Tags
Calendula Indian Prince, Dahlia Arabian Night, dahlia Downham Royal, Echinacea purpurea, Echinops bannaticus, in a vase on Monday, penstemon garnet, Pheasant's tail grass, Stipa arundica
Echinops bannaticus are magnets for bees and they are a pleasing companion for grasses in a border. They grow to about 1.2m tall and do not need staking. All good characteristics however they are taking over the border and are pushing out other plants. They will need to be dug up and thinned out this autumn. Unchecked they will also self seed so I have begun to cut them before they get chance to set seed. These are them in a large jug. The jug was a gift from my parents who found it at Snape Maltings in Suffolk. The jug is a perfect scale and colour for these prickly, woody stems.
Penstemon and Echinacea have started opening out, bringing with them some rich colour and texture into the borders. A complete contrast to the Echinops these flowers are full of jewel like colours.
In the jam jar type vase are Marigolds,Penstemon, Echinacea and the wispy diaphanous stems of Pheasants tail grass.
These are calendula Indian Prince which are my favourite of all the varieties I have tried.
Dahlias are also pulling away now and showing their rich colour and textures.
My friend and her husband came to visit and Liz gave me this striking dahlia and chrysanthemum mix. The dahlias are the same as mine because she gave me some of the same corms for my birthday. The calendula she grew and the chrysanthemums she bought from her flower shop. Interestingly it’s the green chrysanthemums that are dropping! Grown not flown is certainly best.
Please pick some flowers from your garden and join Cathy the host of this meme.
I hope you have a good week wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.
digwithdorris.com 
The Echinops are fantastic in the spectacular vase. Vase is perfect shape. I’m curious about your artwork too which I like very much.
Thank you. Victor Vasarely was a French Hungarian artist who was considered to have started the Op art movement. This is rather tame for his work and was done in the 1960s. I think is still looks modern now. It is a print!
My echinops have just started colouring up so might appear in a vase soon too – that jug is absolutely perfect for yours and I live the effect of the anemanthele in your second vase. Penstemon is another of those plants that have not done well for me, and I must investigate why. You have the same shade of dahlias as I have today! Thanks for sharing
Thanks Cathy. The days are running away and I am behind on my reading and writing. I look forward to seeing the Echinops on Monday
Do try not to a slave to your blog though…🙄 ps the echinops is ready for your perusal (well, it’s scheduled for 9.00), if you have a moment
Love that vase with the Echinops. I keep seeing Echinops everywhre and wonder why I don‘t grow it! The grass in your second vase is simply magical, creating such a pretty effect with those rich summer colours. Have a good week!
Thanks so much Cathy. You do need some Echinops if you don’t already have some. I wouldn’t recommend this one just because it’s getting too big for its boots here but E ritro Veitchs blue is glorious.
That is good to know Dorris. Thanks! 😃 Veitch‘s Blue is now on my wish list for my autumn order. The Echinops ritro is apparently more drought tolerant too. 😃
I think you’ll love it, the bees certainly will
Beautiful dahlias and I love that grass – like a sparkler alight!
Sparkler, that’s it exactly. Thanks Eliza
Yes, the pheasant’s tail grass is really nice.
Thanks Tony
Nice display of whats going on in your garden, high summer beauties. I love the Echinops..
Thankyou, it is high summer isn’t it. I hadn’t thought about that. This year is galloping by.
Thank goodness!