garden, where there are always many wonderful vases to be found...

Now for a few digressions...

I am happy to say that the male hummingbird has established his rights to the apricot tree outside our dining room window.  He clearly perceives himself as part of the garden now.  And we have seen the pair of them swooping and chasing in the yard.  No pictures, I'm afraid!

I have also been planting out my assortment of plants-in-waiting as well as this autumn's order from High Country Gardens.  The South Border is rapidly filling up, from Eremophila hygrophana and Ozothamnus diosmifolius at the top to Agave angustifolia "Marginata" at the bottom.  More on all that in a much-delayed post later today, I hope!
Agave angustifolia "Marginata", desert plants, small sunny garden, desert garden
The southeast corner of the garden took on a new sense of space this morning as I finally squared it out with pavers (must go buy some more...) and found that my eyes had been deceiving me as to the depth of the bed.  This gardener was delighted to find extra planting room available...!

The Alnwick Rose has bloomed and is looking much healthier overall; I think it's past the worst of its woes.
rose the Alnwick Rose, david austin rose, amy myers, small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers photography
And Salvia reptans has been flowering also: a wonderful haze of brilliant, deep blue blossoms on a fairly upright plant.  This one is a treasure for the desert garden!
salvia reptans, small sunny garden, desert garden, desert flower, amy myers, garden photography
With rain (even hail last night - no damage done that I've noticed) the whole garden is looking greatly refreshed.  Autumn is here!
berlandiera lyrata, small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, garden photography, chocolate flower, desert flower
Berlandiera lyrata is once more blooming happily every morning
Happy Monday!
monday vase meme, small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, amy myers ceramics
Weather Diary: Rain with occasional thunder; High: 83 F(28 C)/Low: 63 F (17 C)
With the rain, the high temperatures have dropped about twenty degrees (F) over the last twenty-four hours, down to 64 F (18 C) now!

17 comments:

  1. The rain must be so welcome. Enjoy! Believe it or not we could actually do with some here, it's been a dry autumn. Tonight, if the forecast is correct.

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    1. I hope your rain materialized nicely, Jessica! One can't help but enjoy it when the plants are so refreshed by it after being dry for so long!

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  2. such a pretty and feminine arrangement. I love that type of rain which reminds me of holidays in tropical places!

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    1. That's my favourite sort of rain too... We're coming up on the right time of year for it too! Thanks :)

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  3. such a pretty and feminine arrangement. I love that type of rain which reminds me of holidays in tropical places!

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  4. I like the fine seed heads on the grass, I haven't heard of that one over here. The style of the hand thrown vase perfectly complements the arrangement.

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    1. Thanks so much, Brian :) I've really enjoyed this grass; it's been trouble-free for me here and is, in fact, tolerant of a wide range of conditions, being fully frost-hardy. For information on the species, see http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285282&isprofile=0& I had not grown ornamental grasses earlier; this one has been an excellent starting point, which - given the growing conditions - is high praise... ;-)

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  5. The tall grasses add a really elegant touch to your vase, and of course your unglazed pot sets the contents off perfectly. As Jessica said we have had a dry autumn (and a dryish summer too for some) but we did indeed have rain ;last night and this morning, most welcome! Enjoy your new plants!

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    1. I do love the effects of the grasses in the vase - probably influences coming back from childhood in the seventies... ;-) So glad to hear you got some rain; no amount of handwatering has the same effect for the plants, as I have learned! Thanks so much, Cathy!

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  6. The arrangement has great color and structure, Amy, and your vase is wonderful! I love your new agave too. I am SOOO jealous of your rain - we've received not a drop.

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    1. I hope the rain makes it out your way, Kris; humidity without rain isn't so great... Yes, I finally took a try with an agave (two, counting one which will remain in a pot). And I'm really enjoying them :) It was nice to have material large enough to go in the larger vase, and it all really fell together. Thanks a lot!

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  7. That's a really pretty arrangement Amy, and I love the vase, gorgeous. You must be thrilled seeing the grass plumes develop, I have just received a plant order which includes three miscanthus. They were trimmed back for transport, but next year - next year I hope to see lovely grass plumes myself, celebrating Autumn.

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    1. I hope you enjoy your grasses like I am enjoying mine, Janet. I'd not grown any kind of ornamental grass before and have been so happy with the results. Thanks so much - so glad you like the vase :)

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  8. So wonderful to see the blooms in your vase and garden and to hear about the hummers there......I was visiting my mom for the day on Sunday in Mesa....warm, humid and rain.....so different from home.

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    1. Didn't realize you'd been in the area, Donna! This is definitely the time to visit; the worst of the weather is well over, wildlife - such as the hummingbirds - are starting to move back in, and one can just enjoy... I always dreaded winter so much in the Midwest.

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  9. I love all the purple and green in your vase, Amy, and the delicate tall grass plumes add so much structurally. It's very difficult to get all the plant materials together at just the right stage, they don't all cooperate for me on a Monday. Your cooler temperatures and rain sound delightful.

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    1. This one was unusually cooperative, Hannah! In addition, I'm pleased that it went together so well because these components are in a way representative of what I'm trying to do in that particular border - a good sign! Thanks a lot!

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