Terri, Candee - thanks for the suggestions. Will have to come up with something for that conch shell. Here is a photo of my Japanese Anemone, with the naked ladies in the background.
Flowers from yard to vase
I am stretching it a bit to call the Japanese anemone a cut flower since the blossoms only last a couple of days, but I like it so much that I use them anyway. It makes a delicate arrangement, albeit short-lived.
Lilium philippinense - a great lily to have as it is one of the latest blooming lilies. Has a nice, slight fragrance.
I had to think twice before cutting these this morning, but since I got about 4 plants that actually survived from all the seeds that self-sow last year, I went ahead and cut them. They make beautiful cut flowers and lasts a long time. When I planted the leatherleaf fern, I did not expect it to get so big - almost as tall as I. But, it provides a nice backdrop for tall flowers.
Dianne, I love the Japanese anemone - really looks interesting as a grouping. The lilies are lovely and will last a while I believe, least that has been my experience. Lucky you with the ferns. When I cut mine, they croak before the day is done. I hate that cause they provide such a nice backing as you show there.
Candee - give the leatherleaf fern a try. Those last forever. I have grown maidenhairs, but they don't last at all, wilting fast. (and terribly hard to get rid up - I am still pulling them up) The boston ferns are too flimsy. Haven't tried any other ones.
I'll look for the leatherleaf fern. Thanks for the info.
Lovely arrangements Dianne! like the fan shape with the anemones in your jug, it looks airy and elegant.
The lily arrangement looks good using the ferns.
Candee, I always soak ferns underwater for few hours before use to help keep them hydrated for the arrangement.
Again learning something new every day. Thanks for the tip, I'll try it out.
Diane, more pretty arrangements! Haven't seen japanese anemones before. They look sort of whimsical in your garden. I like how you used the lilies and fern in your arrangement. Thoughtful placement of the ferns. Thanks for sharing.
Sunflowers on my plot.
Gladioli falling over!
cornflowers
Glads and cornflowers
Sunflowers
Thanks, all.
Terri - you have a nice variety of flowers there. Neat vase too.
My plane leaves bright and early Thursday morning so I will not be posting anything here until October. Looking forward to seeing all of your garden pictures when I get home. If I am lucky, there will be still some of the white Japanese anenomes still blooming then - they are just opening up now.
Thanks Dianne. we will miss you, it's a long time till October!!! Have a wonderful time
.
I'm sure there won't be anything flowering in my garden by the time you get back, but you never know!!
Terri, lovely! Not sure if I asked before, but are cornflowers the same as bachelor buttons? If so, mine sure didn't turn out like that. Yours is full of blooms and a vivid blue.
Dianne, you will be missed, but October?!?!?!?! I must have missed where you were going. Have a safe trip.
Karma - I am leaving for Europe in two days - starting with a 9 day cruise from Amsterdam and ending in Barcelona, a week in Barcelona, a few days in Berlin, and 11 days in Denmark. Back for 5 days, then a week in Houston. I should be packing right now, but I wanted to get one more shot in before I left. Here is a photo of a purple echinacea. I am going to cheat and have you all use your imagination and picture it in a vase. I tried to grow some of the white and yellow variety, but they did not take. Thanks for all your good wishes and great suggestions for things to see......Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back.
This message was edited Aug 26, 2008 12:11 AM
Bye, bye Dianne, if you get a cyber cafe in your travels we would love to see photos of your adventures! We will be looking forward to your return with grand memories of stories and photos of your trip!
Terri, your plot is a jungle of plants. What a remarkable change from the seasons opening when you were just getting it ready, sure did take off! I love the glads, but they drive me nuts when they start falling over. I swear every year that if I had wanted them to come back they would not, but if I had one that I really liked, it never seems to make it. I am not planting anymore of them, if they come again fine, if not that is fine as well!
Oh, forgot Karma, my bachelor buttons are different from the coneflowers that Terri has shown. Mine are individual plants and they spread like wildfire so most have been erradicated.
This message was edited Aug 26, 2008 7:33 AM
Dianne, have a great time! Sounds exciting. The only trip in my near future is Disney World in Orlando, FL. No passport required. :(
Candee, same here! My garden looked so much better after I got rid of them. Thanks.
Thanks Karma! yes, I think you do call them bachelor buttons. I have been collecting the seeds, if you want I can send you some!!!!!! I don't know if they will turn out the same blue but hopefully I will have more plants. In the photo there are two plants, one is a short variety and the other planted behind is taller. Oh by the way, Disney World Orlando is fabulous from what I remember!! Peyton will love it.
Dianne, Love your echinacea, the one I planted this year, just had a few leaves and now it looks very sorry for itself!! Hope you have time to drop into the cafe for a farewell cuppa or cocktail before you go!
Thanks Candee, I'm pleased with my plot this year, already thinking about what to grow where next year!! I agree about the glads, they are annoying falling over. I should have put sticks in earlier, but hey !!!!!
I put supports for my glads and even then they collapse? There just seems to be no keeping them upright, much like a few of my ventures to the cafe LOL.
I took Tim and Tasha to Disney when they were young and it was a real great time, you will really enjoy it. Have you been before? When are you going?
Dianne, I have several colors of echinacea, some do much better than others, perhaps yours will come around next season?
Candee, Karma, and Terri - I did not really mind the floppiness of the glads when I was growing them. It was when I started to get deformed flowers and realized that there was a thrip problem that ended my gladiolus growing days. I read somewhere that to control the thrips, you have to constantly spray insecticide and I did not want to do that. Someone in one of the other DG forum mentioned spraying the area with garlic juice, so on my one remaining gladiolus patch, I may try that next spring. Do you have any problems with thrips?
Disney World Orlando is one place that I have never been to. I'm sure you'll have a good time there Karma.
Candee - as for the other colors of echinacea - I planted all the seeds that I had and since none survived, I won't have any to try for next year. Maybe I'll see you all at the cafe tonight.
Will have to wait for your return Diann, but I have never heard of a thrip. Will look it up while you are gone.
Collected this lot from the garden today.....
a mixed bunch!
That is really pretty Terri, the white is really white isn't it?
Thank you Candee. I do like my white rose. I have managed to root some stems, more roses next year hopefully!!
Thought I'd better do an arrangement here for Dianne's return LoL!!
I wish I had better luck with roses, don't know what I do to them, but of many tried over the years only one has survived and it never amounts to much.
Terri - what a lovely bouquet to come back to!!!! It has taken me awhile to settle back into the routine. The landing at work looked really bare, so I figure I should get a few more bouquets out before everything is dying back. Pictured here in the yard is white Japanese anenome and a red dahlia. The dahlia is a new purchase this year, and I love that rich, dark, red.
and here it is in an arrangement with a few leatherleaf ferns. The ferns are one of my mainstays for greenery - with cutable (is that a word?) fronds throughout most of the year. I should move it over to the cafe for the weekend - I vaguely remember reading something about looking for black and red arrangements to go with the modern look? The white Japanese anenomes last a few days longer than the purple ones.
Stunning Dianne, what a vibrant red! Get it over to the cafe quick!
Very pretty Dianne, love the Dahlia, which one is that? I bet they missed your arrangements at work when you were away! It does look modern and airy, lovely. It will fit in with the modern arrangements at the cafe perfectly!
Glad to have you back, looking forward to the next one!!