In a Vase on Monday – Fragrant Wild marjoram, Phacelia tanacetifolia and Rosa Goldfinch
Just like black gold, green manure in the form of Phacelia tanacetifolia is invaluable in my garden. I can happily watch beneficial insects bring my garden to life enjoying the scented, generous Phacelia blooms whenever the opportunity arises. Bees are the main customer, Ladybirds, Lacewings and Hoverflies are also attracted.
In my vase today I have used Goldfinch roses as the mild weather has encouraged a few extra blooms, a little bashed by rain but the fragrance is still beautiful. I have added some Wild marjoram seed heads too, although I have them stored for drying to save the seed, they are also still faintly scented. Wild marjoram is another excellent plant for beneficial insects especially Butterflies and Bees. Its very pretty in borders and lovely in salads too!
Phacelia tanacetifolia and Rosa Goldfinch
Phacelia tanacetifolia is one of my favourite plants, I grow it in my vegetable garden as a green manure in the autumn and in borders throughout the spring and summer as its so beautiful – ferny, feathery foliage and lavender blue flowers, brought to life by the insects it attracts. Seed is incredibly easy to collect and save for resowing.
Phacelia tanacetifolia in action
I am joining in again with Cathy’s weekly meme at Rambling in your Garden to collect plants from your garden and share in a vase, this is such a rewarding project and great fun to be involved with and my grateful thanks to Cathy for hosting, please take a look at other blogs from all over the world sharing their lovely plants and vases.
Gardening Jules 
Beautiful! And your jug is perfect for this combo of colors.
Thanks Marian, I am thoroughly enjoying Cathy’s meme, just finding containers is absorbing!
Perfect Julie, I love this arrangement. sounds like I should be growing Phacelia tanacetifolia, the colour of the flowers is lovely.
Christina, this would suit your soil and conditions very well, plus if grown in your cutting beds or veg garden what you do not use can be dug back into the soil where they release stored nutrients.
I -love- this arrangement. I am a big fan of phacelia. They really are bee magnets. And that rose is a perfect partner. Lovely.
Thanks Debra, Phacelia is still flowering and attracting late bees here. As I do not usually bring it indoors I had not noticed before how lovely its smells too.
A lovely display Julie. Thanks for sharing. Helen
Thanks Helen! 🙂
I didn’t know what to expect from the title but your vase is wonderful, Julie! I tend to shy away from annuals but, after reading your description of Phacelia, I think I’ll have to try growing it. I also have to look around for some jugs to expand my vase choices – yours is perfect with this arrangement.
Hi Kris, there is another Phacelia – campanularia which my Sarah Raven seed packet tells me is a Californian wild flower, she says they grow it on organic vineyards, its quite different from tanacetifolia, which I grow here, but I am intending to try the Californian one next year. I have been eyeing up all sorts of things for flower containers too.
Very lovely Julie! I like your cream vase – perfect for that rose. And I can imagine how nice it smells too. 🙂 I tried to grow Phacelia here, but I think it was still too hot and dry when I sowed it. Some farmers sow fields with it at the end of the summer here and plough it back into the ground later.
Fields of Phacelia must be a really lovely sight and wonderful for any late bees about. I wish some of our farmers would do this.
Hi Julie, I’m not familiar with Phacelia tanacetifolia but it sounds like a nice plant to investigate for adding to my garden. Certainly it is lovely and works well with your rose. Great container choice.
Its a wonderful plant for pollinators Susie and although I do not normally bring it indoors, I am told it is also an excellent cut flower too.
Now that is a beautiful green manure! I grew rye last year as a green manure (which is in my In a Vase on Monday post, too). I will have to try Phacelia tanacetifolia. Your arrangement is simply beautiful, and I especially love your jug! Dan
Thanks, I have not tried Rye as a green manure before but will look into that, I try to have some green manures in my veg beds planted over winter as nutrients are washed away so quickly on my naturally sandy soil.
Impressive flower display for the end of October. I hadn’t heard of Phacelia but will have to look it up now.
Its a lovely plant Anne, with lots of benefits, not least that its still flowering the 3rd week in October. In my exposed frost pocket garden, I haven’t got it though a winter yet, but am told if its mild thats possible too.
Ah!! I remember someone used phacelia in a vase earlier in the year and I was impressed then and started looking out for seed, but then forgot – a note has been made this time! It is gorgeous and a real good do-er, by the sound of it – does it self seed at all? Goldfinch is such a pretty shade – has it been flowering continuously, or is this a second flush? As others have said, the jug is just right for your lovely combination – thanks for sharing.
Hi Cathy, yes Phacelia self seeds, its very tolerant of most conditions, although if its too rich it does get a little gangly and flop over after rain. In the driest, sandiest part of my garden it grows shorter, but flowers just as well. The Goldfinch rose does produce new branches with blooms but more sporadic than continuous, after the main flowering in June.
Got my seeds now…
Goldfinch is so pretty. I remember reading how Vita Sackville West adored this rose. It is a perfect match for the Phacelia . Your arrangement is lovely.
I meant to sow some Phacelia for green manure but I didn’ t get round to it. Do you think it is too late?
I think it might be this year, but there are other green manures that you could still sow in October – Rye, but I believe thats for a clay soil?? Or Winter field beans, I want to try that one this year, but have not sown it before. I need to keep my raised beds covered or sown with some sort of green manure to keep fertility up and to stop the local cats visiting.
I love the delicate yellow of that ‘Goldfinch’ rose.
Me too Jason 🙂
Well, I’m adding Phacelia to the list for next spring! Absolutely lovely, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Ben, I am a big fan of Phacelia, I am sure you will love it.
Splendid, Julie.
Thanks Cynthia. 🙂
What a cute heading and what a star vase! So beautiful, Julie, and the vase complements the flowers to perfection. Goldfinch is on my wish list. Is it a healthy rose?
Its very healthy Annette and almost no thorns at all, so would be good near a path plus has a lovely fragrance. Although its a short climber (about 9 – 10′) its quite bushy from the ground, so does need some space.
Such a beautiful still-life…Like a real a Flemish painting ! Congratulations, from France ! 🙂
Hello, Thank you so much, thats very kind and thank you too for visiting my blog. 🙂