In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.
First an update from last week: Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’ was indeed mislabelled. The vendor suggested Dahlia ‘Labyrinth’ mistakenly was shipped instead. In spring I will receive a replacement for the order. Thanks for your helpful comments and suggestions about it.
This week’s vase is a mixed bouquet of late summer flowers presented in a basket. Reflecting the shape of the basket, I fashioned a (mostly) round table design.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
Zinnias predominate.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket. This dark wine-colored zinnia is a stand-out.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket. A dahlia peeks out in front among a sea of zinnias.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
Most of my vases are designed to be viewed in front. That takes less time and requires fewer flowers. But there were lots of dahlias and zinnias available this week, so it was a good chance to experiment with creating a view all around.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
I should have considered stem length of the materials on hand in relation to the size of the basket and cut longer stems, especially dahlia stems. In trying too hard to preserve future blooms, I had skimped. The result is most of the dahlias I gathered were too short to be included, so they are scattered in little vases outside of today’s feature. They are still enjoyable but my thrift left me shy of flowers needed to assemble the design easily.
I had to compensate by using all the zinnias in bloom with less choice about color. Some of the zinnias were also too short, but I think in the end the basket of flowers turned out fine—an explosion of seasonal color.
The irregular heights lend a more casual, informal quality to this week’s vase, in keeping with the basket theme. That’s my story anyway, though I see no reason to resort to using a Sharpie to prove it.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
I purchased baby’s breath for use as a light and airy filler. Included along with it from my garden are sky blue salvia and rosy gaura. Underpinnings of silvery artemisia and lavender serve as concealer foliage.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
Materials
Flowers
Dahlia ‘David Howard’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’ (Butterfly Gaura)
Gypsophila (Baby’s breath)
Leucanthemum x superbum (Shasta Daisy)
Salvia uliginosa ‘Blue Sky’ (Bog sage)
Zinnia
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Ellagance’
Container
Round woven basket with handle
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower designs across the world. Visit her to discover what she and others found to place In A Vase On Monday.
In A Vase On Monday – Late Summer In A Basket
pbmGarden 
Beautiful!
Thanks so much Judy!
Just lovely, Susie, a most artfully composed bouquet showing attention to every detail. Don’t have any zinnias this year and I miss them a bit when I look at yours! Have a nice week x
Thank you Annette. Creating a vase is something I look forward to and this week I had extra time to work on it, something I hadn’t had in a while. So it was nice to take my time and just enjoy solving the puzzle of where to make the next placement.
Wow, this is as close to a perfect shape as anyone would want, sharpie or no sharpie!! I know exactly what you mean by cutting too short a stem because you don’t want to cut off future blooms…there’s a couple commercial (cut) flower farms near me. I need to pay them a visit to find out how they do it. Is there a jar or something in your basket?
Thanks Chris! The basket has a plastic liner that is water-tight. I used a block of Oasis to hold the flowers.
Your zinnias had a very good year. Mine were rather sad.
Oh, that’s a shame your zinnias let you down. Mine were slow to bloom but they have made up for it.
You’ve got more variety of color among your zinnias than I’ve achieved among mine this year, Susie. Next year I may stick to mixes rather than emphasizing single named varieties. It’s great the tuber seller is going to replace your mislabeled dahlia. Maybe I should challenge the labeling of my ‘Labyrinth’, which is far, far paler than most of the photos I see of it on-line. The subtle pink streaks in its petals have almost disappeared altogether in recent blooms but I’ve been attributing that to an effect of our recent heat spike.
I tried planting packets of specific colors of zinnias but the mixes always shine best. I still have the seed packets I think somewhere–just need to record them so I can look for them again next year. Interesting your ‘Labyrinth’ is losing its streaks. You think the heat would have that effect? I think I’ll look for another seller for ‘Cafe Au Lait’ next year to try along side the replacement tubers.
Your dahlias may be too short but your zinnias are beauties. Great colours in the basket
Thank you.I bought various brands and types of mixed zinnias and the result is a good range of colors.
I fancy the antique shades for next year
You have done a wonderful job Susie! Your basket holds so many different colours and shapes. I hadn’t realised until recently how diverse zinnias can be. 🙂
Thanks Cathy. I’ve noticed more variations in zinnias this year too. I especially wanted the cactus ones and had trouble finding them. Finally overpaid for a fancy preplanted circle that you supposedly just place onto soil in a pot for an instant container. I planted it in the ground and it actually did very well. Would have made a nice pot of flowers after all.
I am pleased the vendor is replacing your dahlia, Susie – and you will have an extra one! Today’s basket is an absolute stunner, and immediately brought to mind the paper ‘scraps’ we used to have as children, if you know what I mean. A Victorian hobby, I guess, which probably died out altogether by the end of the(19)50s. It is is just so SO pretty and perfect in its shape and balance – I love it!
Thank you! I’m happy with the basket this week. Did the paper scraps use torn construction paper to create a collage?
No, see https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vtg-FLORAL-PAPER-SCRAPS-die-cut-sheet-big-small-flower-baskets-MLP-England-9×6/254203014673?hash=item3b2fae2e11:g:y44AAOSwelZbd3pN
I see! Thanks.
What a gorgeous summer basket! Zinnias are the happiest flowers and make my heart sing.
They carry a heartsong for me as well. Thanks Cindy.
Love this, it looks like a painting, no Sharpie needed. I have the same stem troubles sometimes and rarely get long stemmed Zinnias.
Thanks. Some of my zinnias have very strong, long stems. If I locate the packages I’ll share the variety.
Please do.
Perfect mix. I love the shape as well as the colors!
Thanks. Not so many just pink ones this year, which is nice.
‘Cafe au Lait’ seems to be so variable that getting the wrong variety might not have been so bad. The flowers would be bigger, but it is hard to know what the color would have been like.