In here is Sunflower 'Vanilla Ice' front and centre. I 'm sure I saw this first on IAVOM last year and added it to my seed list. It has been fab, flowering for at least two months with gently nodding heads.
There is also 'Prado Red' which is a rich dark brown/red. Also smallish heads good for vases.
The dahlia is (apparently) 'Apricot Desire'. It's really not apricot but very bright yellow. I find dahlias to be contrary and sometimes do change colour. What do you think? Disappointing though, when you've chosen a colour specifically.
There are some Rudbeckia 'Sahara' in here which are wonderful. Robust plants and varied and beautiful flowers. Some very double and some single.
Dill flowers.
There are a few bits of Pineapple sage which I'm testing out in vases. The droop readily but improve with the hot water treatment. You put the stems into very hot water for 20-30 seconds, top up with cold and leave for at least 4 hours. I have found quite a few things respond to this, even things which have already drooped.
I keep giving myself new jobs which is one reason why my list never gets shorter and I run out of time. This week it's a pile of mulch to move.
There was some tree work going on next door. I had the nerve to ask for some chippings and got some...
...rather more than I expected. They were glad to offload it. At least I had the forethought to put down this plastic but now I need to bag it up and get it off this grass.
I'm going to be using it around trees etc to keep down the weeds but, of course, I'm not ready for it yet so I need to store most of it. Absolutely not complaining as I have many uses for it.
Tree surgeons are often happy to deliver a load of chippings for free.
Pop over and visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see wonderful things in vases and add to your seed list.
Lovely combination of colours and material and your arrangement screams late summer leaving autumn just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It felt like Autumn this morning and summer this afternoon! I'm enjoying late summer while I can.
DeleteFree mulch - that's a big boon! I love your 'Vanilla Ice' sunflower. All my seed-sown sunflowers were a bust this year and I'm really missing them. The Rudbeckia is wonderful too but, like Echinacea, that's an expensive annual here so I try to close my eyes and walk by when I see the plants in my local garden center.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is I worked so hard to keep these sunflowers alive in the drought and now I have 3 self sown ones grown to about 5feet tall, and flowering, with no watering at all! The rudbeckia are grown from seed, as are most of my plants. They may overwinter, I have hopes...
DeleteLovely arrangement, Alison– the 'Vanilla Ice' sunflower is a nice, soft colour.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite the load of mulch you were given. I hope you take care of your back and don't overdo it. Perhaps you can find some help? ;)
It's a lovely soft yellow and I will grow it again. Don't worry, I'm doing it little by little and, yes, there is help if I need it.
DeleteWe do share a lot of knowledge and inspiration for new purchases on our blogs, don't we. I've tried countless new plants after seeing them. Love the colours in your vase despite the dahlia not being what you wanted. I've just had a load of manure delivered, a similar sized pile to your mulch; wonderful but daunting.
ReplyDeleteMy seed and plant list gets longer and longer but I have to be sensible! I inherited a huge pile of manure here and it took me two years at least to use it. Now I'm looking around for more.
DeleteThanks for the information about hot water treatment for drooping stems! Love your arrangement your free mulch is very exciting!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Free is my favourite price.
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