Today’s vase celebrates late flowering blooms of the summer garden (without resorting to dahlias or the few continuous flowering roses), all lustworthy in their own right.
Stuffed into this ‘Handpicked with Love’ vase (a gift from the lovely Anna of Green Tapestry) are the riotous colours of Rudbeckia ‘Irish Eyes’, Amaranthus caudatus, Aster (Callistephus) ‘Strawberry Crush’, Astrantia ‘Star of Beauty’, Persicaria ‘Blackfield’, Clematis jouiniana, Caryopteris ‘Heavenly Blue’, Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Glow’, a white Japanese anemone (probably ‘Honorine Jobert’, Cosmos ‘Double Click Cranberry’, Phlox paniculata ‘Lilac Flame’ and Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’.
All these have stories to tell: the cosmos, amaranthus and Rudbeckia ‘Irish Eyes’ have been flowering since June, the astrantia is much later than its various counterparts, as is the aster, ‘Prairie Glow’ is probably the first perennial rudbeckia to reach flowering stage in this garden, the phlox comes from a mixed-up-label cutting taken last year and planted in the snowdrop border as white variety ‘Rembrandt’, the caryopteris is thriving as a low hedge in a dry border against a boundary and flowering profusely, ‘Blackfield’ is the yummiest darkest persicaria in the garden…the list goes on, and they are all stars in their own right and worth lusting over, even the humble and ubiquitous Japanese anemone.
The title refers to a poem by John Betjeman which is less jocular than much of his work and too morose to share with you now (Dark sockets look on emptiness Which once was loving-eyed, The mouth that opens for a kiss Has got no tongue inside) but my copy of his Collected Poems is included as a prop. I also have a cassette of an album, entitled ‘Late Flowering Love’ of Betjeman reading some of his poems, including this one, which I was hoping to use as a prop too but couldn’t lay my hands on it – not surprisingly as I haven’t played a music cassette for around 20 years!
What joys are there to be found and lusted over in your garden this week, and what can you spare to pop into a vase or other container and share with us today?
Rambling in the Garden 
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A gorgeous lusty bunch! Such variety.
Here’s my Vase on Monday: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2017/09/11/purple-loosestrife/
Yes, a lusty bunch indeed!
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What a fabulous, colourful mix – mine’s monochrome in comparison this week. Makes a change from ‘Happy Date’ dahlias….
Thanks Jen – I decided to go all out for different colours today, just because I can!
A fine collection of late bloomers, so precious to the gardener at this time of year. I particularly like the clematis and caryopteris, a shrub I must find a place for in my garden. So many plants, so little space! My post this week: http://wp.me/p3O3z4-1YJ
Thanks Eliza, Iam really pleased the caryopteris has taken off as the blue and whote annuals I have added to thoied have not done especially well, and even though the caryopteris has only been flowering a couple of weeks the leaves have been attractive and silvery all season
Cathy, your bouquet is a roundup of beautiful blossoms. Colorful and cheery. Hope you have a nice week. Thanks for hosting!
Thanks Susie – it was good to be featuring blooms which wouldn’t normally get a look-in
Lovely colours today Cathy. I’ve managed to create a vase for my friend from flowers in her garden but I’m unfamiliar with using an iPad to post so it is lacking in links, sorry. Hopefully you can find my post here: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2017/09/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-dark-and-moody
Thanks Christina – I have that issue too if I am away and using my tablet. I must google it sometime as it is probably very simple!!
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I love the Strawberry Crush, what a beautiful colour it is, and the Caryopteris is the bees 🐝 favourite at my place. I think Irish eyes is so pretty as well. The poem is indeed a little grim, a memento mori perhaps. Here is mine, in which I whinge about the weather. https://absentgardener.com/2017/09/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-spring-brutality/
Yes, I like Strawberry Crush too and don’t know why it was so muchlater flowering than the others. Do read the rest of the poem though, Cath, as it is quite touching too
A delightful mix! So very pretty! 🙂
Here is mine this week:
https://heirloomcottagegarden.weebly.com/blog/in-a-vase-on-monday-purple-and-gold
Thanks – it was good to have a pic n’ mix, for a change!
What a beautiful vase filled with love from your garden….I love seeing the variety of flowers Cathy. The book prop as always perfect. I have just a very simple vase of love as well…thanks for hosting!
Thanks, Donna, it really does emanate love, in so many different ways
I have no vase to share to day but I am enjoying everyone else’s. Happy IAVOM.
I am so pleased that even those who don’t post their own vase can get pleasure from seeing other people’s
So much happening in your garden — a wealth of flowers and many projects! As much a I like this bouquet, I have to see that last week’s offering is a stunner and favorite. I am growing Cafe au Lait but mine is more white than au lait. My offering is here: http://www.lindabrazill.com/each_little_world/2017/09/in-a-vase-on-monday-teahouse-flowers.html
Yes, sometimes simple is The Best, I agree – this week I felt there just so many blooms that hadn’t had a look-in that I wanted to feature as many as I could while I still had them!!
Fortunately your beautiful late flowering lust arrangement seems quite a bit more alive than the description in Betjeman’s poem. Nicely done as always! My quickly-assembled offering is here: http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-vase-on-monday_11.html
That was the most macabre verse Peter; the rest is actually rather poignant
I love the white Clematis Cathy, and that gorgeous Rudbeckia Prairie Glow is one I have got my eyes on… it is already on my wishlist for next year. 😉 This is a lovely vase full of late summer beauty. 🙂 Here is mine for today. Thanks Cathy, and have a lovely week! https://wordsandherbs.com/2017/09/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-late-summer-lusciousness/
Thanks Cathy – Prairie Glow was a special offer add-on to something else I had ordered, being too cheap not to try, but I am chuffed and its 2 sisters have got to flowering stage!
I do love late bloomers…especially among my grandkids. Your vase this week is a wonderful reminder that summer can go in with late bloomers. A true kaleidoscope of color.
My grandchildren are still seedlings, John! It was an interesting exercise to see what could be included today and I was really pleased with the variety of blooms
You’ve picked a jubilant mix from your productive late summer garden, Cathy! How I wish I had a similar range of flowers this late in the season. Next year I must remember to try growing amaranthus in my cutting garden – it was a bust when I tried in a border plot. Thanks as always for hosting! Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-vase-on-monday-silver-looks-good.html
Thanks Kris – and I keep meaning to look out for seeds of the more upright variety of amaranthus! Good luck with yours next year
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Goodness, that sounds like a gloomy, spooky poem. Unlike your vase, which is a riot of colour and life. Adore that amaranthus, and I would love to find space for some variety of amaranthus here at some point as they look so good drooping out of vases. Here’s mine: https://edinburghgardendiary.com/2017/09/11/peas-azz/
It’s about ageing raelly, and quite poignant overall, but that verse is a little macabre 😉 Do try the maranthus – it was SO easy to grow
Oh now if only flowers could tell their own stories too Cathy wouldn’t it be fun to listen in? I’m glad that the vase was capacious enough to accommodate such a variety of late flowering lusty lovelies. I don’t know the Betjeman poem but am intrigued so will look it up later. Here’s my vase :
https://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/in-vase-in-monday-between-showers.html
Oh indeed, Anna, and I was so pleased that your vase was able to hold all of the blooms without being at risk of toppling over, as it fitted perfectly with the theme. Do check out the rest of the poem
Cathy that kaleidoscope so beautiful in colors. What beautiful flowers that remind us of the end of Summer. I love the bouquet of flowers and a little macabre the verse, although the book looks great in the photo. Greetings from Margarita.
Thank you Margarita – it is good to have so many different blooms at the end of summer; growing annuals from seed makes such a difference to the garden at this time of year
You’ve still go so much flowering and good stories too. I think we are all the same in lusting after plants we don’t have. It’s very colourful and cheerful in spite of all the rain and wind. We are better off than many people though. Here is my link:http://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/a-touch-of-autumn-in-vase-on-monday.html
Thanks for hosting and sharing the year with us. x
Thanks Alison. Luckily no real damage to any plants from the wind or rain, although I really out to stake my dahlias earlier in the season!
Nice to keep an eye on blooms continuing from summer in autumn. A lovely balance of colours.
Thank you – defintely not quite there yet as far as autumn is concerned – not here, anyway
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What a gorgeous riot of colour! I also have late summer flowers but not as colourful or exuberant as yours: https://acoastalplot.wordpress.com/2017/09/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-stalwarts/
Many thanks as always, Cathy. Have a lovely week x
Thanks Sam – I deliberately mixed colours today 🙂
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What a lot of loveliness you have in that vase Cathy – your garden must be stunning right now with all those flowers in bloom. John Betjeman was a favourite poet of my mothers and I have a few of her books of his poetry here but have not dipped into them yet – I have to say that quote was from – more T S Eliot than what I know Betjeman to be. I will have to do some reading! I am finally back with a vase!! http://peoniesandposies.com/2017/09/11/monday-flowers-welcoming-september/
Yes, a lot of loveliness in the garden too – thanks Julie. If you read the rest of the poem it is more typical than that verse might suggest, but is one of his more morose/downbeat ones. Glad you made it back from the US – I did wonder whether you might have been caught up in the dreadful battering that part of the world has taken
Our family have spent the last 2 days without power so no air conditioning/cooking facilities etc which must have been tough – temperatures & humidity are so high there at this time of year. I think they all have power back now & are trying to sort things out. At least they are in a better position than the poor people in other Island countries who have no homes to sleep in.
In those circumstances, it’s all relative, I suppose…
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Such a cheerful bouquet, in contrast to the bleak beauty of the poetry. The dark gray background seems to bridge the gap between the two…and shows everything off to great advantage.
http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5887
Thanks rickii – yes, I didn’t want anything too bright as a background in case it detracted from the brightness if the blooms
that is a beautiful arrangement, I have a simple large Rudbeckia ‘Cappucino’ because I grew the plants from seed this year and this is the first bloom
And you are sparing your first bloom for IAVOM!
I love this sophisticated mix of flowers, Cathy! I am a little bit late with my vase, but still here: https://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2017/09/in-vase-on-monday-work-in-progress.html
Thanks Anca – and never worry about being ‘late’
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Lovely. I have sediums and that is about it. Sad really so I will just look at your flowers instead.
Aw, thanks Lisa – when we fisrt started IAVOM it seemed to hard to be picking things all through the winter, but we managed it, as it needn’t be blooms of course! It made us look at out gardens with a different eye
That is a valid point, although blooms do make everything better.