I seem to be into muted colors lately..a visual cool down for these super-hot summer days.
I planted Viburnum ‘Blue Muffin’ for the berries. This is the first year that I got to them before the birds made off with them.
The little Sputnik pods are from Carex greyi.

Echinops banaticus ‘Blue Glow’
I had to fight the bees for this one.

Lysimachia ‘Alexander’
There are only a few stems in my big patch of ‘Alexander’ that retain the white margins. Most have reverted to all green. Some NOID Hosta leaves carry out the theme.
Now lets see…what else is in there? Several stems of Sedum ‘Jade Frost’ and some Amsonia foliage…all assembled in a cut glass rose bowl which has, so far, never been used for roses. I’m playing catch-up, but you can still click over to Rambling in the Garden for In a Vase on Monday.

Camaecyparis pis. ‘Snow Reversion’
Now here’s my latest purchase…
and the inspiration for that purchase growing in the gardens of Joy Creek.
Here’s a close-up of that humungous specimen. It occasionally sends out green shoots that are immediately lopped off to maintain the integrity of the snowy mass. I’ll never see mine reach these proportions, but it’s all about the journey, right? Just ask Pam, over at Digging when you click through to see her Foliage Follow-Up.
Yes, echinops and bees – I have certainly had that combination here too! WAs also aware that I haven’t used mine in a vase this year yet – too many blooms and not enough Mondays!! Yours are lovely with the soft greens – great tones. And are you hoping your new aquisition will grow as much as the inspiration, or that it doesn’t…? Thanks for sharing, rickii
Yes, echinops and bees – I have certainly have that combination here too! WAs also aware that I haven’t used mine in a vase this year yet – too many blooms and not enough Mondays!! Yours are lovely with the soft greens – great tones. And are you hoping your new aquisition will grow as much as the inspiration, or that it doesn’t…? Thanks for sharing, rickii
Oh, I do hope ‘Snow Reversion’ eventually reaches such majestic proportions but I may not live long enough to see it.
Hi Ricki, How do you grow your Carex greyi? It’s a plant that’s been on my radar for a while, but somehow it has never seemed quite right for the available conditions.
I have never planted it intentionally, but it has chosen to pop up in fairly dry, sunny spots.
That’s a surprising flower for a Carex! Wonderful vase. And it looks as though you laid out snacks too.
I know…it took me a long time to figure out that’s what it is. The biscotti was ready to head for ‘Twilight in the Garden’, a great event that I will blog about soon.
I’ve said it before , you should do a class at Joy Creek .
I think Leslie outranks me in that department, but thanks for the thought.
I was just thinking about my Echinops today. Long gone, shaded out by more vigorous plants I suspect. Your beautiful vase has me thinking I may need to reintroduce it.
Funny, isn’t it, how we can see something and think “hmmm..I had that once…wonder what happened to it”? This one seems uniquely suited to the Danger Garden.
Calming and cooling arrangement for these hot days. Your new purchase is way cool and you’re right, it’s about the journey!
Nice to be able to take journeys in our own back yards.
Just what you need, huh?…another plant obsession.
Such a gorgeous, soothing color combination, soft sage-y green and lavender-grey. I sigh. I want a house those colors, rooms those colors, plants those colors…
It’s doable!
Great arrangement. Intriguing colors and textures. Love the Echinops – off and on I’ve thought of planting some myself.
I just brought home a bunch of seeds from a more silvery strain of Echinops to try p[ropagating. Want some?
Just beautiful. I love the colours. And the vase.
Thanks, Karen and welcome. How did you find your way here?