HALLOWEEN ARRANGEMENTS -- USING BAGS FOR VASES

Using gift bags for vases is an easy way to make an arrangement without the expense of an expensive vase. I put a simple glass jar inside the bag for an instant vase.

The three flowers used in the arrangement were the lacy white spider mums, golden yellow State Fair zinnias, and the lovely, fall-blooming Monkshood. 

I've talked about the zinnias and mums recently, but not the Monkshood.  Monkshood is a fall blooming perennial. It is tall, so should be at the back of the bed.  It spreads by rhizomes, and increase well.  It needs moist, but not wet, soil, and should be grown in shade to part-shade for best results.

HALLOWEEN FALL FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS - Fall colors with Zinnias, Mums, Dahlias, and Monkshood

Fall temperatures bring an end to many flowers in the garden. Zinnias, dahlias and mums however, are still going strong. Moreover, monkshood, a fall blooming perennial, usually starts it's bloom in October, lasting into November here in zone 6.  The week's arrangement features the colorful tall State Fair zinnias, garden mums, dinner plate dahlias, and monkshood. The tall purple spikes of monkshood grow as tall as 5 feet, and are a welcome sight in the fall with their 'hooded' flowers. All parts of this plant are poisonous, and are best in the back of the bed not only for this reason, but also because of its height. I always handle them with gloves, and have never had a problem in the many years I've grown them. They make lovely bouquets, having a long vase life, especially if cut in the bud stage. FYI: Several plants commonly grown in gardens are poisonous. They can cause nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate or diarrhea if ingested, or cause adverse effects on the skin, such as rashes, itchiness, or even blisters. I grow all but 2 of these perennials and have never had any sort of problem with any of them. However it is wise not to ingest any of them, and I work with gloves at all times. Wisteria, foxglove, hydrangea, hyacinths, lily of the valley, chrysanthemum, rhododendron, azalea and narcissus are all toxic, but if handled correctly you should have no problems. 

EARLY FALL ARRANGEMENTS - Roses, Mums, Monkshood and Zinnias

This week's arrangement features the bright early fall colors of the flowers that do so well when the temperatures cool down a bit. GARDEN AND FLORIST MUMS, in particular, need longer, cooler nights to perform their best, and so they are starting to bloom. Fall blooming MONKSHOOD is tall and stately. Be careful when handling Monkshood--all parts of the flower and stem can be irritating to the skin and are poisonous.The HYBRID TEA ROSES and STATE FAIR ZINNIAS will continue to bloom until the first hard frost.  When cutting, cut stems on an angle, under water, and immediately arrange in your vase or planter with water with floral preservative in. Keep arrangements out of direct sunlight for a longer vase-life arrangement.

NEW DAY hybrid Tea Rose

BRANDY hybrid Tea Rose

STATE FAIR Zinnia

MONKSHOOD (Aconitum)

DOUBLE DELIGHT hybrid Tea Rose

Florist mum PROM KING, MONKSHOOD,
PERFUME DELIGHT hybrid Tea Rose

White FLORIST SPIDER MUM