Rose Posey Filler

Ritual is necessary for us to know anything.
~ Ken Kesey
Gathering garden treasures to pass on in poseys or small bouquets has become a rather glorious ritual for me. A well-stocked garden has much to offer-- surprises included.

Roses display especially well when laced and frilled with greenery-- the more herbaceous the better.
1 Do you recognize these leaves? Yes, they belong to aquilegia (columbine)-- a shearing of fresh new leaves only makes the plant stronger, and they are long lasting in a vase.
2 Peppermint-scented and fuzzy-leafed, Pelargonium tomentosum is definitely a favorite. I have two plants that I've been harvesting all through the season. These do best in partial shade.
3 Geranium pyrenaicum 'Bill Wallis', is a surprise filler from Annie's Annuals. The perfectly round leaves on long stems are ideal, and striking with roses.
4 White strawberry leaves have served me well all through the season too. Fall has brought a new crop of berries, which are a particular delight to bouquet recipients.
5 Sweet pea leaves and tendrils are wonderful curling through the roses. In the garden, these have reseeded in unwanted places-- a free October harvest that will probably result in ultra-strong plants.

The featured greens join multi-colored roses in six bouquets. I originally thought to show both images, because the sun played hide and seek while shooting. The different effects don't really show up here though. I'm including both anyway.

I usually end up doing a color story with the available roses. There were just enough for one all white bouquet.
Note for Sacramento Arranging Seminar Participants

I'm looking very forward to our fun with roses this coming Saturday. I'm hoping you might be able to harvest roses from your gardens so we will have lots to work with. Rose stems from 5 to 8-inches would be perfect. (And it would also be fun to see your wares.) If you have interesting greens please bring us a sampling. Oh yes, and be sure and bring your cilppers.
The roses shown in this post were picked in the morning on both Thursday and Friday. I then put them in the fridge (super cold is not good) and arranged them on Saturday.
PS The vases are stuffed green olive jars from Trader Joes.   http://www.rosenotes.com/arranging-rose-bouquets/