Happy to be joining Cathy at Rambling in the Garden on this sunny (!) November morning for her weekly vase meme!
I was intending to cut the last of the Scabious flowers for a vase today, but when I saw they were smothered in hungry bees I just had to leave them standing. Instead, I salvaged some Euphorbia I had chopped down yesterday as it had flopped in the damp weather, and added a few of the late Cosmos. Yes, they survived another frost! The result is a bit odd, but nonetheless pleasing for a November vase. 😃
The gloves on the photo are a reminder to take care when cutting Euphorbia due to the sap, which can cause allergies and burns. I must admit I have not cared much about this before and have never had problems, but recently my skin has become sensitive to grasses, so I am not taking any risks – hence the new gauntlet style gloves with nice long sleeves to protect my wrists. 😃
The lime green of this Euphorbia (E. seguieriana ssp niciciana) has been so vibrant since the spring and I have plans to put another one in the sunshine bed next year.
The sempervivums in the background are spending the winter on my potting bench in the warmest spot under the balcony where they should be nice and dry.
I wonder if you still have flowers to share today – do visit Cathy (Rambling in the Garden) to see what her lovely garden has offered her this week.
And Happy November!
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The cosmos look amazing peeking out of all the greenery!
Thanks Chris. I was glad the cosmos were still flowering as the Euphorbia is a bit boring on its own!
Maybe I should grow some cosmos next year. No flowers have escaped the frost here.
It must be sheltered near the house here as we have had several white frosts and even the Tithonia stood up to them until last week. 🙂
That’s a very dainty euphorbia! I like it! I still have some pink cosmos flowering too. We’ve had a couple of light frosts which haven’t bothered them, but it’s only a matter of time! Amanda https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/11/falling-apart-in-vase-on-monday.html
Cosmos are pretty tough plants, aren’t they! Mine didn’t get a drop of water all summer and still did amazingly well, and now they are one of the last flowers standing.
Unusual – and cute!
Thanks!
You are right to be careful, Liz at the Blooming garden told me she had a friend who nearly lost her sight because she touched her eyes (and this was after thoroughly washing here hands).
Yes, I remember her mentioning that and it is constantly at the back of my mind when handling sappy plants.
That is a most intriguing euphorbia – it looks so tactile so your warning is a timely reminder about the sap. Good to see you still have some cosmos – mine are just about hanging on but there was nothing work picking from them for today
Most of my cosmos look okay from a distance, but these pink ones still have loads of buds and fresh flowers and look quite happy in the damp and cold! They were a mix that a friend sowed and she gave me a few plants, so I don’t know what sort they are.
Good to know that they are tolerant of your weather and have such a long season
Happy November, Cathy! I didn’t realize Cosmos were so hardy. You’ve found a perfect spot for them, it seems. 🙂
The cosmos are at the end of the butterfly bed, so quite exposed to the weather. Strange how some stand up to frosts better than others!
A lovely little green ball. Hopefully your cosmos will last a little longer. I never used to pay much heed to sappy plants but I’ve had various reactions on my arms and once on my face so I do take more care now!
Yes, I hear more and more stories of allergic reactions and my skin is even more sensitive than it used to be. Better safe than sorry!
Like you I now take care with sap….unless you have an awful lot of rain and they become waterlogged, sempervivums are really very hardy. Mine stay outside all year round! I too have noticed that the last flowers have been visited by many bees. I think this is the latest in the year that I have noticed them.
I have had many of these Sempervivums for years, but always close to the house where they don’t get rained on. That seems to be the secret to keeping them – dry and well-drained. They love being baked in our summer heat too. Quite the perfect plant for our climate really!
Your Cosmos flowers look so pretty in amongst all that greenery, one of my fave flowers.
Thank you Karen, Cosmos are so easy to grow and can make such a difference to a summer border. 🙂
It looks like a jazzy art installation, Cathy! I’m amazed you still have Cosmos to cut – here it’s not frost (a rare occurrence) but mildew that takes them out.
Oh thanks Kris! Yes, a little jazzy indeed. The cosmos tend to flop from the damp before the frost gets them here, but strangely enough this pink one is looking fresh as a daisy still. It hardly produced a single flower until October!
I thought it looks like a Chia Pet wearing flowers.
Ha ha! Yes! I had to look up what a chia pet is, but you are right Tony! 😉
Wow, I though everyone knew Chia Pet! They have been around for decades, and are are even tackier now than they have ever been. There used to be only a few innocuous types.
Oh, that’s a lovely combination. Good reminder to be careful with the Euphorbia sap.
Thanks Beth!
Nice combination Cathy! I’m going to look for that Euphorbia to try here. Cosmos are beautiful flowers.
The Euphorbia got quite tall and unfortunately then flopped – still looked good though and was smothered in pollinating insects all summer!
Thanks for the info. It’s lovely. I’ve become sensitive to saps from plants so will have to look for awesome gloves like yours too.
I didn’t know that about Euphorbias. Good to know since I have one and dearly hope it survives our winters. It is a treat to still have flowers to cut this late in the year. All I have at this point are a few roses, which will hang on until a killing frost, which has been mild thus far.
Happy week Cathy!
Thanks Cindy. In well-drained soil this Euohorbia is very hardy, but I know there are some that are more susceptible to wet and cold. Hope your roses last just a little bit longer! 🙂
Cathy you have to be careful with the sap of plants. I also wear gloves because even the earth gives me allergy and puts my hands very badly. I love your vase: a green ball of euphorbia in which some cosmos full of color appear, is charming. Your sempervivums look divine. Have a great week. Greetings from Margarita.
Thank you Margarita. Hope you have a nice week too. 🙂
I love the spherical effect that the euphorbia lends to the arrangement. I’ve been reacting to its sap for the first time this year. Definitely better to be safe than sorry!
Apparently other plants don’t like being in a vase with Euphorbias because of the sap, but the cosmos still look fine!
Glad to hear that you are enjoying sunshine Cathy and that bees are still about. I am always wary of euphorbia as my skin seems to be provoked by all sorts. Still it’s nice to admire them from afar as well as your beautiful cosmos 😄
The sunshine is actually just short bursts out of heavy grey skies. The typical fog for November hasn’t been too bad so far though!
So pretty, Cathy. I smiled at your comment about the Scabious flowers smothered in bees! I really need to cut back several plants in my garden and that’s what I’m finding, too! So many bees still enjoying them I just can’t disturb their enthusiasm! I can’t be certain, but I think I have many more bees this season than in times past, which is really good to see. My sempervivums will stay in ground throughout the winter and should be fine, however, once in a great while we’ll have a hard frost and the damage is extreme. I am never completely confident. Fingers crossed!
That really is good news that you have so many bees too. My garden has been full of insects this summer, despite talk of insects dying out. My sempervivums are all very hardy and will withstand any amount of frost – even -20°C or more, but they don’t like damp soil. I keep them near the house so they don’t get rain or snow on them. 🙂 I love them for being so tough and sometimes quite weird and wonderful when they flower!
I love it, the color and texture contrast is amazing!!
I agree! The Euphorbia is a gem in the garden for its colour, shape and texture. 🙂
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Makes for a nice arrangement. Wasn’t aware of the toxic quality in Euphorbia sap.
Worth knowing, even if you don’t grow it yourself. I am growing more cautious with age! 😉