As I am exercising the meme hostess’s privilege* of preparing my post in advance, I won’t know until Monday itself whether it’s sunny outside – but if it’s not, I can look at this vase instead and pretend…and if it’s pouring with rain I can keep myself dry with the plastic sheet which was used as the backdrop for the photographs!
As you can see, today’s vase is a celebration of all the sunny blooms that are brightening up the garden at the end of July, a range of yellows, oranges and russets. The focal points are perhaps orange pompon Dahlia ‘Happy Hallowe’en’, Sunflower ‘Earth Walker’ (and what I thought was a clever title on Wordless Wednesday clearly wasn’t, as no-one picked up on it – that’ll teach me…) and a crocosmia, probably just a humble old-fashioned montbretia which I though had been eradicated from the bead where it was cut. Joining them are my unnamed but good do-er peachy dahlia, Inula hookerii, a pale yellow sunflower which is either ‘Italian White’ or ‘Vanilla Ice’ and three rudbeckia: ‘Irish Eyes’, R hirta and R ‘Gloriosa Daisy’. Oh, and Calendula ‘Indian Prince’ which has been grown for the first time and at last I can appreciate why people find this variety so attractive with the dark underside to its petals.
The sunny blooms were stuffed into a rustic green glazed jug which may or may not have some age to it and sunglasses were at the ready to protect myself from the brightness of the end result. Whatever the weather outside, it’s good to bring some of our gardens inside so we can enjoy them at closer quarters – so why don’t you find something to pick from your own garden and plonk in a vase to bring you pleasure during the way, whether your blooms are sunny or not. Just leave links to and from this post if you would like us to share in that pleasure.
* not actually a privilige at all as anyone can prepare their vase in advance and schedule their post if it works better for them that way
Rambling in the Garden 
Looking at the fabulous range of blooms you have, and post each week, is like looking through a catalogue of best plants for a garden for each week of the year. Irish Eyes is one of the annuals I shall try next year…I’m posting a vase with just one variety of annual…http://noellemace.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-asters.html
Aw, what a lovely comment, Noelle 🙂 Irish Eyes is one I grew last year for the first time and it did well then too.
Couldn’t have said it better. 😊
We have a peep of the sun at the moment but I feel it won’t last. Your vase is sunny enough though, how cheerful and bright. I do love yellow and orange flowers and some of them last so well in water. I have some Indian Prince but I haven’t tried it in a vase yet. Thanks for inspiring us.
http://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/little-things-in-vase-on-monday.html
Thanks Alison – it has been very mixed weather in the Midlands too so I m pleased to have this sunny vase to brighten the gloomier spells 🙂
What a delightfully sunny post, Cathy, so full of cheer. In terms of shape the orange crocosmia are a good contrast. I hope that the sun has put in an appearance for you today and that you will need the sunglasses!
Thanks Kate – and yes, I love the architectural shape of crocosmia and their seedheads in a vase, but for me they are not worth it just for the occasional bloom… 😦
What a cheerful way to begin the week.
Thank you – I thought so too, Lisa
Hi Cathy and how organised you are. I have picked some bright colours for you today. Not the same as your lovely yellow and oranges but bright nonetheless. https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
Thanks Dorris – I wonder what bright shades you have then…shocking pink perhaps?
Not quite!
🙂
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You certainly need the sunglasses for this vase Cathy!! Hope you’re having a lovely time wherever you are and that it isn’t quite as hot as it is here!! Here’s my contribution and return from the land of non blogging. Thanks again for your concern at the beginning of the month, it was very much appreciated. Here’s my vase (s) for today. https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-colourful-return/
Hurrah – so good to hear from you and I will email again now I know you are around!
Our vases are yin and yang this week with you opting for all that warm and bright. Wishing you sunny days Cathy. This is a wonderful variety of textures and interesting colors. Which is the yellow fringed-petal one on the left?
Thanks Susie – very mixed weather here and although we were away for a couple of days the rain was largely overnight or after we had finished daytime pursuits, so we were lucky. The fringed yellow one is Inula hookerii, very easy to grow here and could get thuggish, but so cheery and attractive
Thanks for the name–beautiful.
Wow, I think that Earthwalker should be called ‘Indian Prince’, it’s so majestic. I love the Inula as well – do the bees seem to like it? Montbretia is one of those plants which does well which isn’t really a weed in my book – unless it goes somewhere where you don’t want orange. Here is mine, mostly white today. https://absentgardener.com/2017/07/31/in-a-vase-on-monday-spring-bulbs-2/
I think there are different Earthwalker shades but mine have all tended to be the darker ones so perhaps that is the dominant colour. The bees do love the inula, and butterflies too.
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Hi Cathy, your collection this week sings of summer! I love the cheerful tones.
This week I have a vase with anemone, roses and hibiscus.
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks Jen, it’s good to have a vase of sunny colours to brighten a dull day!
Beautiful! Calendula ‘Indian Prince’ has a special place in my heart because it was one of the flowers I grew in my first flower garden, 8 years ago!
AW, glad I am bringing back memories for you!
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It really is sunny and celebratory Cathy! Gorgeous colours against that background. 🙂 Here is my vase for today. Have a lovely week! https://wordsandherbs.com/2017/07/31/in-a-vase-on-monday-my-summer-garden/
Thanks Cathy – my sunflowers are so tall this year I struggle to reach them, otherwise I would have used them more in my vases!!
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Fabulously sunny – love it!
Here’s mine, very pastel this week….
Thanks Jen – it is always good to see the variation in our Monday vases 🙂
I love this one Cathy! Fantastic! Here is mine – https://momdeavor.com/2017/07/31/in-a-vase-on-monday-in-memory-of-pat/
I’m glad you mentioned arranging your bouquet a day earlier because I have to do that since I work on Mondays but want to participate. 🙂
I am glad it has worked for you in that case – I usually prepare mine on Sunday but I was much earlier this time, preparing on Friday as we were away for a couple of days. I certainly won’t make a habit of being that early!
Thank you – off to see your memorial vase now
Dazzling is the only thing to say after enjoying your Monday offering this week. I am only growing one Dahlia and not having the best luck with it. Too much rain I think, but sunny here today and I hope there as well. My post is here: http://www.lindabrazill.com/each_little_world/2017/07/home-again-home-again.html
Shame about your dahlia, Linda – have you had success other years? Mine are certainly better this year than ever before perhaps because of our warm and dry June and early July
Here in Florida I am currently on the edge of Tropical Storm Emily and it is dark and rainy. Your sunshiny arrangement brought some needed light into my morning. Love the combination of colors, especially the bronze. Here is mine http://theshrubqueen.com/2017/07/31/in-a-vase-on-monday-back-up-pitcher/
Oh I do hope you are not affected too badly by the storm – glad the vase has helped brighten things up for you
The storm shouldn’t be much by the time it gets here. Famous last words.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve been having a sunny July and the weather forecasters are calling for very high temperatures in the coming week (over 100F, 38C,) Your bright and warm bouquet is a perfect celebration of the summer heat! Lots of watering going on here to keep the garden from turning brown. While your frequent summer rain doesn’t make working in the garden a lot of fun, it sure has made things look lush and green! My vase is here: https://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday_31.html
Yes, I am quite happy with the good old British climate, Peter – I just take whatever comes 🙂
Summer to a ‘T’ – I wish we could bottle it and keep it all winter. But alas, we must enjoy the here and now the best we can. My spectrum this week is the opposite of yours – more spring than summer, I guess. http://wp.me/p3O3z4-1Ra
Yes, I agree that its best to find pleasure in the here and now instead of hankering after what has been or what is yet to come…
Sunny and fabulous, thanks, Cathy for such a beautiful display of summer flowers!Here is my vase: https://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-july-white.html
Thanks Anca -they certainly shout ‘summer’ don’t they?
I hope your day is as sunny as your vase, Cathy! Although not as flashy as the dahlia, I focused on the Inula this week. I saw a different species in this genus while in the Washington DC area last month and between that and your specimen, I’m going on the hunt to see if there’s a species that will fit my climate. My post continues the saga of ‘Loverboy’: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-loverboy-strays.html
Thanks Kris – it has been very much a sunglasses on and off day today, but no rain 😉 I have Inula magnifica too, which is very tall – it will be interesting to hear if you find one that would be OK for your weather
What a beautiful backdrop for your flowers. I love the yellows and oranges and browns together and the aqua background just makes them pop! . I’m so fond of Irish Eyes. I have one plant right now and it’s starting to bloom. I really hope it spreads…..
Thanks Sally – my Irish Eyes need staking as they are flopping over the path, but they keep on smiling!
Not a vase from me this week, but a peek into Cathy’s garden for anyone who is enjoying the in-a-Vase-on-Monday meme https://karengimson.wordpress.com/2017/. thank you Cathy for opening your garden for the NGS. Mum and I had a wonderful day out.
What can I say Karen…? Just thanks, for everything…
My pleasure. Mum sends her best wishes and says she hopes you will open for more days next year. We would so love to see the garden in spring. We are still talking about your garden! love – karen xx
Thanks Karen and hello to your Mum too. I have realised that if we were going to open for snowdrops and hellebores and witch hazels next year it would have to have been in the 2017 book which has entries in for early 2018 – will need to think about that before the Sept details deadline if we want open days in early spring 2019!!! Anyhow, we would welcome you and your Mum on a private visit at any time of year, Karen
Thank you Cathy. xxx
Dahlias and Sunflowers are wonderful to have in your garden. Do miss them…someday. http://www.pseewald.com/2017/07/in-vase-monday-last-minute.html
Yes, I suppose it must be hard to accept that there are some things we can’t grow, whether it is because of a temporary home, climate, lack of space or some other reason
Hi Cathy, I managed to upload my IAVOM post before the clock struck twelve last night but ran out of time to leave you a comment on your bright and cheery arrangement. It’s a lovely combination of dahlias and sunflowers. I’m struggling with the dahlias this year – very slow to flower – and having had little success with sunflowers in previous years have given up on them. This morning I’ve had a great time reading through your previous posts and enjoyed your report on your experience of opening your garden – congratulations on raising such a lot for the charities. I’m also glad to see that I’m not the only one who is tweaking in the garden. We have two crocosmia, one of which is probably the old fashioned montbretia and the other is Okavango, a peach flowered variety. The montbretia is growing in a large pot and I can see that it will need to be taken out and divided soon. The other is in a border and has taken a couple of years to get established but cannot be accused of taking over – well, not yet. I didn’t mention in my post but I have hellebores in bloom now – possibly a reflection of the cold wet weather we’ve been enjoying through July. Here’s the link to my post: https://silverscrappers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/in-vase-on-monday-anniversary-roses.html
Thanks for your kind comments, and hellebores – crikey! I had a witch hazel flowering in Sept last year! Intersting to hear about your crocosmia – I am wonder if mine are getting too dry?
Cathy a wonderful bouquet of colorful flowers that says “Summer”. Beautiful Inula hookerii. I like Montbretia a lot, like the Rudbeckias. All flowers are beautiful. Greetings from Margarita.
Thank you Margarita
The colors are so amazing! And of course, I love the dahlias. Here is my link too! https://sireneflowers.com/blog/2017/8/1/whats-blooming-fall-planting-planning
It’s good to have all these colours at once to make an impact in a vase
Oh that vase definitely says sunshine in abundance Cathy even though we’ve not seen much of that yellow globe in the sky of late. Must ask you for some tips on growing sunflowers. Mine fell victims to the molluscs yet again.
Thanks Anna – when I plant mine out I always plant them through a collar made from a cut down plastic bottle, leaving a jagged edge at the top. My sunflowers have been brilliant since I started doing that – well, the ones in the cutting beds, that is, as if I pop them in other borders the surrounding foliage tends to give those molluscs a way in…
Thanks Cathy 🙂 I plant mine out in the same way but never contemplated the idea of a jagged edge. Will remember that tip for next year. How devious we have to be at times. I have lost them in the greenhouse though before now as small seedlings. This year we edged the staging with serrated copper tape from Wilkos which has been quite effective.
I don’t know if the jagged edge really does make a difference but it was an idea taken from Louise Curley’s book and has workes for me, which copper tape hasn’t!!