Fall 2019 bouquets

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Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and fall a mosaic of them all.
– Stanley Horowitz, American poet

Another late blog post, but better late than never. Some of the flowers that bloomed in the fall were holdouts from summer – the hardy alstroemeria, a few brave dahlias, and even a few of the peachy gladiolas. The rudbeckias were a little anemic this year, as were the yarrow. But nonetheless, they persisted. I have been trying very hard to curate carefully, but then I can’t bear to leave many photos out, even if they are the same flowers over and over again. I guess you could say I’m just being positive and optimistic and as light as summer and say this is really just a happy, contagious propensity toward color and beauty and nature. And how can we edit that?

Today, David and I went to Annie’s Annuals because it’s time to plant sweet peas and aguilegia, or columbine, two of my new favorite flowers that bloomed in the garden this year. I’m looking forward to seeing the patio explode in color and to be able to see it from our family room window. Something to look forward to, yes, but for now, a remembrance of autumn, and how quickly it passed.

The gerbera daisies were not only hardy this year but also perennials! The baby’s breath was very late this year, but in time for the fall bouquets. I’ll admit that the zinnias disappointed this year.
The blue Cupid's Dart was a prolific summer flower.
The blue Cupid’s Dart was a prolific summer flower.
Close-up.
The chocolate cosmos were also happy campers this season.
Feathery ferns managed to grow in the dark corners of the garden.
The stately gladiola anchors this flower-sparse bouquet.
The Shasta Daisy was a bust this year, but we still had a few dahlias into fall.
Some red yarrow. Nothing special about this bouquet, but I liked the way the light created some hot spots on the flowers.
A close-up of chocolate cosmos, yellow and cherry brandy rudbeckia, zinnia, blue Cupid’s Dart, baby’s breath, and blue scabiosa.
Late autumn afternoon light warms the last fall bouquet.
A view from the top. Last look at fall. Until spring, my green thumb.