In A Vase On Monday—Garden Phlox

38 Replies
In A Vase On Monday-Garden Phlox

In A Vase On Monday-Garden Phlox

Another week begins. Time to join Cathy’s challenge In A Vase On Monday. The goal is to fill a vase using materials gathered in one’s own garden.

I have been concerned it would be difficult to put together an arrangement today, but after several dry months we finally received some nice rains and them some more rains, and again more. Weeds are laughing, the grass is green and tall again and yes, some color and vigor have returned to the garden.

Several stands of Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox) are brightening up the western border. I believe this phlox is ‘Robert Poore’ and it practically begged to be used indoors today. I prefer blue or white phlox to this pinkish one, but as often happens, this color is the one that returns year after year without demanding any attention. Other garden phlox are very short-lived in my garden, even the often recommended white one, ‘David.’

In A Vase On Monday-Garden Phlox

In A Vase On Monday-Garden Phlox

These flowers had beautiful long stems but in the end I cut them down to fit a ceramic pot purchased at a local street fair years ago. I used a florist frog to hold each stem in place for this loose, casual design.

I selected silvery foliage to use as filler. A finely-textured, perennial Dusty Miller, almost in bloom, drapes in and out among the cloud-shaped panicles of phlox.

Silver-colored Dusty Miller adds texture.

Silver-colored Dusty Miller adds texture.

Phlox paniculata flowers and leaves of Dusty Miller

Phlox paniculata flowers and leaves of Dusty Miller

Keeping to a limited palette, a few spires of Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) repeat the silver tone and introduce a slight touch of blue.

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) adds a hint of blue

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) adds a hint of blue.

Materials
Dusty Miller
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox) ‘Robert Poore’ possibly
3-inch Florist Frog

This was a fun arrangement to create. I kept thinking of 1960s bouffant hairdos while I was working on it, so perhaps it is just this side of garish, but I like the bouncy effect. In the end it seemed to find balance.

In A Vase On Monday-Garden Phlox

In A Vase On Monday-Garden Phlox

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting. Discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.

38 thoughts on “In A Vase On Monday—Garden Phlox”

  1. Donna@GardensEyeView

    Susie I adore this and the flouncy look…I love phlox but some of mine is slim in blooms and the voles destroyed a lot in the front garden…and the silvery foliage was a perfect compliment! Really wonderful!

    Reply ↓
    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Thanks Donna. Flouncy is a good description. Bummer about your voles. I too have the little pests but they don’t seem to bother my phlox, most everything else though.

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  2. Dorothy

    The phlox would brighten anyone’s Monday and get the week off to a happy start! The Dusty Miller and Russian Sage add just the right soft touch.

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  5. Kris P

    Ah, Phlox! Another plant I’d love to grow, Susie. It immediately succumbs to mildew here so it’s not an option for me, even if I could meet its water needs. Yours looks great with the touch of silver accents.

    Reply ↓
    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Thanks Kris. Mildew is a problem with phlox. These had dried up from lack of rain, but in the past couple of weeks we started getting lots of rain. I was happily surprised they made a come-back.

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  7. Christina

    Phlox makes a great vase flower. I love the colour of this one, it is so strong. The additional material lighten the mass of the Phlox although I think it would have looked good even without them. I wonder if I could grow some Phlox in the cuttings bed………

    Reply ↓
    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Thanks. This magenta pink color would look at home in your cutting garden Christina. I really like using phlox in the border but as I mentioned above, this is the only one I’ve been able to get established.

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  8. Cathy

    Definitely flouncy – I like this pink, as you would have guessed, and the ‘dusty miller’ proved to be an ideal foliage accompaniment, softening the pink without too much contrast, and the perovskia does the same. I have enjoyed experimenting with cutting down longer stems, like you have done here. The pins on the ‘frogs’ I bought often gather rust when I use them, although much of it washes off – is this to be expected, or are they duff frogs?

    Reply ↓
    1. pbmgarden Post author

      This is definitely an arrangement for fans of pink-colored flowers. I enjoyed working with the high-spirited phlox! Not sure about the rust issue Cathy–look for frogs with brass pins, maybe that would work better.

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    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Thank you Chloris. Phlox grew beautifully in my former garden, but it has been more challenging in this one (just 7 miles away). This particular Artemisia (Dusty Miller) was a pass-along plant from a special person. It runs around in a friendly way, unlike other clump-forming artemisia I’ve purchased (the garden center always carries ‘Powis Castle’).

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    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Thanks Ann, you captured the mood of this perfectly: overflowing abundance. There was a generous amount of phlox this week to use, unlike many weeks when I have only a few stems with which to work.

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    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Marian, when I worked on this I kept thinking of that bouffant hairdo and it seemed like a happy arrangement. The rain has been a relief. Let’s hope we continue to get a few showers here and there.

      Reply ↓
  13. Cathy

    I like Donna’s word ‘flouncy’! It is a lovely soft effect and the silvery foliage of the Perovskia with a hint of blue brings out a slight violet tinge to the phlox blooms. Really beautiful arrangement Susie!

    Reply ↓
    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Thanks Cathy, it is a flouncy, bouncy arrangement alright. It almost felt a bit overdone, but there are times when enthusiasm just overflows. I was happy to have so many phlox to work with yesterday so just kept adding them in.

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  14. Julie

    What a great use of pink phlox Susie! It is also my most successful colour in the garden, although I prefer the other more delicate shades. In your vase it looks stunning and I love the addition of the silvery shades.

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  15. P&B

    Lovely! I have cut Garden Phlox for the house because we have plenty in the garden and I like the scent but have never though of cutting them short and arrange them as you’ve done. Your arrangement looks far better than just tall stems in the vase as I did. Thank you for a great idea.

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    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Have fun arranging your phlox. This is the first time I’ve ever cut more than 2 or 3 at a time. For this I probably used 18 or so. Phlox are pretty in a vase, but I find them a bit messy. Little flowers are falling throughout the day.

      Reply ↓
  17. Elizabeth W

    Beautiful arrangement, Susie. The ceramic pot is the perfect foil for the rich pink of the Phlox. That’s another plant added to my wish list for my long border. After having had a tiny garden with limited opportunities for planting I’ve forgotten the many plants I can now include in this much bigger space … it’s like I’ve been let loose in a sweetie shop after a diet 🙂 And don’t you just love the name Dusty Miller … so appropriate 🙂

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  18. Robbie

    oh so lovely:-) I enjoy stopping by and seeing others and how they put everything in a vase. I always mean to put some in a vase for inside, but I never seem to get the flowers there…yours are beautiful:-) I need to get over my picking phobia!

    Reply ↓
    1. pbmgarden Post author

      Thank you. I’ve always loved cutting flowers for the house and rarely hesitate. Try just a single stem in a vase or three tiny flowers in a small glass for instant satisfaction.

      Reply ↓

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