Frost was forecast for Friday night, though it only got down to 37°F, so the garden came through in fine fettle. Saturday the low was expected to be 39°F. but Weather Bug said it was 34°F. when I checked at 5 a.m. Sunday morning. Come on; we are at Memorial Day weekend. By the end of this week we will be in the mid-80°F. when it is not yet summer. The weird weather continues.
A couple of rainy days mid-week sent me to cut flowers before the frost arrived. Aquilegia 'Black Barlow' has seeded in so many places I no long remember where it was first planted. I also grow A. 'Nora Barlow' but she always looks a little fussy compared to this member of the Barlow family.
I cut a few broken fronds of Maidenhair fern and the native Thalictrum dioucum to see how they would work as foliage in a vase. After a few days the ferns were starting to fade and curl but the Thalictrum is perfect. This is a plant that seeded in the garden and I am going to start spreading it around as it is a great filler.
'Bowles Golden' millet, a yellow Yew, a pale Heuchera leaf and two kinds of Euphorbia fill this little teacup.
You really can't tell the flowers are from two different Euphorbias; but the difference in the garden in color and size is striking. One is Euphorbia 'Bonfire' which is about 10" tall and the other is Euphorbia palustris which is about 3'. I was totally surprised at the similarity when I put them together.
Peony 'Burnished Bronze' is a real drama queen compared to all the soft colors in the garden at the moment.
She looked lovely for a few days before she decided she was done. I love watching a Peony go to seed.
I planted these Alliums at least 20 years ago and they got shaded out. But they have started to re-appear where I don't want them: at the base of special trees where it will be dangerous to dig deep enough to find the bulbs. I cut them all for a bouquet so they can't go to seed and make the problem a bigger one. I do love their ghostly beauty along with a shadow of the big Lohan sculpture.
I have a serious amount of planting to catch up with after a couple of weeks of too hot and too cold temps, rain and very high winds. Hoping for a few days of rational weather to get some work done in the garden.
Oh Linda, you made some beautiful arrangements. I love the way the peony echoes the fabric the vase is sitting on.
Posted by: Barbara H. | Monday, May 31, 2021 at 10:53 AM
Beautiful arrangements all of them! I think Black Barlow is going to be a must find for me next spring, and that thalictrum foliage is super!
Posted by: danger garden | Monday, May 31, 2021 at 12:47 PM
Well, your garden seems to know it's spring even if whomever's controlling the thermometer is confused. It's surprisingly cold here this holiday weekend too - that means our version of "cold," not yours.
I love the dark Aquilegia but I can only dream of having plants in this genus survive longer than a nanosecond in my garden. The peony is/was gorgeous and I enjoyed your teacup creation too.
Posted by: Kris P | Monday, May 31, 2021 at 02:03 PM
It looks like your wish (rational weather) will be granted for the next few days before the heat wave on the weekend. Yes, we've had crazy weather from April through May. June: Please be nice. ;-) Your arrangements are all beautiful!
Posted by: Beth@PlantPostings | Tuesday, June 01, 2021 at 02:57 PM
Lovely vases. Hope the weather moderates so you can finish your planting.
Posted by: Susie at pbmGarden | Wednesday, June 02, 2021 at 11:06 AM