In A vase, Monday September 8, 2025

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Weather – always unpredictable but followed sort of patterns. Our day time temperatures have been above normal, way above normal for the last few weeks. Temperatures are still reaching late 20’s and early 30’s C in the afternoons and I wish for cool! Mornings are lovely, mid to high teens but by the afternoon, the continental climate pattern kicks in and it is hot. We have not had rain for quite some time now, which is typical for late August , early September and although we had some heavy storms this summer the ground is powdery dry once more.

Despite that, I still have blooms, Roses, Snapdragons, Bee Balm, Actea, Fall Asters and the grasses are all at their best. I used to not appreciate grasses much but the more I have got to know them, the more I realise how attractive and useful they are especially for large area landscaping. There are so many different forms and blooming times. I only have room for a few in my small patch but here are the blooms gracing the garden at the moment.

A decorative glass vase filled with various tall grasses and floral stems, accompanied by colored glass pebbles at the bottom.
A vase filled with various types of decorative grasses, showcasing their unique shapes and colors against a neutral background.

From left: Tufted Hair Grass, Deschampsia, Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, Fibre Optic Grass, Panicum elegans (annual), Miscanthus purpurea

This next arrangement features the annual Fibre Optic Grass, Panicum elegans, ‘Frosted Explosion.’ It is interspersed with Cosmos and Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, Chleome and Daucus carota.

A floral arrangement in a clear glass vase, featuring grasses and various flowers including Cosmos and Yarrow, set against a light-colored wall.

Thank you Cathy of ‘Rambling In the Garden’ for continuing to host ‘IAVOM’. It is always a pleasure to see others’ arrangements and I admire you Cathy for always resposnding to so many people with your positive and encouraging comments.

https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com

10 responses to “In A vase, Monday September 8, 2025”

  1. Eliza Waters avatar

    I’ve come to love grasses like Panicum, Pennisetum and Big Bluestem, they really add so much to the late summer garden.

    1. zonethreegardenlife.blog avatar

      They absolutely do and into winter with snow on the flowers!

  2. Cathy avatar

    A lovely selection of grasses Jenny. I am a great fan of grasses and especially love Miscanthus. But Panicum and Calamagrostis take up less space! Hooe you get a break in the weather soon.

    1. zonethreegardenlife.blog avatar

      Thanks Cathy. I think Piet Oudolf had a lot to do with the popularity of grasses and the Calamagrostis especialy Karl Foerster is so useful as you say – height without too much bulk and non spreading. Hardy too!

  3. Beth@PlantPostings.com avatar

    Oh, those are really special arrangements. I like them both so much! I need to use grasses more often. I live in a part of the country (Midwest) where grasses thrive and add so much color and shape to the landscape. Thanks for the inspiration!

    1. zonethreegardenlife.blog avatar

      Glad I have inspired a little. I never used to think of grasses for my garden but the work of Piet Oudolf on a garden tour in Europe got me inspired and now I love them, them

  4. krispeterson100 avatar
    krispeterson100

    I admire many of these grasses, although my options are generally limited to Pennisetums and Festucas. I’ve had better luck with some of the grass-like plants, especially Lomandra.

    We’re enjoying a brief period of relatively cool daytime temperatures but we’re told that they’re going to soar again by the middle of next week.

    https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/

    1. zonethreegardenlife.blog avatar

      …and I couldn’t grow Lomandra but pictures look lovely!! Enjoying a cooler day here today. I’m ready.

  5. Cathy avatar

    My goodness, how elegant that first vase is with just a few grasses – who would have guessed?! I have tried unsuccessfully to establish Miscanthus purpurea here but will perhaps look for something else instead to fill that gap. You have chosen the perfect blooms to add for your second arrangement too. Plain glass vases are always so stylish, aren’t they?

    1. zonethreegardenlife.blog avatar

      Thank you Cathy. It took a few years for the Miscanthus to really become established and it does better in long summers as it is a late flowering grass – a bonus in September and October.

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