Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer in the US and that is today. I am reluctantly bidding Sayonara to spring and battening down for the summer months. The summertime blues (and purples) came right on time to the garden.
Afternoon thunderstorms have already been making their presence known. These are a double edged sword, I am grateful for the rain quenching the thirst of the garden – however, the growth of warm season weeds has been astounding. My paver driveway is already studded with Horseweed (Arghh) and the Johnson’s Grass is peppering the beds. These tropical weeds have the ability to produce a zillion seeds and the highest fertility rate of any known plant. The roots on these weeds have a peculiar ability to grip sand and can only be pulled right after a rain. Time for battle.
Front and center are Tropical Gardenias (Tabernaemontana diviricata), I have difficulty resisting these when cutting flowers, and here they are again. Lavender spikes with purple backed foliage are Arabian Lilac (Vitex trifolia). I think these get a bad rap here for being weedy and invasive. I planted one and still have one. They do have an odd growth habit I have not conquered. A few stems of the white version of Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea) are in the middle.
Adding a deeper blue vibe to the vase in blue spikes are Mystic Blue Salvia. The white spikes are Sweet Almond Bush (Aloysia virgata); purple striped foliage is Inch Plant (Transcandentia zebrina) – I think this grows an inch a minute in summer and another battle to wage soon.
My compost pile should expect some new additions! No seedy weeds, though.
Follow this link RamblingintheGarden to visit Cathy’s blog and travel the world’s gardens through vases linked to her post.
The Shrub Queen 
The blue/purple and white combination makes a pretty vase. Living in the South, I feel like summer happened months ago. Weeds really do like heat and rain. I pulled my thigh muscle making weeding hard. The weeds are winning.
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Thank you, the weeds win here until it stops raining!
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Another vase to knock my socks off…..tropical and calming colors. Here spring is still upon us. School in session and weather still too variable to call it summer. But soon it will shift to heat and humidity by the middle of June.
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Thank you. Heat and humidity holding off til mid June sounds great this week!
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I love this arrangement, the gardenias are beautiful. Good luck with those tropical weeds, they sound like real thugs!
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Thank you, Tracy. the weeds are thugs! Argh.
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Oh, wow, that’s really beautiful! I love the shades of blue with the white, and the pot is perfect. Enjoy the transition to summer!
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Thank you.
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I am sure we have our own versions of Horseweed and Johnson’s Grass (you must be cursing Johnson!!) – a real pain at the moment is one that explodes its seeds everywhere when you pull the plant out, magnifying the problem in a vicious circle…grr! Love the blues and whites, and the white salvia is especially prett. When I had S Hot Lips, it used to sometimes have pure white blooms, and sometimes red too, both preferable to its proper colourway in my mind šI have recently bought one of these tradescantias, but as an indoor plant, and was just thinking today it could make a nice addition to a vase! Lovely to see your Mystic Spires – my gifted plant has overwintered but not brilliantly, but I have some cuttings although they are still small
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Thanks, Cathy. Johnson’s Grass was imported to be used as cattle fodder, ironically if drought happens in certain areas the grass produces cyanide and kills livestock. they did not figure this out until it got loose and it is everywhere. I agree about the hot lips salvia. The Mystic Spires is a cutting from the original one that is declining after three years in the garden.
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Cyanide from the grass – gosh! Interesting to hear what you say about your Mystic Spires
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I do love white and blue floral arrangements and you’ve prepared an exceptionally pretty combination of the two colors, Amelia. I have a sprawling Vitex trifolia too and agree that it can be difficult to manage. I hacked mine back several months ago and crossed my fingers that I hadn’t destroyed it but it’s already sprung back with vigor.
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Thanks, Kris. The Vitex is one of those shrubs I can’t find a pattern to trim. I think hacking is the best plan and they probably won’t die.
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Love the blue and white scheme, Amy. Good luck battling the weeds. Have you ever tried spraying white vinegar on your pavers for weed control? I use it here in the sidewalks and it works well. I guess it pickles them, ha!
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Thanks, Eliza. I use a vinegar salt soap mix on the weeds and it cleans the pavers as well. Surprise benefit! I hope I still have the recipe.
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This is one of the loveliest arrangements you have made Amelia! I love everything about it! š The gardenias and all those shades of blue are quite romantic and summery. Naturally I am swooning over your salvias as usual. š The Arabian Lilac is very pretty with those purply leaves. And the vase itself suits so well. How annoying aboit your weeds. I found three bits of horsetail in one of my beds recently and was horrifiedā¦ I ripped it out immediately and didn’t even think to take a photo for a Wednesday post! I will be checking it daily as I don’t want that to take hold. I hope you can manage to keep yours under control.
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Spring did not last long enough. It still does not seem like summer anyway. Well, I suppose I should get accustomed to summer bloom.
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What a lovely combination of special plants. The vase is perfectly chosen too, and such a fine one too.
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Thanks Noelle.
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Beautifully balanced design. I love the vase and the color palette.
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