From the Wild and the Garden

For In a Vase on Monday

Here is an evening version of “In a Vase on Monday”, that perennial favorite of many of us gardening bloggers. It is faithfully hosted by Cathy over at Rambling in the Garden.

Today’s vase almost didn’t happen. I’ve been too sick the last few days to do much of anything, but the white clusters of rose “Nastarana” have been beckoning this whole time. This afternoon I rallied enough to cut some, then a brief search led me to add a few unknown wild sprigs and three stems of Salvia microphylla “Hot Lips”.

Nastarana is a rose I’ve wanted to try for a long time. It is said to be one of the most fragrant of roses. My specimen is still less than knee-high; and its scent isn’t fully developed yet, it seems, though an initial bloom was heavenly. Right now the main issue is keeping it safe from rabbits so that it can grow into its full glory.

Despite its still-small size, it has covered itself with bloom.

I used my copper-glazed stoneware, teardrop-shaped vase. Its small mouth accommodates the little handful of material I gathered.

As this is such a short post, I’ll add a couple of pictures I took the other day. The various wild cacti are coming into bloom now, including this lovely one with the deep magenta blooms. I think this is some species of Echinocereus; there are a number of them through the wash area on our property. They are exciting to see at any time, of course, but as you can tell, they are quite the showstoppers when in bloom.

Happy new week!

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Weather Diary:

• High: 88 F/31 C, Low: 52 F/11 C

• precipitation: none

• Humidity: 9% - 31%

• UV Index: 10

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