Tags
apothecary jar, florist frog, Hydrangea paniculata limelight, ikebana, in a vase on Monday, molinia Transparent, Rose Just Joey, Rose Super Trouper
Super Trouper and Just Joey
The folks came for dinner on Saturday with a posy of roses from their garden.
Ready tied, the posy is a combination of the vibrant orange, in your face, rose ‘Super Trouper’ and the more copper than orange rose ‘Just Joey’. Added to these are a few leaves from a varigated Hosta, variety unknown. It was the perfect size and colour combination for my old apothcary jar.
Dad is rather partial to his roses having about seventy in his garden. This ensures a steady supply of Summer flowers for their house and occasionaly mine. Thanks Dad.
Now Cathy at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com suggested we might like to try an ikebana style arrangement this week. For those of you who are unaware of the term, ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging. An ancient art, the focus of ikebana is on balance, harmony and form. This is my attempt.
Into a small oriental bowl, my first mistake as yes I am pretty sure that it is chinese, I have placed a small frog. No amphibians have been hurt in this this experiment as this particular frog is one of these.
A kind gift from Rosie at The Chelsea Flower Show this year, it is rather sharp but holds the most delicate of flowers or in this case grasses in place.
Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Transparent’
This is Molinia ‘Transparent’ possibly another mistake as it is rather difficult to photograph on a grey day, it is transparent after all. Here with the first of my Hydrangea paniculata Limelight flowers. 
I love the lime-white flowers. So two completely different offerings today. Have a good week.
digwithdorris.com 
I wasn’t familiar with Molinia ‘Transparent’ so just looked it up and saw it described as giving the effect of a “visual mist.” Seems perfect for your Ikebana-style vase. The roses are also gorgeous. You’re luck to have a such a special source.
I am happy to have introduced M Transparent to you. It is a beautiful plant and looks especially good growing next to Astrantia. Yes I am lucky to have dad around to share his flowers
That Kenzan looks so clean still 🙂
Mine have built-up gunge that never comes out. Maybe it is time for some new ones.
The grass seems very much like our native one, which I let grow out full all over the garden and give me a taste of the ‘visual mist’ that pbm mentions.
Come take a look at my straws – Tescp’s best -just in case one day your grasses are so thin that you can’t get them to stick on or between the sharp prickers.
Hi Joanna. Thank you for telling me the correct name for the frog. Mine looks clean because it is new this year. I took a look at your staws, what a great idea, thanks.
A wonderful ikebana style vase Dorris! Grasses are perfect for this kind of arrangement. I too discovered last week with my Calamagrostis they are tricky to photograph! (And those roses are gorgeous – 70 rose shrubs?!)
Thank you Cathy. You are right of course that the grasses are all tricky to picture close up. Yes 70 roses, I think Mum might like more space for other flowers but cannot complain as she has a never ending Summer supply of blooms.
The roses are so vibrant, I love the way you have posed them, a good contrast to your second and so elegant mist and cloud arrangement.
Mist and cloud, I like that, thanks Noelle
I’ve never thought about using a vase frog to grasses in place, a brilliant idea. What a cool, elegant arrangement, such a contreat to the sizzling orange roses.
Thanks kate. The grasses, of which I know you have many, are still vertical today as I write so I definately recommend you give a frog a go. Those vivid oranges did make me crave something pale.
Very nice, Dorris. And what scrumptious roses!
Thank you Eliza. Truly scrumptious.
I just love the Limelight… having just bought one for my own garden (it’s too young to flower quite yet) I am very pleased to see it looking wonderful for other people! What an elegant ikebana it makes.
Hi Joanna. I planted three Limelight this Spring so it was exciting to have a small bloom to pick. This time next year you will have masses.
I’ve been on the look-out for new grasses for my own garden and will have to check out that Molina to see if it might work in my climate. You did a lovely job with the ikebana challenge and those roses are wonderful.
Hi Kris and thank you. I hope you find that the Molinia will work in your garden as I think they are a great addition to a border.
Did you grow up with gardening in your blood Dorris? Your Dad is clearly an enthusiast and how lovely that he thinks to bring you a posy when he visits – these roses are astonishingly bright, aren’t they? Thank you so much for your ikebana style vase – the molinia is a wonderful basis for this and it is very generous of you to share your first Limelight with us. I think we can even forgive you for using a Chinese dish… 🙂
Dad had a big productive garden when I was very young and then we moved to Shannon where life was less about gardening more about fishing and the great outdoors. I think my love of gardening really stems from a wish to be outside. His roses are very lovely but I do not imagine I would have ever chosen Super Trouper. The ikebana challenge was interesting and it did amuse me that I was using a dish from the wrong continent.
Wow beautiful orange flowers…and the simple Ikebana vase is perfect with those vertical grass seed heads!
Thank you Donna. Those grass seed heads are still standing so I definately recommend a frog. A really effective bit of kit.
Well done with the Ikebana arrangement, the grass is a lovely ethereal element and that hydrangea never looks bad! Love the bright orange roses those must be just the tonic if it is still a grey day with you.
That’s a great ikebana arrangement – well done 🙂 I’ve got some grasses which self seeded in my garden but I’ll have to do some reading before I attempt an ikebana – I have plonked sweetpeas in mine this week… I’ve only got one rose in the garden which is orange – zingy and summery 🙂