Hi GPODers, and happy Friday!

I’m back with another installment of GPOD Vignettes, a compilation of submissions too short for their own post but still worthy of sharing. To catch up on past Vignettes, check them out here: GPOD Vignettes #1, Vignettes #2, and Vignettes #3. Just like previous GPOD Vignettes seemed to effortlessly come together with a cohesive theme, this next batch of submissions all revolve around floral arrangements and colorful container plantings.

Bounty from a cutting garden

I am an avid gardener who enjoys starting plants from seed. I live in Sterling, MA and have a small greenhouse in which I propagate herbs, vegetables and flowers. The photo has zinnias, sunflowers and hydrangeas which I cut and brought inside yesterday.

Thank you,
Cathy Fox

This annual-filled arrangement delights in yellow, orange, and pink. I particularly love how Cathy cut her lacecap hydrangea into smaller sections, allowing the flowers to splay out from all sides rather than the usual clumps and clusters we usually see from hydrangeas in floral arrangements. The fact that she grows many of her flowers from seed makes all of this that much more impressive!

Artful arrangements

These next photos come from Susan Warde, showcasing the stunning arrangements her daughter made.

Hi Kaitlyn, inspired by your vignettes post the other day, I’m sharing two photos that my niece sent me. These are flower arrangements done by her daughter Kate Fenstermacher, from Bradford PA. I love these photos—they’re so painterly: Still Life in a Summer Cottage, White Pitcher; Still Life in a Summer Cottage, Green Bowl.

Like art leaping off a page, Susan was spot-on in her description of “painterly.” Kate’s arrangement style is very reminiscent of the 17th- and 18th-century Dutch masters who favored sprawling, wild, and heavy arrangements full of color and hidden meanings. Artists like Jan van Huysum, Ambrosius Bosschaert, and Jacob Vosmaer come to mind with their incredible still lifes featuring profusions of blooms.

Kate’s choice of vessels is equally as artistic and fitting of those classic Dutch designs. While the standard vase shapes are always elegant, out-of-the-norm containers like the pretty pitcher above adds an extra touch of character. Bowls and baskets also help create wonderful shapes from your arrangements that aren’t possible in your typical tall vase. A beautiful green bowl with matching floral adornments helps Kate create a  boisterous mass of blooms.

Favorite shade mix

Hello! I’m Amy Scholz and I live in the beautiful village of Flat Rock, NC.

I spent 20 years learning to garden in Summerville SC, zone 8b, and became confident in my ability to use plants that grew very well there. After moving to the mountains of Western North Carolina I quickly realized the landscape here was a different story. I have enjoyed learning about the lush rainforest region here and all the new and interesting plants. Our landscape at our home is mostly shade so I have adapted. Below is one of my favorite combinations since moving here in 2021. It is a simple mix of 1 Dragon Wing® Pink begonia (Begonia x hybrida ‘Dragon Wing Pink’, annual), 2 different coleus plants, and variegated ivy (Hedera helix ‘Glacier’, Zones 4–9). I have two of these and they really pop on the shade!

Amy utilizes flowers and fabulous foliage to create a container that brings a bright burst of color to the shade. Coleus is always a solid option for vibrant foliage in containers, and she utilizes two show-stopping varieties. Watermelon coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Watermelon’, annual) pairs perfectly with the Dragon Wing® Pink begonia, while Electric Lime® adds some complimentary chartreuse and yellow.

A thrilling and spilling porch container

My planter is filled with Rockapulco® impatiens (Impatiens walleriana ‘Balcoree’, annual), Silver Falls dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’, Zones 10–11 or as an annual), Prince Tut™ papyrus (Cyperus papyrus ‘Prince Tut’, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) and Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus, Zones 9–11 or as an annual). I live in Chicago, Illinois.

Thank you,
Jane Friedman

Yet another thrilling container that brings a tropical feel to a porch in the midwest. ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra is a sure-fire container choice with its waterfall of cool-toned foliage, and Prince Tut™ papyrus is a great compact Egyptian papyrus that is a perfect alternative when you can’t fit the towering King Tut® variety. I see some other container plantings peaking out from around this pot, Jane, we’d love to see more of your creations!

Thank you to all of the readers that submitted their creative combinations. If you’ve got a vase of fall flowers on your table or potted plantings that are looking sensational next to your pumpkins and Halloween decor, snap a photo and get your creations featured. Follow the directions below to submit!

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

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