This week’s bouquet is a very large one, made from Heliopsis and Golden Rod, what many consider a common weed. I was pruning the privot hedge at the time, so I threw in a few of the cuttings to add a third texture.
I dug up the heliopsis from a corn field across the street from my parent’s home many years ago. It was invading the field and I knew they wouldn’t miss a few stalks, and it has been invading my yard ever since. The plants are about 6 feet tall and to keep it under control, I will pull it all out once it has finished blooming. I know that sounds drastic, but it will come back.
The golden rod is also tall, equally as invasive, and a nuisance to people with fall allergies. Despite all of that, it is really quite a beautiful flower. I wonder who decides when something is a weed, but I have noticed that it is being sold in local nurseries these days.
Together, they make a stunning couple, perfectly complimenting each other, and closing out summer with a last burst of sunshine.
Wishing you a sunny Monday and week ahead.
Linking with Rambling in the Garden for “In a Vase on Monday”
Lovely vase of autumn and soft, romantic pictures to match. I do love goldenrod, after seeing a friend using it in a vase just before the flowers had properly opened. But I am having a struggle with it here too. It has advanced on/possibly killed a young philadelphus. Need to follow your brutal lead! But I’ll take every root out (I think they give off some sort of poison to neighbouring plants?) and put it where it can do no harm.
I would never allow it in my garden even though it is beautiful. Everything has it’s place and along the road side is where I will enjoy golden rod. My elderly neighbor’s yard has a lot of it too growing wild for the picking.
Sadly I let it in, to my cost – fortunately it can be tossed to other corners!
A celebratory arrangement for the end of summer, a golden spray of fireworks! Love it. Happy new week.
Thank you Peter. It truly is a splash of sunshine that is most welcome since we’re getting a lot of the residual rain from the hurricanes and tropical storms as they pass by.
Wonderfully joyful arrangement. A weed is simply a plant in the wrong place so I often allow certain weeds to colonise the garden.
That’s a good way to look at it. I think of weeds as plants that are invasive and don’t know how to obey proper etiquette rules of the garden. They remind me of the guest that won’t go home or person who talks too much.
Something can be a weed in one situation and in another a rare specimen that is nurtured
They do indeed make a stunny couple, and perfectly placed in your vase too! Thanks for sharing, Cindy.
It’s a lovely arrangement that sings of the pending change in seasons, Cindy. I’ve heard that goldenrod has a bad reputation mainly because it blooms at the same time as ragweed, which is in the same family but much more allergenic.
Good to know -I’ve never heard that before. I didn’t use it in a bouquet for the office afraid it might cause problems for my coworkers.
Still, as pretty as it is, I have no desire to grow it in my garden. There is plenty to be had along the country roads and the side of my neighbor’s house. I wonder if the variety they sell at the nursery might possibly not be as invasive. I’ll have to ask next time I’m there.
Hi Cindy. I love these sunny flowers. 🙂 I have a Helianthus which is similar to your Heliopsis, as well as lots of Golden Rod in my garden and they get pulled out every autumn too. 😉 Wouldn’t want to be without them though!
Glad to know I’m not the only one who yanks out whole masses of flowers. For some, that is the only way to control them. The corn field I dug them from was literally taken over by them all along the edges. That should have told me something about their nature. Live and learn.