Fade into fall, in a vase, on Monday

Mornings start later, evenings begin sooner, first frost is but a few weeks away… Aside from asters and zinnia, filling a vase with blooms means foraging amongst fading summer flowers; the result is a somewhat wistful back porch vase that for me, provides a memory of much hotter times.

Echinacea purpurea has self-seeded to form drifts and solitary stands all over the place. There’s mainly just seedheads left now, which the finches are enjoying, but since they’re among my favourite summer perennials I included several faded flowers in the vase. Also included are Cleome, Ratibida pinnata, Rudbeckia and one of the two perfect Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) blossoms that popped up this week.

Last days of Rudbeckia

..from above…

I can’t see the garden from the back porch but it faces east and it’s been quite lovely sitting there with a cup of coffee in the morning, enjoying the warm sunshine, with a vase of flowers on the small table. To see more vases of flowers from all over, please take a look at Cathy’s blog, Rambling in the Garden.