I picked some Hebes to remind me to plant more of them. At this time where the days are short and flowers are disappearing they are welcome food for bees and other pollinators, which made a *beeline* for the Hebes and Chrysanthemums in the bouquet.
Hebes are a native NZ plant, so they are tough in our environment, growing well in windy sunny places. They do well on a bank, but don’t cope with wet soggy soils or too much shade. There are hundreds of different cultivars – from the little green balls of the tiny Tom Thumb to large shrubs with exuberantly waving branches and long white flowers such as I have picked.
The long mauve spikes of Plectranthus argentatus flowers and pink Chrysanthemums were the next favourite flowers for bees and the hover fly Eristalis tenax.
With the Hebes are the deep magenta Rose ‘Chartreuse de Parme’, the bright pink David Austin rose ‘Gertrude Jeykl’, the lovely butterfly-like Mutabilis rose, and the big soft pink buds of Rose ‘Nahema’.
Dichroa ‘Blue Sapphires’ is like a large, evergreen Hydrangea which has bunches of blue starry flowers now as the Hydrangea flowers are turning purple and brown.
A few Penstemon ‘Alice Hindley’ and pale yellow Phlomis are flowering.
Escallonia Gold Brian has pretty green-gold leaves which make the Magenta Chartreuse de Parme stand out. It took a few moves to find a good place for this shrub to live in the garden though, although I’m very happy with it now in a shady spot under the Gingko.
I’m joining in with Cathy and others from all over the world who pick a few flowers to make Monday a better day. You can join in yourself at Rambling in the Garden
Absent Gardener 
Beautiful, generous bouquet. Have not heard of Dichroa ‘Blue Sapphires’ –very lovely.
Thank you! I think Dichroa is from Mexico. The leaves look very like a Hydrangea.
Oh dear, I’m getting plant envy again. Your photographs are just beautiful as is your vase. And how wonderful to see the happy bees.
Thank you. We checked the bees on Sunday, and they seem OK, although not as well set up for the winter as I had hoped.
Your garden never ceases to impress with its abundance! I love that new-to-me Dichroa but, if it’s Hydrangea-like, I suspect it wouldn’t like it in my garden (even if I could find it).
It’s from Mexico I think, but has those big Hydrangea leaves. I have it in a shady place but I haven’t noticed it wilting the way the Hydrangeas do when they are feeling hard done by.
What a pretty vase and such a range of bloom – like Kris and Susie I have never heard of Dichroa but those blooms are so pretty. How big does it grow? When will your roses finish flowering?
Thank you, I hope you are having a great time :). Abbie Jury, who knows all about these things says that it will tolerate dry places, and can get to 3m tall. https://jury.co.nz/2010/05/21/flowering-this-week-dichroa-versicolor/
Dichroa must be a NZ native? It is spectacular and has a few of us drooling. 🙂 A gorgeous bouquet, Cath. Love the deep pink rose and shading on the mums – so nice!
Thank you, yes some of those Mums are new ones, I’m hoping they will do well. I thought Dichroa was Mexican for some reason but having checked I find it is Chinese.
Quite beautiful Cath. I love Hebes, and those Mums are so pretty. Dichroa is new to me too – a lovely blue. 🙂
So nice ! Well done 😉