In a Vase on Monday: Foxglove, Rosemary and Heuchera

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Manny (“Best Kitty Ever”) photobombed this week’s In a Vase on Monday post.

Don’t worry, I took the vase way before he had a chance to eat anything and make himself sick. In our house, the arrangements travel with me so they are always in my sight, or I close them up in the guest room where the cats can’t get to them. [Update: A vet friend reached out to me to let me know foxglove is cardio toxic for kitties. To reiterate, Manny nosed in during the photo shoot, but he was NOT allowed to chew on the plants. Please be always careful with your fur babies and what plants you allow them around.]

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden, 2018
Camelot lavender foxglove, rosemary and heuchera ‘Mocha’ (coral bells)

This post is part of a weekly meme hosted by Cathy on her blog Rambling in the Garden.  Give her a visit to see what she and other gardeners around the world have put in a vase today. But first, here’s what’s in my vase on Monday, April 9, 2018:

Camelot Lavender Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea): This is my first time planting foxglove. When the creamy white blooms first started coming in, I did not believe the color would be purple, as advertised. But as you can see in the lower blooms, the purple develops after the blooms open.

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Close-up of Camelot Lavender Foxglove

Rosemary: A long stem of rosemary is sturdy enough to stand upright alongside the foxglove. I have a couple of rosemary bushes. They are reliable providers of greenery all year long, and I love running my hand over them to release their smell.

Heuchera ‘Mocha’: Also known as coral bells, heuchera is primarily grown for its beautiful foliage. Its blooms are not much to talk about. However, both the foliage and the flower stems contribute to this arrangement. The broad, dark leaves provide an anchor that calls attention to the fully open foxglove blooms at the bottom. The  spindly burgundy flower stems, which match the height of the rosemary and foxglove, bring in complementary color and texture.

Repurposed glass Evian bottle (vase): I drink tap water most of the time, and I can’t remember the exact occasion when I drank Evian. But the bottle was definitely worth saving as a vase.

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Overhead view

I will close with one last picture of sweet Manny getting a good whiff (before he was removed for his own safety)!

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden, 2018
Manny loves to take in outdoor smells, but I whisked this vase away before he could start eating the flowers. Foxglove is toxic for cats, so always watch your fur babies around plants.

Author: Terri Robertson

I'm a novice gardener who creates arrangements using cuttings and plants from my yard, vintage containers, and found objects both natural and manmade. In my work life, I am a writer and editor, who recently joined the team of Flower magazine as digital media manager.

28 thoughts on “In a Vase on Monday: Foxglove, Rosemary and Heuchera”

  3. Very pretty, Terri! Manny is of course adorable. My own cat doesn’t eat my flowers but she will bat at them, especially if she thinks they’re getting attention that should rightly be reserved for her.

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  4. The vase is the perfect shape for the foxglove and its companions and I really like it. And what a gorgeous colour the foxglove is – never come across this one before. The heuchera brings out the lavender shade perfectly. We don’t have cats but I can see how it’s a good idea to warn people of the dangers

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    1. Thanks, Cathy! The Camelot lavender foxglove came from a plant sale fundraiser held bi-annually by our local botanical gardens–I find some really neat plants there!

      My post originally said simply that I made sure Manny didn’t eat any so that he would not get sick. But when my vet friend texted me about cardio toxicity, I figured I should be as clear as possible so as not to lead anyone astray. This particular kitty loves to chew plants, so I do have to be vigilant with him. (He is allowed to eat asparagus though, which he loves.)

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  8. Love the colors and texture combination and Manny. One of my greyhounds got so sick from eating weeds (mustard family) I had to take him to the vet for dehydration. Turns out mustard family weeds are tasty and irritants .

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  9. I never would have thought to put foxglove together with Heuchera, but the spots are a great color echo with the leaf. Manny is adorable. I have a kitty who chews on plants too, so I keep my arrangement far out of his jumping range.

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