Bits & Pieces Bouquet

Do you ever spend the day working in the garden only to find yourself at the day's end wondering what you accomplished?  Sunday was one of those days for me.  I cut back the dead undergrowth below a portion of the Ceanothus hedge, planted a few annuals, spread fertilizer and animal repellent, and generally tidied things up.  As the sun began to go down, I didn't feel as though I had a whole lot to show for my day's work.  So, before heading into the house, I cut flowers to make up a small bouquet, just to have something tangible to reflect the effort I'd expended.  I started with stems of a lemon yellow snapdragon which were starting to fade, then rummaged about for something to complement them.  Here's what I came up with:





It's composed of:

• Antirrhinum majus, rocket variety
• Cerinthe retorta
• Erysimum linifolium 'Variegatum'
• Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' (better known as 'Little Grapes')

There's a very small touch of the lemon color in the flower of the Cerinthe that picks up the color of the snapdragon, which is also echoed in the cream-colored variegation of the Erysimum.  The flowers of the Gomphrena circle above like tiny satellites, emphasizing the purple edge of the Cerinthe's flowers.

I still haven't made up my mind as to whether or not I really like the Cerinthe retorta.  The foliage is interesting but the flowers don't impress me as much as those of Cerinthe major.






However, I love the Gomphrena, which has been blooming non-stop since I planted it in June.




Best wishes for a productive week in your garden!