After an absence of several weeks I am glad to be back to In a Vase on Monday, hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Recently we have had harsh hot weather and now a lot of rain; I love the rain, but I do wish it were spaced out a bit more evenly.
Nonetheless, there is still a lot of color in my garden, rather surprising for August. The crape myrtles have stayed in bloom much longer than in previous years, the phlox is coming back from recent pruning, and ‘Little Lime’ hydrangea is blooming its heads off and is featured in this week’s vase.
The players in this light drama are ‘Purple Magic’ dwarf crape myrtle, ‘Little Lime’ hydrangea, and seed heads from vitex in the background. The vitex blooms are done, but I have deadheaded as much as I can reach, and new growth is already sprouting. With good weather, I should have another show of blooms before frost.
Please visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and others have taken from their gardens this week to share with us.
A Walk in the Garden 
Welcome back – u did a great post – love all and I never thought of Bringing in crepe myrtle – 😉
LikeLike
Thank you. Crape myrtles can be brought it for a vase, but with caution: they start dropping individual blossoms quickly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks – and I juts grabbed a photo of some fallen blooms – after the rain – and called it flower snow – and u know – I think I have the dwarf one out front – and in the back is nacho Sanchez
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful Dad!
LikeLike
A lot like YOU!
LikeLike
Beautiful arrangement. Our Crape Myrtle is on the down swing now. Nice to see your colorful specimen.
LikeLike
I don’t know what has been different this year, but our blooms seem to be hanging around much longer than in previous years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice arrangement, I love the vibrant Crape Myrtle with the Little Lime. 🙂
Would you mind answering a garden question?
My husband and I moved from CT to SC and I’m still learning how to garden in zone 8. I planted a Lime Light in the beginning of summer. The leaves are now browning and most of the flowers are turning brown. Should I be deadheading it as they brown? Or is it setting bloom for next year? It has been getting water all season. In CT I had one and I never had to deadhead. I left the spent blooms on it for winter texture.
LikeLike
This is my first year with ‘Little Lime’ and I presume it does the same as Lime Light, so I can’t give you the advantage of experience. As a rule, deadheading hydrangeas now will not damage buds for next year, but if you cut them way back you run the risk of losing next year’s flowers.
LikeLike
Nice Crape Myrtle and a new variety to me, do they last when cut?
LikeLike
Because all the flowers in a cluster don’t open at the same time, some are ready to drop when the others are just opening. Thus, pretty soon after they go in a vase the older petals begin to drop. They are lovely for a short period…long enough for sure to grab a photo. I still think it is worth it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree
LikeLike
Nice arrangement. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It’s a pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! I should try a few of the Limelights in a vase as well, but I want them to last in the garden as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They seem to do well in both places.
LikeLike
Beautiful arrangement. We’ve noticed here too the crape myrtles are blooming much longer, especially compared to last year.
LikeLike
Thanks, Susie. Any thoughts on why the CM are blooming longer? I’m perplexed.
LikeLike
Not sure John, but I attribute it to all the rain we’ve had this summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful! Always enjoy “In a vase on Monday”! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Amy. I hope you will look at the other offerings at Cathy’s site.
LikeLike
Beautiful combination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I missed this last week John as I usually follow up from comments on my own post and I think you must have missed commenting last week. Your blooms have created a lot of interest – always so interesting to read what other people have to say. Thanks for sharing
LikeLike
Busyness is the only excuse that I can offer, and am still running behind the curve. I promise I will do better.
LikeLike
Oh John, no excuse needed! I was apogising for not having seen your vase, not criticising you for not leaving a comment on mine but if you would like to be forgiven then I absolve you from any blame whatsoever 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are too kind. As we say in the south, “Bless your heart.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have never grown crepe myrtle. It is quite lovely in your floral arrangement.
LikeLike
Thanks. this has been such a good year for them.
LikeLike