The first storm of the year called Amy has now past. We had little serious damage apart from tall plants being broken off, however on the plus side we have had rain, which was very welcome. The Cosmos photographed yesterday evening were picked before the storm. As a cut garden flower they have surprised me by how well they have done, even though these plants have only just started flowering.
For the first time I have grown Cosmos in this garden. My blog search did come up with some cosmos in my old garden in 2015 which was featured in an early IAVOM but this time I have observed them more carefully. Last week knowing that the storm was arrivings and having already had a couple of the very long stems break, I went out to cut all the flowers that had opened. The main stems below these cut flowers are around four to five feet high. These cosmos were bought as small unnamed seedlings from Wells Bishop's Palace.
As many of you know, I rather like the form of dried flowers, twigs or seedheads. With the dry summer many of the plants set good seed and several weeks ago, I decided to cut these to arrange albeit with a view to collecting the seed to share, or sow later in the year or in the spring time. Also because they are pollen free can stay around with no effect on our allergies. All the larger and some of the medium sized vases are now stood around the house but mainly in conservatory offering some interesting silhouettes especially in the lower autumn light such as this Phlomis fruticosa.
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| Phlomis Bourgaei seed heads |
I shall show some of the other seed heads in the coming weeks.
It's nice to see Cosmos, I have difficulties growing them here for some reason. The Phlomis seeds are beautiful, now I have to look up Phlomis! Happy Monday! Amelia.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many different Phlomis Amelia, and you'll enjoy finding out about them. When visiting Mediterranean countries I like to look for them growing wild in the countryside and on mountains.
DeleteA beautiful range of pink, Noelle, I love the simple beauty of only one type of flower in a vase. You've reminded me that I need to refresh some of my dried arrangements! Eliza
ReplyDeleteThanks Eliza, even with a smallish garden like mine, it is possible to keep dried material, please show some of your arrangements sometime on IAVOM and let us about the plants.
DeleteYour cosmos are so lovely, Noelle. Haven't grown them for a long time but I still remember the first time I ever saw them. It was my first year in college and at that time the main street of our small college town was host to a gathering of women who grew and sold bunches of flowers to college students and townspeople alike. I was charmed by the delicate flowers and their pretty color.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness - I am amazed at your cosmos, Noelle - mine gave up a few weeks ago! How pretty they look in the vase with their feathery foliage. And I love your seedheads - how lovely to have them in vases around the house
ReplyDeleteGreat examples, Noelle! Aren't Cosmos wonderful--for so many reasons?! The seedheads and props are perfect, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth, I am just learning about Cosmos, and will certainly try growing them again next year.
DeleteI can only hope that the Cosmos seedlings I bought at my local garden center recently do as well, Noelle. I've come to value seedpods and other dried materials more and more too.
ReplyDeleteWith your seedlings of Cosmos come expectations of future attractive bouquets.
DeleteYour Cosmos are lovely Noelle, and it was wise to pick them before the storm.. I picked most of mine before our first frosts last week. The Phlomis seedheads are very attractive in a vase. This is a plant I intend to investigate next year as it is appparently a bee magnet. I do love dried flowers in winter too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy, I am hoping that the Cosmos will continue as we have no frosts predicted for the coming few weeks.
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