Welcome to ‘In A Vase On Monday’ when I am linking up with Cathy at Rambling In The Garden to share a vase of flowers picked from my garden every Monday.
This week I have two garden newcomers to share in my vase – an unusual mix of cow parsley that I have found flowering in a hidden away spot and the first of my outdoor chrysanthemums.
I would normally expect to see cow parsley flowering in the early summer and my chrysanthemums are the last of my flowers in the autumn season, so I am delighted to have been able to combine them in a vase together! Also in my vase this week are some stunning fresh blooms of the Wedgewood Rose, the purple pom poms of dahlia Rocco, more of my annual clary and a few new blooms of cerinthe major.
I am so happy that my chrysanthemums are in flower again. These are one of my favourite seasonal highlights – I love the depth of colour, the size, shape and the slightly shaggy look of this Allouise series – I think they are a perfect contrast to the precision of dahlia Rocco.
This particular chrysanthemum is Allouise Pink, bought from Chrysanthemums Direct as a cutting. This is my second year growing chrysanthemums and in the spring I put all of last years greenhouse plants out into the garden. They have grown well throughout the summer and are now flowering prolifically. The big lesson I have learnt this year is that outdoor chrysanthemums must be supported – these are all falling over under the weight of flowers.
The Wedgewood Rose is a recent David Austin introduction that I planted last autumn, so it is in its first year of flowering. The first flush in June were very heavy flowers that drooped on the soft young wood of the newly planted rose. This second flush is much smaller and more dainty – and the scent is delicious! Hopefully the rose will be stronger next year and better able to support its lovely flowers.
I am really happy with the pinks and purples with a touch of wild from the cow parsley this week. I have arranged them in this white jug that was bought for me by my daughter for Mothers Day.
Clearly the arrangement is tied to the autumn by the chrysanthemums, but because of its colours it still speaks to me of summer. As much as I love the bright oranges and deep russets of this season, my personal favourites are always in the softer shades.
Adding depth to this arrangement is dahlia Rocco – a perfect purple pom pom which flowers consistently year after year. As ever I am struggling to capture the colour on camera – the dark shades are very frustrating!
Also in the vase is self sown cerinthe major, which is flowering across the garden and makes a beautiful addition to a vase at this time of year. Its lovely long lasting arching foliage and bluey purple flowers add grace and movement to the arrangement. Seeds of this flower are expensive, but once growing in the garden it self seeds well. I also collect seed in mid summer (the seeds are ready when they have turned black) to sow in the autumn for next years Cutting Garden crop.
I used annual clary (salvia viridis) last week and it is still looking beautiful in the borders. I have a tray of both the cerinthe and the salvia growing in the greenhouse, which I hope will provide early flowers for next year.
Today’s jug of flowers displayed on a sunny kitchen worktop made me feel very happy. After last Monday’s storm, this week the garden is warm and sunny with the high temperatures looking set to last the week. The nights may be drawing in, but I was still gardening in a tee shirt today!
I hope that you will pop over to Cathy’s blog to see what she and the others have made for us to enjoy this week.
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What a pretty jugful of flowers Julie. I love the Chrysanthemum, it is gorgeous. The Dahlia is one I shall be looking out for next year.
Haven’ t we been lucky with the weather ? The roses just keep on and on coming.
I haven’ t seen any cow parsley out but when I was out cycling today I saw some pretty pink Hemlock which I thought would look lovely in a vase. What a pity it is so poisonous.
Thank you Chloris – the weather has been amazing this autumn – I can add elderflowers to our list of unseasonal finds – I noticed some flowers on a bush yesterday.
Such a lovely combination of colours Julie, they all work perfectly together.
Thank you Julie.
I was a bit confused when your link took me to last week’s vase, but I got here in the end – will change the link for you so as not to confuse others! It’s strange to be seeing so many pinks at the end of October, somehow – and those roses are so perfect and so pretty. Was this cerinthe that you sowed yourself and if so, when was it sown, or is it self seeded? It looks very tall as well – mine was a complete disaster and I wasn’t sure if I would try again but seeing yours perhaps I will, particularly as you say have started some off already. Thanks as always for your enthusiastic support.
Thank you Cathy for correcting my link – I am not sure how I managed that! This cerinthe is self seeded – it probably started growing mid to late July. I usually find the early sown and self sown seeds grow the best – I would give it another go Cathy. I tend to grow it in my main beds where it can self sow without so much danger of being weeded out. It seems to work well with most plants, so I let it grow where it wants these days.
I can see why this vase makes you happy. I do not usually like mums but yours are beautiful in color and form and perfect with the rose and dahlias. Another stunning truly beautiful vase that your photograph in a dreamy way…love it.
Thank you Donna – I agree with you about the mums – I am not fond of the modern ones sold in garden centres either. The types I choose to grow are the more old fashioned varieties with large heads – they remind me of the chrysanthemums my grandmother always used to buy at Christmas to display in her dining room window.
Gorgeous chrysanthemum Julie. No wonder you’re fond of it. All of its companions are nice complements and what a treasure to have the pretty jug from your daughter. Have a good week.
Thank you Susie – I am on a mission to try and persuade more people to add these gorgeous flowers to their growing list!
Lovely vase:-) Your flowers are always “perfect”….I am in a t-shirt today ,too…it is October 28th + last year we had snow on october 22nd! I like this fall a lot better:-)
Thank you Robbie & I will keep my fingers crossed that you are headed for an easier winter this year!
Beautiful Julie, I love the claret and pale pink combination. Perfect roses in October is such a treat. I have lots of roses flowering but close up they aren’t perfect. I think this is one of my favorites of your vases and I always enjoy them all.
Thank you Christina – it is one of my favourites too. Sadly it is just starting to fade today. These shades are certainly my favourites both in the garden and the house so I am planning to include more of them in various forms in next years cutting garden.
Very pretty – what gorgeous Chrysanthemums! Love those colours. And the sunshine in your photos makes your vase even lovelier!
Thank you Cathy – we did have a couple of stunning days.
How unusual but fortuitous to come across cow parsley at this time of year Julie. I smiled at your comment about cerinthe self seeding. I’ve noticed seedlings already emerging from this summer’s flowers. Have you noticed that if you sow them in seed cells that you usually get two plants from one seed? I wonder how seeds can be so expensive to buy.The vase is the perfect companion for your flowers.
Thank you Anna – I know what you mean about cerinthe seeds – they self sow so easily they are almost a weed – I have no idea why they are so expensive to buy. I also often get 2 plants from what seems to be one seed – but only from seed I have saved. Now that it is established in the garden I doubt I will need to buy any seed again!