There should have been so many blooms to choose from for today’s vase, such as the gorgeous dahlias shown below – ‘Single Juliet’ on the left and ‘Nuit d’Été’ on the right:
It wasn’t to be though, as my morning ramble found a broken stem of Dahlia ‘Jowey Winnie’, brought down by some heavy rain the night before. With one full bloom and two budded side shoots growing at an interesting angle, today’s vase seemed an appropriate destination for the casualty. Continuing on my ramble, a broken stem of Asiatic lily ‘Elodie’ proved to be another casuality and made a serendipitous pairing with the dahlia. I popped them immediately in the first vase I ever recollect owning, a blue stoneware vase given to me by an ex sister-in-law about 40 years ago, a vase I have always loved for its tactile horizontally ribbed appearance. For many years it served only to hold supermarket narcissi and tulips, the soft blue colour a perfect match for both, but not surprisingly it hosts a wide range of home grown blooms these days.
Initially the casualties were popped into it purely to rest until Monday’s vase was put together as it was deep and readily at hand, but it immediately looked perfect for the complementary coloured blooms. I did try one or two different additions of frothy foliage but nothing looked quite right, and the blooms shrugged off any accompaniment so remained as they were. I have grown four different varieties of Asiatic lilies in pots this year, placing the pots in various borders once the flower buds were evident. Grown this way it was easy to spot any lily beetle, and infestation was almost non-existent so the pots have remained virtually pristine and made great additions to the border. If it hadn’t been for the damaged stem I am not sure if any would have been spared for a vase! Sadly these lilies don’t have a fragrance, but I may extend the experiment with other lilies for next year. Elodie was the last of the four varieties to flower and one stem was enhanced by semi-double blooms, shown below alongside a visitor to adjacent single blooms.
As well as the main Monday vase there are various little vases adorning the kitchen at the moment too, blue and white sweet peas cut back as recommended by Monty Don recently, white cosmos ejected from the main vase and bright green thalictrum and amaranthus foliage accompanying a single yellow dahlia, the latter a leftover from Wednesday’s group visit. In this time of plenty, unless I just continue to gaze in admiration, I anticipate them being joined by other cutting bed joys over the course of the next week – unless Little Miss finally arrives and I can cut them to give Younger Daughter a congratulations posy!
Are there plentiful blooms in your garden that you would like to share with us In a Vase on Monday? Please do so by leaving links to and from this post in the usual way.
Rambling in the Garden 
Beautiful photos, Cathy. I like idea of ‘Sticking plaster pink’🙂
Haha! I hadn’t thought of the colour link, just plasters for the casualties … good lateral thinking 🙂
Gorgeously composed, Cathy. Love the first arrangement. ❤
Thanks Dina – they arranged themselves, really
Gorgeous flowers and colours, we’ve had a bit of weather damage up here, never a good time in the garden for strong winds and heavy rain. Here’s my wee contribution. Have a good week.
http://ronaquirkybirdgardener.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-pin-cushions-and-rue.html
Thanks QBG – it wasn’t particularly heavy, or prolonged, but certainly the rainiest for months and the garden will be very grateful for it
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In a way it’s good because it saved you having to cut them. As I don’t like cutting things for the vase and only do so when I’ve plenty of something, I’m quite pleased when I find a casualty! It’s just lovely, so pure and simple. And Jowey Winney is a sure winner like his brother (or sister?!) Here’s mine: https://personaleden.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-a-monday-%e4%b8%ba%e6%88%91%e4%bb%ac%e7%9a%84%e5%8f%8b%e8%b0%8a%e5%b9%b2%e6%9d%af/ Happy Monday 🙂
Thanks Annette – yes, I certainly don’t think I would have cut the lilies otherwise… 😉
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Tragedy converted to advantage. The dahlia and Asiatic lily pair perfectly and are well suited to that gorgeous vase. Lovely. I prefer this type of lily over ones with heavy fragrance. I grew one in a pot this year too and had much better luck than when planted in ground. Hope your future rains are gentle and kind Cathy. Thanks for hosting.
https://pbmgarden.blog/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-green-and-blue/
Indeed, Susie. I was so thrilled at how well the lilies did in pots and hopefully they will overwinter so I can share them next year too. Will need to read up about how best to do that and what is the best pot size as the lilies were a bit top heavy this year. It has been good to have some rain, even though it wasn’t prolonged – and only about an inch over the week
Jowey Winnie is lovely and the flower is obviously robust even though the stem blew over. It’s been stormy at my place too, mostly knocking the ripe citrus fruit off the trees this week. https://absentgardener.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-citrus-colours/
Yes, the dahlia stem was really stout – it is one of the ones grown in a pot this year, albeit a big pot, and I shall certainly repeat that next year. Not actually a huge amount of rain here (but very welcome), but there is a lot of growth on the dahlias despite the dry summer
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I heard the UK has had very heavy rain and wind too, but – as here – the use of broken stems is always a lovely excuse to bring in blooms one might otherwise not want to cut! The hints of orange in that pink dahlia are gorgeous. Here is my vase for today Cathy. Have a good week! https://wordsandherbs.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-lemon-and-lime/
We missed the thunderstorms that were forecast, though – fortunately, as it was the day of our last group visit! The lily and dahlia were perfect in their pink and orange tones, weren’t they? Nature knows best 🙂
They match so well in your vase, Cathy! And the colour is awesome! My vase is here: https://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-beautiful-healer.html
Thanks Anca, I was pleased with the combination that chose itself!
I love the way plants can perform and in fact even chosen because they are casualties to perform in your vases….talking about pink…here is my contribution this week: http://noellemace.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-tickled-pink.html
Yes, they really did just throw themselves at my feet for today’s vase, Noelle!!
The lily is a gorgeous colour Cathy and what a perfect match for the dahlia. Being able to use your broken lily in a vase makes it less of a catastrophe. You wouldn’t want to be hanging about in the garden to admire it today. Cold and wet here.
My contribution is https://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-7/
It certainly is cooler here as well, Chloris – I nearly turned the heater on in the car this morning, but resisted!!
Not often that garden casualties pair so perfectly. I agree they don’t need foliage to set them off. They manage nicely all on their own. My vase is here: http://www.lindabrazill.com/each_little_world/2017/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-prunings.html
Glad you agree, Linda
Very pink of you.
🙂
I have had some casualties vases, usually due to Armadilloes knocking plants over! The Dahlia is outstanding and goes perfectly with the Lily. I like the vase, mine is blue as well. https://theshrubqueen.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-dinner-party-vase/
Don’t have a problem with armamdillos here (!) but the occasional cat is not as lightfooted as it could be 😦
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What an amazing time of year! There’s something so special about pale pink flowers…..
The Dahlia is perfection. My Lilies are blooming, as well, and I never get tired of how wonderful they smell.
Happy gardening!
https://mynewenglandflowerbeds.blogspot.com/
Thanks Sally – there are so many different shades of pink, and yet some appeal more than others, don’t they?
Cathy – Those lilies are gorgeous and dahlias are one of my favorites. Beautiful post!
Here’s my post. https://momdeavor.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-serendipity/
Thank you – I was later coming to appreciate ‘ball’ dahlias than to other types, but I love cupping them in my hand now
Oh no! I think you are in a similar part of the country to me, the wind and rain have collapsed my Hollyhocks and several Lillies also. What a shame, still a beautiful Vase. Here is mine for the week…https://theevergreendiary.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-little-bit-of-calm/ Let’s all hope for improved weather! Come back Sun we miss you!
Yes, we are, Haile. I don’t think the rain was especially heavy but it was the firdt ‘real rain’ we have had for a long tome, so actually very welcomw. It woud have helped if I staked more – especially the lilies as the whole pot is top heavy and had fallen over two or theree times before.
Yes, I remember to stake everything after the event!
It’s so nice when the weather takes down flowers that work so well together in a vase! My contribution is here: https://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2017/07/in-sandys-vase-on-monday.html
It is indeed, Peter, although it doesn’t often happen here
The flowers are pretty, as always, even if they weren’t picked voluntarily. Wind and animals are usually the culprits for casualties in the garden here, not rain, that’s for certain. I had no luck whatsoever with the lilies I planted in the garden this year but I may try growing them in pots myself next year as that would allow me to water them more lavishly (like the dahlias in the cutting garden) without using excess water in the borders.
My vase this week could have used a prop, if only I’d have thought ahead: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-loverboy-gets-married.html
Thanks Kris. The pots worked for me and my lilies here, so it will be interesting to hear if they work for you too next year.
A beautiful casualty indeed! Here’s my IAVOM…..
http://www.thedangergarden.com/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-prunings.html
Thank you Loree – and you haven’t cut specially either!
‘Elodie’ and ‘Winnie’ make for a delightful partnership Cathy. It looks as if ‘Elodie’ was being appreciated too despite the lack of scent. How tall does she get? She is a most attractive soft shade of pink. That torrential rain on Saturday night flattened my spuds at the allotment and dislodged a couple of cosmos too. First aid was applied but the spuds won’t look as good again. A dinky vase from me today :
https://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-snow-princess.html
Thanks Anna – I have just checked in the PN catalogue and it says Elodie grows to 80cm, which she possibly did, as the pot was quite top heavy once the blooms opened. She is indeed a pretty little thing as is (a small) someone I know who shares that name… Hope your crops survived the deluge – I am sure they will have appreciated the long drink, even if it was dispensed rather roughly 😉
What damage the weather can do. Plenty of flowers are certainly looking worse for wear here. You will enjoy the casualties close up though and isn’t it good to have so many vases around? I often have 5 or 6. I’ve seen 2 Lily beetle and a very few larvae which I dealt with, so lilies have been pretty good here to so far. I am admiring the pinks of yours.
Here is my link: http://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-jumble-of-summer.html
Did I not reply to this? You have done well with only 2 lily beetles- earlier in the season I was picking 2 or 3 off daily. Haven’t seen any since early June though
I’m late to the party again! What luck to have coordinating casualties, they really do work well together. My wind-blown casualties have been gladioli and hollyhocks, they are in a vase together and would look quite spectacular if the hollyhocks would stop sulking and stand up straight! Anyhow, that’s a different vase. This is my monday offering http://lifeonalondonplot.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-wedding-practice
I really am in need of a bit of expert advice and guidance on how best to fill those bowls.
It’s an extended party, Sharon!! I aim to grow hollyhocks next year, so I will have to watch out for them sulking 😉 And you are practising for a wedding – how exciting!!
I just love the shade of pink on those lillies. It’s sometimes a relief when the weather decides for you what to put in a vase, don’t you think? And how kind of the rain to knock over such complementary blooms.
Admiring your handsome red admiral too.
Here’s mine: https://edinburghgardendiary.com/2017/07/24/miracle-pinks/
Yes, so much choice now it would be a struggle to choose!! 🙂
I’m so glad that the two sets of blooms “shrugged off” any accompaniment! Those are lovely blooms. It is so fun to rescue blooms that have borne the brunt of weather. It’s almost like they’re looking for an invitation inside! Here’s my tiny Monday vase! http://www.dianasdesignsaustin.com/2017/07/in-a-tiny-vase-on-monday/
Thanks Diana – I think you may be right, as I certainly would have been reluctant to cut the lilies 😉
Very pretty in pink. Love that Dahlia!
Thanks Jen – I like the dahlia too although the colour is not as I expected, more of a peachy pink
Lilies are among my very favorite flowers – so nice to see these and admire the combination of colors and textures. Glad you were able to salvage the blooms!
My vase this week goes in a different color direction…: https://www.smallsunnygarden.com/2017/07/24/in-a-vase-a-bit-of-bright/
These (and three other pots of different Asiatic lilies are the first successful lilies I have had for years, so I am well pleased
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There is nothing like a casualty to inspire a vase & what lovely casualties you found this week! I am sorry that I seem to be missing more weeks than I make this year Cathy but I hope to get back into a regular routine one day soon – for now I am just taking things as they come.
My vase is a day late this week – I had the best of intentions but didn’t manage to quite finish my post last night: http://peoniesandposies.com/2017/07/25/monday-flowers-in-a-soup-tureen/
It’s always good to hear from you Julie, however frequently it is – and blogging should be fitting around our lives and not taking it over, so I am pleased to hear you are just taking things as they come. Hope things are OK with you and your family
Thanks Cathy – all is well here although I am still tied up with sorting out my mothers affairs. I hope you are both well & enjoying some peaceful time following your open garden! xx
Cathy the rains of the rain form a beautiful bouquet. I love how the two shades of pink complement each other. The Asian Lily is very beautiful. The detail of the strips next to the vase I love! ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ Greetings from Margarita.
Thank you 😀