Today’s vase was foraged from around the yard. The wildflowers are slowing down a bit as the monsoon rains have disappeared, but there is still a great deal growing on this desert property.
To be very honest, I can’t identify either of these plants. The yellow flowers…
…make me think of Ericamerias, both in the bloom colour and form, as well as the obvious delight they give to pollinators--in this case the many small butterflies that hover around the plant. The seedheads, which are just beginning to develop, look at this point rather like an Ericameria also, but these plants are clearly herbaceous, unlike the woody subshrubs E. nauseosa and E. laricifolia. I must do some research.
The silver in this vase comes from another unidentified wild thing. This bushy, low-growing annual has furry silver foliage and bright pink-to-red stems. It is quite showy and quite short-lived.
This one made regular appearances in my earlier garden northwest of Phoenix, but I never did learn what it was. Personally I think it has real possibilities as a garden plant, if one could work around its very ephemeral presence.
Here they are in combination.
Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for encouraging us to cut flowers to enjoy indoors each Monday. Do check the lovely September vases there!
This is the first In a Vase on Monday post from the new version of the Small Sunny Garden blog. I’ve posted more information and explanation about this virtual move here. It should be an easy place for readers to access, leave comments, and subscribe, as well as being easier for me to maintain.
Happy Monday!
Such a pretty combination. The yellow flower immediately made me think of my golden aster linosyris which opened today. 😃
Well, the link worked and I shall check out the explanation later. It would be a useful exercise for all of us to forage from our gardens for a Monday vase, instead of using our cultivated plants - perhaps a challenge for the next anniversary? You have certainly proved how effective the results can be. The silver leaved plant is especially pretty, and are the yellow flowers of the 'everlasting' type? They certainly make a winning combination so thanks for sharing with us