I have planted up one of my raised veggy beds with annual flowers for cutting again this year. But with a startling lack of originality I have grown exactly the same as last year, so I have again Malope ‘Vulcan’ which I adore for its silky petals and I have just the same cosmos,’ Velouette’ which is lovely but there are so many good ones that I don’t know why I picked the same one again. I have even chosen the same zinnia, although I have others as well this year. So the first vase is pink, but I am dissatisfied with it. I don’t seem to be in the mood for pink.
Malope ‘Vulcan’
Cosmos ‘Velouette’
I have put these flowers in a Chinese paint brush pot which is great for plonking flowers in.
Along with the malope and cosmos I have the fluffy stuff from a smoke bush, Cotinus coggyria and also the lovely pink grass Pennisetum villosum which doesn’t die off in winter here, perhaps it enjoys the protection of the wall. I also used a lovely gaura which is white with pink edges called Gaura lindheimeri ‘RosyJane’. In the following photo you can also see a bit of self sown scabious and everlasting, Helipterum and some Persicaria. The dahlia is ‘Teesbrooke Audrey’
The dark pink pin cushions in the above photo are Knautia macedonia which seeds itself each year.
I am better pleased with the orange and hot shades in the next vase which is my trusty Chesterfield jug which always looks good with any flowers I care to use.
I grew some little orange thistles called Carthamus tinctorius for the first time this year so I started off with these.
Carthamus tinctorius with Tagetes patula and Coreopsis tinctoria ‘Roulette’
And then I popped in some of my illicit Bulbine frutescens. I like the way it matches the orange and yellow of the climber Ipomoea lobata. I have always called this Mina lobata but the powers that be have ordained otherwise now.
I have used some crocosmia, some flowers of the bronze fennel and the seed heads of Bupleurum longifolium ‘Bronze Beauty’ and the annual grass Hordeum jubatum.
I have loads of self seed marigolds in the garden but a new introduction this year is Calendula officinalis ‘Orange Porcupine’.
Calendula ‘Orange Porcupine’
For a little scent and because I love it I added a sprig of Jasmine ‘Clotted Cream’.
Jasmine ‘Clotted Cream’
The seed head you can see next to the jasmine is from Centaurea atropurpurea.
Going from the ridiculous to the sublime, here are some gorgeous arrangements I saw in the amazing Chateau de Villandry recently. Our Bummel round France took us to the Loire. It is great cycling country.
In fact we did a detour because I was keen to revisit the world famous gardens here and I will post about them soon. But the flower arrangements in each room of the chateau in gorgeus antique vases were breathtaking.
I shall be posting about the world famous garden soon but in the meantime here are a few of the vases.
On the stair case.
In the Boudoir
On the Coiffuese
Another boudoir
The fabulous dining
Close up of the dining room arrangement
Oh dear, all these elegant rooms and flower arrangements are giving me ideas above my station or ‘au dessus de ma gare’ as the French don’t say. I’d better get back to my watering.
Thanks to lovely Cathy for hosting the popular meme, In a Vase on Monday. Cathy has been very busy this year sowing and nurturing lots of lovely plants in her cutting garden. Do have a look and see what she has been doing this week.
Chloris
The Blooming Garden 
Your two arrangements are my favorites of all! Such lovely color combinations and great texture!
Oh thank you, they were just plonked in their vases in a hurry as we were having people round for dinner.
Well well well – I had to look up what ‘bummel’ was and have to confess I had never heard of JKJ’s book. Shame on me indeed and something I need to rectify… 😦 I like the contents of your pink vase (and it is certainly no pinker than mine) but your second vase is a real joy to behold. That Carthamus looks amazing – was it easy to grow? Sadly, I have still have had no joy with growing Bronze Beauty from seed. Amazing vases at Villandry – but are these not the sort of displays you always have on your dining table and coiffuese?
Thank you Cathy. The Carthamus tinctorius is called ‘Zanzibar’. It is from Chilterns and is easy- peasy from seed. I will send you some more ‘Bronze Beauty’ seeds so you can try again.
Oh yes, you should see the amazing arrangement on my coiffeuse right now. I used the Meissen bowl for it, the Sèvres looks better on the dining room table. Or sometimes I use the Ming dynasty by way of a change.
I think I may still have some Bronze Beauty seeds but if you could send more and give me the low down on your success with sowing them then that would be kind, thanks
Two great vases….your orange arrangement is my favourite this week.
Thank you Noelle, the orange is my favourite too. It is the first time that I have grown the orange thistle and I am pleased with it.
I enjoyed both of your vases – different moods of summer. Oh my goodness, all of the Chateau de Villandry arrangements are wonderful.
Thank you Peter and I liked your quirky arrangement this week, it made me laugh. Villandrey was amazing and the flower arrangements were works of art.
I love both arrangements, but I’m in a pink mood lately, so that’s my favorite. I had to Google Malope, I had never heard of it before. Your closeup of the petals makes it look very textured and lush.
Malooe trifida ‘Vulcan’ is easy from seed and the petals are gorgeous, like silk.
I did too. I had never heard of it.
Malope is something I can’t recall seeing anywhere else so you’re welcome to grow it every year – it’s unusual in my book. I love that fluffy Calendula ‘Orange Porcupine’ too. It was very good of you to take photos of the arrangements you came across during your travels too! They’re evidence of a splendid trip.
Malope trifida ‘Vulcan’ is an annual that is very easy from seed. Villandry is beautiful and the gardens are amazing.
I also like both arrangements. I don’t think I’ve seen a cosmos in that old rose kind of color, it’s very nice!
How is it you Mina lobata is already blooming!? I doubt mine will do anything until September, but it does direct plenty of energy to new growth…
I sowed my Mina lobata in February, it is still flowering away. I love it.
Great examples of floral arrangement at its finest! I really love your first arrangement, although both are stunning! ‘Teesebrooke Audrey’ is certainly special!
Thank you Beth. Teesbrooke Audrey is a lovely shade of pink.
Lovely vases, both. How strange it is that England is having such a long hot summer, it’s still hotter here though, but only just!
It’s cooler now and I rather miss the heat. I don’t miss the hours of watrring though.
Our summer has been so short in comparison to last year. I enjoy the days between 20 and 32 degrees. After that I find it had to do anything.
Your flower arrangements are lovely and inspiring. You have so many flowers in your garden to choose from. Some of the displays in the chateau are very grand. It’s interesting to see them in the antique vases in such beautiful rooms.
Thank you Linda. I really enjoyed the magnificent arrangements in such a beautiful setting
Wonderful post. Your orange themed vase hit my mood perfectly today. The ‘Orange Porcupine’ is intriguing. Glad to see you’re enjoying your summer and surrounded by beauty.
Thank you Susie. I am delighted with Orange Porcupine, it’s very different. We are having a fabulous summer here, it’s not so hot now but still lovely.
I like your more natural arrangements. Maybe the pink/purple one would have been lifted with a sprig or two from the orange vase?
Yes, you are right, purple and orange look great together.
Fantastic,I love the orangerie arrangement (yours in orangey shades) and must look into the calendulas. I think they are a winter annual here? I am also convinced all the good Cosmo seed go to Europe, I see nothing like your fabulous Cosmos here.
Cosmos comes in an amazing range of colours, next year I will be adventurous and try a few different ones. Calendula is an annual here but it seeds itself.
Two very different but lovely vases. I think the orange one is my favourite. As for the rest, crikey, I’d have to redecorate and clean up before they could grace my house, we’re not quite ready for polite company here!xxx
I don’t think my house will ever be ready for polite company although I am making a tremendous effort to declutter. I don’t want us to end up as two batty old people sitting surrounded by piles of books and newspapers.
We spent a few days in the Loire and loved it. Funny I don’t remember cut flowers in vases, but I do remember some of the cutting gardens as beautiful in their own right.
Villandry is amazing isn’t it? But it takes teams of gardeners to keep it perfect. Lovely to look at but not my style.
Oh I like both vases Chloris – perhaps the orange theme is my favourite. I’ve made a note of the orange thistle to investigate and isn’t that calendula so aptly named? Looking forward to reading more about your adventures in the Loire Valley. We’ve visited the area a couple of times now but there are châteaux and gardens still to be explored.
Thank you Anna. The calendula is so pretty. If you go to the Loire do visit Villandry.
Gorgeous arrangements, as always. “Not in the mood for pink”? Might make a good first line for a song. 🙂
Thank you Mrs. D. Yes, a good name for a song.
Love yours better than the big showoffy ones! Interested that you have carthamus, tried to grow it last year but it didn’t do well, such a lovely flower though. Both vases are gorgeous, a reflection on your garden. x
Thank you Gill. I like thistly plants and the carthamus is fun, I hoped it would dry well, but it just shrivelled.