These days a simple blue bowl filled with sunflowers packs some political punch. This seems a bit odd to me. It also seems odd that I felt compelled to seek out the closest thing in the garden to a sunflower (actually it is a sunflower, just not one that could be found in Ukraine) The sunflowers are standing up for Ukraine and I agree with my sunflowers.
The sunflowers are Beach Sunflowers (Helianthus debilis), a groundcover reseeding annual that grows naturally on sand dunes. They love sand and are incredibly drought tolerant. They can also be overly enthusiastic and are quite fond of my revolting garden ‘soil’. I have never managed to quite pull them all out. Though I do enjoy their sunny presence in small doses in the garden.
The small blue flowers are Blue Porter weed (Stachytarpheta jamaicaensis). Chartreuse foliage is from an unnamed coleus that has been around for years. Ferny foliage is Copper Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
I really need to declare a media blackout and stay in the garden!
Happy Early Spring to all and many thanks to Cathy for hosting IAVOM for all these years. It is my favorite thing about Mondays!
To see more vases, visit Cathy at RamblingintheGarden and follow the links in the comments section.
The Shrub Queen 
A very lovely arrangement . If only political leaders would spend a bit more time in the garden!
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It might help clear their heads!
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I applaud your stand in posting your lovely sunny bouquet. I don’t even read media news, but the events filtering from others still manage to keep me awake at night. Nightmares and daymares! 💛💙
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Thank you, Eliza. I had not considered daymares, but here we are.
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I love your sunflowers. The coleus is lovely too, and the small blue flowers set off the yellow perfectly.
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Thank you.
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You have a very sunny arrangement this week. Do the Beach Sunflowers continuously bloom?
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Beautiful tribute! 👏👏👏
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Thank you.
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Copper fennel?! Is that different from bronze fennel? Gee, I can not keep up with all these new cultivars.
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I am beginning to think you have fennel issues!
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Yes; and I am actually pleased to have acquired that bronze fennel that I disliked so much when I first started to see it around. It all gets so confusing.
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It was obvious from first glance what was in your mind when you created this arrangement, Amelia, and yet it was so subtle – well done! 👍I know they are a nuisance for you, but I love to see these beach sunflowers and hear how resilient they are. No blue here yet, but there are Muscari in bud.
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Thank you, Cathy. I am encouraged by your PM. I like the Beach Sunflowers, too. It’s just suddenly they cover everything and lose foliage, looking very ratty. Waiting for your Muscari, I love them!
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I’d forgotten about the association of sunflowers with Ukraine so thanks for the reminder! It’s not sunflower season here yet but I’ll keep my eyes pealed for the first arrivals to the garden centers – and I’ll plant my sunflower seeds as soon as its warm enough for them to thrive. The news out of DC gets worse every day so I’m in favor of all protests, big or small!
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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Thanks, Kris. I hope you are right about the tide turning. The birds keep eating my sunflower seeds!
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A case of a picture can paint a thousand words Amelia 👏🏻 The blue porter weed flowers are such a stunning colour. A new one to me so I must find out more about it.
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Such a beautiful vase Amelia! It is wonderful to see sunflowers at this time of year, and everything is balanced perfectly too. Love the spikes with blue flowers!
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I appreciate the sentiment of your flowers this week as we go through this horrible time. The arrangement itself is just lovely. I love that blue vase–it’s fabulous.
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Another beautiful display. I love the cheery sunflower type flowers against the simplicity of the blue vase/
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Very beautiful and meaningful. I love the combination of elements and the symbolism behind them.
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