I have been drooling over these ruby coloured dahlias for a week or two, spiky ‘Nuit d’Été’ and decorative ‘Karma Naomi’, so it was a real pleasure to snip them for today’s vase and seek out other suitably ruby blooms to join them.
Naturally, the dangly amaranthus lambs’ tails were a must – but not the champion 33″ long one – and several Cosmos ‘Click Cranberries’, found in the adjacent cutting beds; from a hanging basket came stems of a striking annual verbena (visible in the overhead view above) and from the shrub border a ruby stem and flowers of Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’ and striking blooms of Persicaria ‘Fat Domino’, one of several persicaria added to the garden two years ago and now really beginning to shine. Several vases were tried and rejected but this dark blue glass hyacinth vase seems to fit the bill well and the pink handstitched quilt 
used as a backdrop successfully complements the ruby blooms, the overall effect being one of richness of colour. The unusual inclusion of an onion as a prop came about because red onions are a rare purchase for me but were an ingredient in a weekend meal we were having; less strange is the beautiful multi faceted garnet, one of the natural formations of this particular crystal. Garnets are reputed to be energising and regenerating and useful to have in a crisis.
Please do join us in creating a Monday vase to bring you pleasure over the coming week, picking and plonking blooms from your garden, and share them with us by leaving links to and from this post.
Rambling in the Garden 
Gorgeous, rich and velvety.
Oh yes, there is definitely a velvety look to the vase, Sandra
How funny we both have ‘Naomi’. But perhaps not really as this is Dahlia season and they are really going for it now. I love all these reds and really must get some dark cosmos next year. Perfect props as ever and a lovely dark vase.
https://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/snow-white-and-rose-red-in-vase-on.html
I need to write a new label for my Naomi as when I potted it up it the label had gone missing – I suspected it was one of the Karma ones but had to wait till it flowered before I knew which one!! This cosmos is really pretty and having tried it for the first time I will definitely grow it again next yaer
We’re sporting similar dahlias this week, Cathy. I love the deep, rich colors you’ve chosen to go with them, beautiful!
It wasn’t hard to find additional blooms that would complement the dahlias, Eliza – they work well together, don’t they?
Oops, forgot my link! http://wp.me/p3O3z4-1Se
Pingback: In a vase on Monday – Pink extravaganza – Creating my own garden of the Hesperides
Its obviously Dahlia time everywhere! You’ve been very clever with your background; the pink stops the lovely rich, dark colours from sucking in all the light. The Salvia works very well too, I like the colour. Here’s my link: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/in-a-vase-on-monday-pink-extravaganza/
As you know, I usually use a piece of felt as the background but none of my colours suited so the quilt was an impulse addition and it wasn’t till I saw the photos that I realised how effective the colour was. The ‘salvia’ was in the multiplugs that I used in some of the baskets and there are now a few blooms amongst the rampant bidens. As I write this comment I am thinking ‘salvia’, there isn’t any salvia!! It’s actually verbena so I will go back and change it in the post – sorry, and thanks for making me think twice about it!!
I saw the verbena but thought you meant the spikes!
🙂
A gem of a vase again..and who would not covet such beauties. I do not consider coveting a ‘sin’ if it is for a wonderful looking plant…. Here is my contribution this week: http://noellemace.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/in-vase-on-monday-stars.html
Oh covet away, Noelle – and then add some tubers of your own next year!! 🙂
Pingback: Michelia and Magnolia in a Vase on Monday – Absent Gardener
Beautiful! I was just digging up Dahlia tubers and separating them this weekend. I am joining the ruby theme today as well with a gift from a neighbour. https://absentgardener.com/2017/08/14/michelia-and-magnolia-in-a-vase-on-monday/
Thanks Cath. Do you always lift your dahlia tubers?
Beautiful colors! The vase complimnets it nicely, as does the red onion! Here’s the link to mine:
http://heirloomcottagegarden.weebly.com/blog/in-a-vase-on-monday-just-a-happy-jumble-of-flowers
Thanks Joanna
Really ravishing rubies from the garden.
Thanks Lisa 🙂
I love, love, love the rich colors of this arrangement! And the lamb’s tails add a great touch!
I’m sharing some dahlias from my garden today. Just a simple arrangement but brought me so much joy. 😊 https://pitchforkandpistil.com/blog/2017/8/10/gardening-bucket-list-visiting-seed-savers-exchange-part-1
Coincidentally these 2 dahlias are next to each other in the cutting beds and my eyes have been drawn to them every day since they opened …
Divinely delicious jewels. The Dahlias are spectacular. I have not seen such a garnet crystal before and red onions are a favorite in our house. It would take an enormous vase for your prize lamb’s tails! Here is my vase:http://theshrubqueen.com/2017/08/14/in-a-vase-on-monday-where-the-wild-things-are/
What a lovely combination! You have some wonderful Dahlias and I’m a real fan of Cosmos. Happy Gardening!
Here’s my vase:
https://mynewenglandflowerbeds.blogspot.com/
Thanks Sally – I have tried some different cosmos this year, including a dwarf mixed one which was tall and white!!
Lovely colours Cathy and, funnily enough, I’ve done something similar. However, have gone a bit mad this week, and my ‘ruby’ arrangement is one of three!
I was tempted to do more vases, Jen, but there are not enough suitable places where they would be seen 😉 So many blooms in the gardene – real abundance
Pingback: In a Vase on a Monday: Sweet days of summer | Annettes Garten / Annette's Garden
I must say I love these colours too, so rich and velvety. You can’t beat dahlias as cut flowers and the amaranthus adds a cheeky note. Up to now the latter has never tempted me but I admit it looks great as part of a bouquet. Here’s mine…a bit less wild today 😉 : https://personaleden.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/in-a-vase-on-a-monday-sweet-days-of-summer/ Have a great week, Cathy 🙂
I am a real fan of dahlias now and my neighbour has been converted too, seeing mine! The amaranthus is so tactile and I love to run my fingers around it when I pass – do try it. It is so easy to grow, or so I have found
Yes, I have to try and smuggle it in among the veg, although Monsieur doesn’t approve of mixing flowers with veg 😉 PS: How did the basil do for you?
What deception!! I had a couple of small plants, not very ‘black’ though! Sadly the persicaria didn’t germinate 😦
black? I’m confused…It’s called Gorbatschow and he wasn’t black at all
Well I am now confused too! I remember you giving it a Russian (?) name but I have it written down in my seed records as ‘black basil’ and it must have come from somewhere at the time but I certainly can’t remember where – how bizarre! 😀
I don’t know if there are any richer colors in the garden than what you’ve put in your vase today. Just stunning. My post has vacation vases: http://www.lindabrazill.com/each_little_world/2017/08/in-a-vase-on-monday-kellys-creations-at-stouts-island-lodge.html
Thanks Linda – I am really pleased with how well they work together
I am drooling over this whole arrangement….the blue vase and those incredible dark flowers….the red onion was a surprise but I loved it. I use red onion daily and can’t get enough of them….I even grow them in grow bags. The pink background really brought it all together!
Popping back with a few vases I hope you like:
Thanks Doona – I was dubious about using the hyacinth vase because of its blueness but it seems to work really well. I use brown onions regularly which are the norm in the UK but have nothing against red onions 😉
What a vast array of gems there are to be found in your garden! If I add to my burgeoning dahlia collection next year, I may have to hunt down one or both of those you’ve shown here. The sight of the onion among your props made me smile. Thanks, as always, for hosting what is undoubtedly my favorite meme, Cathy. Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2017/08/in-vase-on-monday-bright-happy.html
Aw, thank you Kris 🙂 There are so many varieties of dahlias around that I don’t suppose any of us has room for all the ones we might hanker after… 😉
The deep rich colors of your flowers, vase, and garnet breathe opulence. How wonderful that flowers share their riches with nobility and commoners alike. This arrangement would be at home in either manor or humble hut. Beautiful as always. My offering is here:https://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2017/08/in-vase-on-monday-more-from-hood.html
Manor, humble hut or even our house 🙂
You’ve got that song in my head now! I’ve often wondered how Amaranthus would do in a vase, I’ve been dying to grow the chartreuse one. Perhaps next year! My vase for the week: http://www.thedangergarden.com/2017/08/in-vase-on-monday-its-easier-to-ask-for.html
Teehee, nothing like a good earworm to start the week!! I grow the green amaranthus too which I possibly like even more than the red one
Pingback: In a Vase on Monday: Sink or Swim | Words and Herbs
I think you chose the perfect background colour to show off those rich colours – I find it so hard to photograph dark flowers, but you’ve done a great job! Loved the title too… Here is my ‘vase’ for today, also with that gorgeous Cosmos in it: https://wordsandherbs.com/2017/08/14/in-a-vase-on-monday-sink-or-swim/ Thanks Cathy!
Thanks Cathy – I have to be honest and say it was a fortuitous choice rather than an educated one!
Beautiful jewel colours this week Cathy, it reminds me of Monty Don’s jewel garden.
I’ve hopped on the dahlia bandwagon too, with this weeks vase.
So rich and elegant, you are an artist Cathy! My vase is here:https://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2017/08/in-vase-on-monday-pink-purple.html
Yu are too kind, Anca
I must add ‘Karma Naomi’ to my list Cathy. I bought some for my sister last year as my niece is called Naomi and photos have followed last summer and this. She looks a good do’er and I’m sure that I must have some room for some spikiness too. You will have me singing all evening again even though it’s not Tuesday 🙂 Dahlias from me too this week over here :
https://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/in-vase-on-monday-all-shook-up.html
It’s good to share your name with a pretty bloom like this, isn’t it? She must be in her third year now and is certainly getting better each year. I suspected the title might trigger a burst of song from you… 😉
Knockout combo! I’m baaack: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5841
Thanks rickii 🙂
Gorgeous blooms! And a great colour. I love dahlias and I also really like your blue vase! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Anita – I have several coloured glass hyacinth vases and don’t always remember about them when I am looking for a vase for Monday blooms
They are really nice and look so good with the flowers 🙂
All those deep, rich colors are just wonderful, Cathy! Love the dahlias… sadly, they’re a doubtful proposition here. But every time you feature amaranthus I tell myself that I will plant some! It is supposed to grow well here, but unfortunately it seems I’m supposed to plant it just as the weather turns really hot – a time when I am usually overwhelmed with trying to make sure the established things simply survive! But, someday I really will! 😉
I did such an easy vase this week that it seems like cheating, but I had to try some floating flowers: https://www.smallsunnygarden.com/2017/08/14/in-a-vase-afloat-in-august/
Thanks Amy – yes, sometimes it’s hard to decide if something is worth the effort of trying when the chance of success is limited
I loved seeing the same hues in the onion.
Thanks – it really was the perfect match, wasn’t it?
Now look who’s clever!
Cathy wonderful ruby colors. Las Dalias is beautiful. The arrangement is beautiful and the vase is very pretty. All the flowers I love. The onion detail is unique! Have a good week. Greetings from Margarita.
Thank you Margarita and have a good week yourself too
Love the ruby red tribute Cathy. And that garnet is amazing. Almost a week late, but I did get a vase posted this week too. https://pbmgarden.blog/2017/08/18/in-a-vase-on-monday-mini-mood/
Oh Cathy those ruby colours are very gorgeous, I do love the dahlias around right now. I have been busy and instead of a Vase full today I have a box. Sorry about that, do hope you’ll forgive me! https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com